Discerning the Seasons

Following Your Spiritually Derived Intuition for Blessings

Have you ever just known something without any natural evidence to corroborate your knowledge? The “old school” term for this phenomenon is the sixth sense, or in layman’s terms, an ability that exists outside of our 5 natural senses of taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. As you know, one of my passions in life is to “de-mystify” information in order to help others gain an understanding of topics shrouded in mystery.

Let’s start with a simple schematic of who we are. Each of us is comprised of three main parts: body, soul, and spirit. To be honest, most of us process information from only two-thirds of our triune nature, that is, the body and soul. The spirit, which is one-third of our divine capabilities (and the most important one!), is vastly misunderstood and rarely engaged. “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

You cannot truly know yourself by your body or soul alone, because your spirit is responsible for that revelation! Three important criteria drive proper utilization of information—wisdom, knowledge (revelation), and understanding.

When you receive an impression, or in other words, when you simply know something in your “knower,” this is spiritually derived intuition.

Here is a definition of intuition: “intuition |ˌint(y)o͞oˈiSH(ə)n| noun:  the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning: we shall allow our intuition to guide us.”

I can think of no better example of spiritually derived intuition than Wholetones itself! Each project has been an exercise in getting out of God’s way and listening for musical direction, without cerebral premeditation or arranged charts. This allows each spontaneous note to have a divine purpose for being.

As we develop our spiritual life, we can begin to discern the seasons we are currently in, entering, or exiting. Here is a quite literal example. This summer, I was in Minneapolis taking a walk with a dear friend. All of a sudden, I blurted out, “This is going to be a long, tough winter this season…and I wouldn’t be surprised if ol’ Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow; just be prepared.” Well, if you live up North, you realize that these words eventually proved accurate as that groundhog did indeed just see his shadow!

Remember, when I said this, it was a hot summer day, and I had no natural reason to say what I said. I had no research-based knowledge or information regarding the upcoming winter; my statement simply sprang from intuition. This is just a humorous example of spiritually discerning something before it happens. Obviously, this “gift” can be an amazing blessing in every area of your life.

As I mentioned earlier, my purpose is to help people grasp and utilize principles that are commonly misunderstood. In 1 Chronicles 12:32, the Bible mentions a group of people (the sons of Issachar) who had the ability to discern the times and seasons. These people understood that they were more than just body and soul; they understood that they also had a spirit within them and they heeded that spirit. Without a spirit, man would not be able to perceive God!

Sometime ago, my dear friend Joe Barton and I met with some very successful businessmen in Miami. During one of the sessions, I mentioned that it was amazing to me how these men became so successful utilizing only two-thirds of their potential. A wealthy man from Boca Raton, Florida, overheard what I had said and asked to speak with me. The man asked me what I meant by “two-thirds” of his potential. I replied, “Most of you have amassed great wealth without the most important third of your ability.” He asked me what that one-third was, and I replied, “Your spirit.”

The man wept as he said, “I didn’t even know I had a spirit. Can we talk?” Dear friend, you too are one-third spirit and that makes ALL the difference in the world, believe me! Let me bring this week’s musing to a close with a prayer from the Bible:

1Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”