As the church moves from glory to glory, the anointing for the gift of discerning of spirits will grow exponentially. This gift from the Holy Spirit is much more than we've understood in the past. We must expand our perspective on how this operates.
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. - Heb. 5:14
Discerning the spiritual realm affects all of your senses. You will see things and hear things, but you will also smell things, taste things, and feel things too. Because of the nature of how this gift works, at first you might not even know that you are discerning something by the Holy Spirit. You think it's you and/or you think you are going crazy. I want to assure you that you're not crazy, but you might be perceiving the "crazy" in the person next to you. When this happens, begin with a candid dialogue with God. "Is that You? Are you showing me something?" And then, "What do I do?"
Remember that the gift of discerning of spirits isn't about reading people externally, but supernaturally knowing what can't be seen with the natural eye. It's a gift that protects you by showing you what is in the dark. At the same time, you'll need God's grace to love like He loves and not be critical or judgmental of people around you. Discerners are intercessors. Discerners are deliverers. They fight for the broken and deliver those in demonic bondage.
My prayer for you today: Holy Spirit I ask You to anoint those reading this today with the gift of discerning of spirits. Not only that, I ask You to give them special wisdom so they will know what to do when they discern something that is difficult. Give them the grace to walk out this gift well, in all of it's strength, and to become powerful ministers of Your kingdom wherever You have placed them. ~ Amen.