I remember when the “What Would Jesus Do?” movement was big. I wore my W.W.J.D. bracelet just like everyone else. It’s a shame that it became more of a fashion trend than a real call to holiness.

The idea behind WWJD is that, to know the right thing to do, we should ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” and then model His behavior. This is called discernment and the answer should always be grounded in the truth of scripture.

The goal is to please God in doing what is right and to behave in a manner that is Christ-like.

Discernment in the Bible

Biblical discernment means seeing beyond the temporal and asking: What is God’s perspective here? It involves careful evaluation so we are not led astray by lies, false teaching, or half-truths.

Daily we are faced with choices and its choosing God’s best over our own preferences, what might be easiest, or what we feel pressured to do by the world.

Defining Discernment

Discernment is the spiritual ability to recognize what aligns with God’s truth versus what leads away from Him. It’s not just avoiding wrong—it’s learning to approve (embrace) what is truly excellent in God’s eyes.

Biblical discernment is Spirit-guided wisdom to distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, and good from best, in order to live according to God’s will. This is why daily studying God’s word, memorizing scripture, meditating on it, and praying for understanding to put it into practice is crucial for maturation in the Christian life.

Key Scriptures On Discernment

• Hebrews 5:13-14: Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
  • The mature train themselves to distinguish good from evil; discernment grows with practice.
• Romans 12:2:  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  • Renewed minds can test and approve God’s will—His good, pleasing, and perfect plan.
• 1 Corinthians 2:10–12: The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 
  • Discernment is Spirit-given; believers can understand deep things of God because we have been freely given access.
• 1 Kings 3:9: So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?
  • Solomon asks for a discerning heart to distinguish right from wrong; wisdom is tied to discernment. (Pray for discernment.)
• 1 John 4:2-3: This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,  but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
  • We must test the spirits to guard against deception and false teaching.
• Proverbs 19:25: Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.
  • Those with discernment will accept correction and learn from their experience.

Philippians 1:10: Discerning What Is Best

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,  so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. -Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

Philippians 1 Outline

Introduction: Paul begins the letter to the Philippians with greetings and passing along his thankfulness for their support and partnership in the gospel. He expresses a familial joy at memories of them. He closes this section with a prayer for them to grow in love, discern what is excellent (best), and to be filled with righteousness.

Imprisonment: Paul moves on to telling the Philippian church about his being in prison. He wanted them to understand that his chains are not hindering the gospel and that he has no fear of man or death.

Integrity: Finally, Paul encourages them to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. He wants them to remain unified and bold through trials and persecutions.

How to Discern What Is Best

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians is not just to live morally, but to live wisely, choosing what truly matters for Christ.

Discernment Flows from Love: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, (v.9)

• Genuine discernment is not cold intellect but love shaped by truth.
• The more we know Christ, the clearer our decisions become.
• We can pray to grow in love.

Choose Best over Good: so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God (v.10-11)

• Paul wants believers to learn to test and approve what is most excellent.
• Illustration: A gardener doesn’t just pull weeds, they also prune good branches so the best fruit can grow.
• Sometimes what is best is hard and involves suffering that we’d rather avoid, but this is what matures us and produces the fruit of righteousness.

Live with Eternity in Mind: “so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (v.10)

• Discernment prepares us to be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
• Every decision has eternal weight—what we invest in now will matter when we see Jesus.
• Living as a Citizen of Heaven

Practicing Discernment

It’s not enough to know what is right and best, but it has to make its way from our heads to our hearts and hands. We must dwell on what God says is best and know it, it’s true. But, we need to also believe it’s the ONLY way because God’s way is best and finally, we must put it into action in our talk and walk.

Prayers to Ask for Discernment

Praise: Thank God for giving His Spirit to guide us into truth, wisdom, and discernment.

Confession: Admit where you’ve settled for less than God’s best or ignored His solid advice.

Request: Ask God for wisdom to choose the things that matter most and be specific to your situation or trial.

Surrender: Commit to aligning your priorities with Christ’s purposes. Claim one of the discernment scriptures as your own.

Questions to Consider for Discernment

1. What’s the difference between avoiding sin and discerning what is best?

2. Can you think of a time when you had to choose between two good options? How did you decide?

3. How does love influence our ability to discern wisely?

4. In what areas of your life is God asking you to pursue “the best” instead of settling for “good enough”?

Applying Biblical Discernment to Daily Living

Personal: Before making decisions this week, pause and ask, “Will this help me become more like Christ?”

Community: Encourage your spouse, family, and friends to pursue what is excellent, not just what is acceptable. Be a leader in praying for discernment, asking questions about what is right, and standing on truth regardless of consequences.

Eternal: Keep the Day of Christ in mind—decisions made today prepare us for tomorrow. Meditate on this verse: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17