Daniel 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Do you believe that God speaks to us through dreams and visions? If you answer is yes then I would suggest that you one believe God and secondly believe in dreams. Allow me if you will to use this verse in Daniel to point out that these first two points neither one render interpretation of dreams. That takes discernment.

In my lengthy experience with churches of various types, I have found none that touch adequately on discernment. It is difficult to define and one cannot be trained in this gift. Over the years I have observed many who are trained and adequate in the interpretation of dreams. Those dreams however were not a product of God communicating with His creation. They were merely psychological in nature and had roots in unresolved personal issues.

Rare is the gift of discernment. I’ve witnessed it a few times and the same thing could be said of any individual who has the gift. They do not claim it. They use it and it is evidenced in the illumination of truth into circumstances. Many claim to possess discernment, and I would hope for their own sake that they were being honestly yearning for that gift. In none of those I’ve met has it been evident.

Discernment is not wisdom. Wisdom is freely given to all who earnestly pray for it. Wisdom is experience, it is learned. Discernment is a gift, there is no manual. You cannot be trained up to use this gift. What it does take is a solid relationship with God and obedience to faith that allows the Holy Spirit to use you at any moment, a surrendering of self in a moment and allowing the truth to shine for itself.

We are called to be servants and we recognize a cooperative effort is required on our part. But this one gift only requires the momentary empty vessel, empty of self, to be used by God.

Romans 12:1 (in part) present your bodies a living sacrifice