Our Life360 App and Our Discerner
My Austin family (all 12 of us) are on the Life360 app. It is a free location-sharing app that keeps us connected via knowing where each of us are at, any given time — that is, if our cellphone is on and with us.
I am on my way to San Antonio today for tomorrow’s Alamo Run to support EMwomen. It’s about a 2-hour drive. My children can ensure I’m okay because they might possibly track me from their Life360.
A few months ago, I had been at my children’s home which, at that time, was a good 20 miles away from where I lived. It was late at night and there were tremendous high winds with a torrential downpour. When I safely arrived at home, my son called and said “Yay! You’re home safe and sound. We followed you on Life360 all the way!”
It boggles my mind that our minor children, teenagers AND the rest of us, can be “found out” wherever we are – right down to the specific address or park or parking lot! What a great safety net!
As great as technology is these days, there are reasons for paring back on high-tech to going after low-or-no-tech that slows us down to draw upon our Most High God’s HIGH abilities.
My mama made it without high tech. She had a “discerner” that knew what I was up to at any given time. My daughter has that “discerner” because her kids say “Mom has eyes in the back of her head!” It’s true – those eyes are her discerner.
That sounds like the HIGHEST ability of our Heavenly Father Who offers us the Gifts of the Spirit, found in 1 Corinthians 12:10. One of those Gifts is discernment. I’ve used that Gift for years when it comes to my husband, children, and grandchildren.
Discernment is being able to distinguish, discern, judge, or assess a person, statement, situation, or environment. Hebrews 5:14 tells us it helps us discern good and evil. Oh, how we need this low-tech, but high ability in our lives today – for so many reasons.
We must make decisions on family matters, relationship matters, political matters, employment, change of locations, and even giving wise counsel to others. Discernment is a Gift from God, and we need to have a heart-to-heart chat with God – asking Him daily for this Gift.
Discernment is something we acquire as we walk closely with God. If we’re in a struggle with one of our children, spouse, employer or friend, it’s time to ask God for discernment – the wisdom and perspective for that situation. God knows exactly what’s going on. He is the Giver of wisdom.
Instead of facing all the challenges and changes of life on our own, we have the Creator Himself walking alongside us. Want to know what is going on in a situation that is challenging you? Spend some alone time with God. Ask Him. Wait for His guidance. Freely He gives.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” Philippians 1:9