A Prayer for Discernment: Understanding Good and Evil
"Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil." - Jeremiah 24:3

Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, grateful for the gift of Your Word, which guides and instructs me in my daily walk. As I reflect on the profound message of Jeremiah 24:3, where You posed the question, "What seest thou, Jeremiah?" and the prophet answered, "Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil," I am reminded of the importance of discernment in my life.
Lord, help me to see with Your eyes. Just as You invited Jeremiah to observe the figs, I ask that You would open my spiritual eyes to discern the goodness and the evil that surround me. There are times when the line between good and evil can seem blurred in this world. I seek Your clarity and wisdom to recognize the good fruits of righteousness that demonstrate Your character and the evil that seeks to corrupt and deceive. Lord, grant me the grace to discern wisely, not only with my heart but with my mind, so that I may choose the path that leads to life.
Father, I acknowledge that we live in a time filled with distractions and temptations. The culture bombards us with diverse messages that may seem appealing yet can lead to ruin. I pray that, like Jeremiah, I would be sensitive to the whispers of Your Spirit, guiding me always towards goodness and away from the pitfalls of sin. Strengthen my resolve to pursue holiness, to seek You with all my heart, and to cherish the good figs that represent Your favor and love.
Help me, Lord, to identify the "good figs" in my life—those relationships, influences, and activities that nurture my spirit and draw me closer to You. May I celebrate and cultivate these blessings, recognizing them as Your gifts. I also acknowledge the presence of the "evil figs"—those habits, thoughts, or associations that lead me away from Your truth. Help me to identify these spiritual toxins, Lord, and to take decisive action to remove or distance myself from them.
As I examine my heart, expose any hidden evil within me. Reveal to me the areas where I may be ensnared by sin or holding onto bitterness, anger, or fear. Your Word declares that those evil figs cannot be eaten; in the same way, I know that I cannot nourish my soul with anything that opposes Your will. Purify my heart, O God, and create in me a clean heart that seeks to honor You above all else.
Help me to share this understanding with others—to be a messenger, like Jeremiah, in a world that desperately needs hope and truth. Let my life be a testimony of Your goodness, reflecting the fruits of the Spirit, so that others may also recognize the good and turn away from evil. Grant me opportunities and courage to speak the truth in love, as You give me discernment in my words and my actions.
In my daily encounters, may I draw upon Your wisdom to see beyond the surface. As the wise Solomon prayed for discernment, so do I, Father. Please grant me the ability to judge rightly, to understand not just what is seen but also what is felt in the spirit. Teach me the value of patience, that sometimes discernment comes with time and prayer.
Ultimately, Lord, I desire to be planted firmly in Your truth, nourished by Your Word, and fruitful in my living. I thank You for Your grace that teaches me through Your Word, as I continue to seek the good in all things. Help me to always recognize Your hand in my life, guiding me towards righteousness and away from the corruption of evil. I submit my heart and mind to You today, trusting in Your goodness.
In the precious name of Jesus, I pray,
Amen.
Want to pray more deeply over Jeremiah 24:3?
Explore this scripture further with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for diving deeper into God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, find related verses, and enrich your faith.
Get Our Apps
Jeremiah 24:3 Artwork
Jeremiah 24:3 - "Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil."
"Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil." - Jeremiah 24:3
Jeremiah 3:24 - "For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters."
"For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters." - Jeremiah 3:24
Jeremiah 38:24 - "¶ Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die."
Jeremiah 26:24 - "Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death."
Jeremiah 44:24 - "Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:"
Jeremiah 24:4 - "¶ Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Jeremiah 29:24 - "¶ Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,"
Jeremiah 13:24 - "Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness."
Jeremiah 25:24 - "And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,"
Jeremiah 4:24 - "I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly."
Jeremiah 21:3 - "¶ Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:"
Genesis 3:24
Genesis 24-3
Jeremiah 46:24 - "The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north."
Jeremiah 48:24 - "And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near."
Jeremiah 3:2
Jeremiah 33:3
Romans 3:24
Jeremiah 33:3
Jeremiah 3:1
Jeremiah 3:49
Jeremiah 10:24 - "O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing."
Jeremiah 52:24 - "¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:"
Jeremiah 7:24 - "But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."
Jeremiah 31:24 - "And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks."
"¶ Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die." - Jeremiah 38:24
Psalm 24:3-4
Jeremiah 20:3 - "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magor-missabib."