The “D” In STEWARD
We've made it to the final letter in our STEWARD series: D.
I am a discerning, diligent daughter of the Most High God.
You'll notice something different about this week's declaration. For six letters, we've talked about being a servant. That's true... But we are also His children and that is even better!!
Discerning
Discernment means you weigh things. You don't just react, you think carefully before you move.
Philippians 1:9-10 says, "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."
Notice the order there. Love grows, then insight grows, then discernment follows.
You can't discern well with a cold heart!!
Discernment isn't suspicion or overthinking everything. It's a settled, prayerful weighing of what's in front of you against what you know to be true.
Hebrews 5:14 says solid food "belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Discernment is a muscle. It's trained by use, by actually practicing the hard work of weighing things against the plumbline of the Word, not by accident.
Friend, not every opportunity is a yes. Not every voice that sounds spiritual is trustworthy!! In fact, deception is running rampant in many churches and platforms right now because the enemy KNOWS his time is short so he’s trying to ruin as many eternities as he can.
Not every emotion you feel is telling you the truth. Honestly, MOST emotions are NOT the truth. A discerning daughter asks God before she answers anyone or anything else.
Diligent
Diligent means you keep doing the work. Without delay, without quitting halfway through, without waiting for the feeling of motivation to show up first.
Just a slow and steady wins the race
Proverbs 10:4 says, "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." And Proverbs 13:4: "A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."
I love that word picture. Diligence isn't flashy. Most of the time nobody is watching it happen. It's showing up again tomorrow to do the same faithful thing you did today, even when it's unglamorous, even when you don't feel like it.
Colossians 3:23 ties it all together: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." That's what makes diligence different from just being a workaholic or a perfectionist. It's not about proving yourself. It's about working heartily unto One who already loves you completely, regardless of the outcome.
The outcome is on GOD, obedient diligence is on YOU.
Discernment without diligence is just good intentions that never go anywhere. Diligence without discernment is just busyness running hard in the wrong direction. You need both.
Daughter
I'm a Daddy's girl. In real life, and spiritually. I know what it is to feel protected and loved by a father, both my earthly one and my Heavenly One.
I know that's not everyone's story.
Maybe your earthly father was distant. Maybe he was harsh, or angry, or simply never there. Maybe the word "father" doesn't bring up safety for you at all. It brings up fear, or disappointment, or a hole that's never quite been filled.
Friend, if that's you, I don't want you to read this word and instinctively brace. Please hear me: God is everything you wished your earthly father WOULD have been and MORE.
Luke 11:11-13 puts it this way: "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Even the best earthly father, on his best day, is still described in that verse as flawed. And yet God says, how much more will I give good gifts? If an imperfect man can love his kids fairly well on his best days, how much more does a perfect Father love you, every day, without exception?
Romans 8:15 says, "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'"
Abba. That is an endearing term like “Daddy” that only safe, loved children would use.
You are not a hired servant trying to earn His approval. You are a daughter, already loved, already chosen, already His.
So here's my questions for you this week, as we close out this series:
Where do you need to discern more carefully before you say yes?
Where do you need to be diligent in something nobody else is watching?
And maybe most importantly, is there anything in how you see your earthly father that's been shaping how you relate to your Heavenly One?
Bring that to Him. He can handle it.
Friend, we've spent seven weeks declaring who we are in Him: strategic, selective, surrendered. Tenacious, tireless, taking territory. Eternally minded, equipped, an emissary. Wisdom-seeking, willing to be weird, watchful. Anointed, actively abiding, ambitiously advancing. Redeemed, resilient, relentless. And now, discerning, diligent, a daughter.
That's who you are!! Not because you've earned it. Because He chose you and the blood of Jesus reconciled you to Him!
In passionate purpose,
Dorothy
Father,
Thank You that I am not just Your servant, but Your daughter. Teach me to discern carefully and love You enough that insight follows. Help me delight in You! Make me diligent in what nobody else sees but I know matters to You. And for anyone reading this who has carried fear instead of safety when they hear the word "Father," heal that place in them. Show them who You really are. In Jesus' name, Amen.
https://ignite.passionatepurposeschool.com/