A Prayer For Spiritual Discernment

Father, through the apostle’s writings you warned us that “in the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” Some of these scoffers are easily spotted while others have an outward appearance of godliness but teach or endorse a false gospel instead. They bring about confusion and divide the flock as they follow their natural instincts instead of the teachings of the Holy Spirit. They are as useless as rainless clouds or diseased trees. Their doom is certain, but until that hour of expulsion, sharpen our discernment. Let us be careful to follow the teachings of Scripture and test the spirit of the messenger, to see that he or she is of God. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.