Discernment



A whiff of freezing cold air entered the small Intake area when 2 police officers brought in a drunk male arrestee. Speaking in another language, the same officer interpreted for me. He just answered “no” to all of the questions I asked if he had any mental or medical problems. It was to determine if he was medically or mentally fit to stay in the jail.

He approached a nearby wall to be searched by our prison's deputies for any dangerous things like drugs or weapons. I stopped our deputies right there because if I didn’t want to admit that arrestee, their search would be useless. The officers and our own deputies were amazed and were all wondering why I did that.

I asked the interpreting officer to continue to interpret for me.

“Pull up your right pant leg!,” I ordered.

Intoxicated, he could barely understand my command on top of the language barrier between us. As his breathing was let out and alcohol reeked in that tiny space. He ended up kneeling down on the floor to remain stable and slightly pulled the pant leg up. His black sock was knee-high…He got back up again as the officers’ eyebrows were still raised and with confused look painted on their faces, kept staring at me, but seemed to be hesitant to question my actions.

“No, sir! Get back down and pull up your pant leg and pull down your sock!” I commanded again.

As he struggled to prevent from falling, he slowly lowered his right leg sock. A draining abscess or wound emerged into everyone’s view. The tissues around it was very red, swollen and some tissues were already turning black. This meant he has a massive infection going on, on that leg.

“Eewww…What was that?”, asked one of our deputies, as the arresting officers both let out a deep breath. They both knew what it meant. I wouldn’t accept their arrestee. They needed to bring him now to the county’s hospital to be treated before bringing him back to the county’s main correctional facility, not to the one I was working in that night.

The deputies working with me smiled at me and asked, “How did you know that nurse? That was awesome!”

“It’s a gut feeling,” I answered as I went back to the prison’s Clinic.

"Thank you, Ma'am," uttered one of the police officer.

"You're welcome and please stay safe out there," I hollered back.


A gut feeling…Learned by years of experience. To see beyond what is obscure. We need discernment, too in our spiritual walks. But it is important that we must judge or discern things properly. In everything that we do, it’s clear that we must judge properly even before we act. That’s where discernment comes. I pray the Lord will give us all, His children discernment so that we can become effective in whatever ministry we are assigned with. We must be willing to ask, wait, listen to Him so we can gain discernment. Then we can know what God also has willed for us.

James 1:5 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given unto him.”

Isaiah 11:2-3 - “The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.”

1Corinthians 6:2-3 - “Do you not know that God’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge the trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!”

26 comments:

  1. just found your blog....beautiful.

    agree about discernment. it's for our every day life, not just some once-in-a-blue-moon gift. it should strengthen His Body.

    Yay!

    Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

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  2. I'm loving your new background and header! Awesome!!!

    So...how did you know he had an injury on his leg?

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  3. Love this new layout, etc.!

    Discernment . . . I have the spiritual gift - when I let God lead me and don't rush ahead of Him, believing I have the full picture before He's done revealing His plan:-)

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  4. I say "ditto" to the other people's comments. Great new look, and even richer comments.

    I can't help but wonder how many times I've waded into harm's way because I failed to yield to the inner prompting of the Lord?

    Blessings, and Happy New Year!
    Kathleen

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  5. @ sister Janean: Thank you for coming by. Nice to meet you. God bless you more!

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  6. @sister Deborah:This morning, I asked the Lord if He could guide me in choosing the header and background. I liked them, too! So thank You Lord!...How did I know?....He was trying not to limp. I knew something was up with that. He was just too drunk to be in pain but he must somehow still felt the instability that his swollen leg caused. To God be the glory! I know He always helps me at work!

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  7. Sister Maryyyy! Great to hear from you! Loved your comment. Blessings.

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  8. @Sassy Granny: Thank you...me, too...I always ask for discernment because it's so easy to be carried away with what I see and hear with my own eyes and ears...but the Lord always helps me with those that can't easily be seen or heard. To Him be the glory! God bless.

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  9. That was a great blog

    I am having a discernment flash moment!!!

    I need to stop hanging out at The Old Geezer Blog
    and spend more time here.

    God bless you and have a wonderful New Year

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  10. Stopping by for the first time and love your blog. Very encouraging.

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  11. You always make me laugh "Old Geezer"...Funny...I would love to hang out at "Old Geezer" and you here...How about a switch?

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  12. Thank you Parsley for coming by and leaving me your encouraging footprints :) God bless.

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  13. Rosel,

    What a breath of fresh air this post was! I needed to hear the words within it and accept patience sometimes that God acts within His time table and not ours.


    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  14. Gosh you're so right. Daily I pray for His discernment because I've learned the hard way that my own wisdom is insufficient.

    BTW - I'm in agreement with Deborah Ann that this is a way cool background.

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  15. @sister Kat: Glad to know that I encouraged you back...Praying for your healing...Blessings.

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  16. @sister Tracy: We have when we ask...I asked Him to give me a nice header and background and it came quick :) Thank you but thanks be to God. I'm grateful when not 1 or 2 but a lot of bloggers are in agreement with a topic. It's like He's orchestrating one particular subject for that day. What a great thing to be involved being a part of this life's music, led by the Master Conductor Himself! God bless.

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  17. I have quoted James 1:5 to my girls their whole life! We just need to humble ourselves and ask HIM!! You are such a great example of what He's able to do in our everyday lives to impact eternity. Only heaven will truly tell how many lives were changed by watching Him move through YOU!

    God Bless You!!

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  18. @sister Laura: I love James 1:5, too. My son's life verse is Proverbs 3:5,6. What awesome guidance from His Word! It's all about Him! I'm deeply grateful to be His instrument. Blessings to you sister.

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  19. That is an awesome story. Thank God for the gift of discernment and the wisdom in His Word. Blessing, sweet friend ~

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  20. Rosel, What a blessing as always to read your blog. I love the verse "James 1:5 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given unto him.”

    I love how you change your blog up. It always looks great. Thank You so much for being a part of my blog and MY FRIEND. I look forward to another year of blogging with you. Hope you have a great New Year. Much Love and Blessings, Audrey

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  21. Do I see something new???? I do I do!!! Love the new template!

    Great post and story, as always! The scripture verse of 1Corinthians 6:2-3 caught my eye especially. I know this to be oh so true.

    Blessings and hugs to you dear one!

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  22. Amen sister Cathy! God bless.

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  23. Thank you sister Audrey for your friendship, prayers and being a great sister in Christ. Wishing you all of the best of His spiritual blessings as new year comes. Take care.

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  24. Happy New Year JBR! May God continue to strengthen you as you complete the path toward healing and recovery...Where His Spirit is, He sets it free! He is inside of us, so we are free!!!Blessings.

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  25. Just came back to actually say, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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  26. Discernment!!! How Great and Mighty is our God!!! Have a Great and Mighty New Year my friend!!!
    Your friend in Christ,
    Bre

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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