A Prayer to Test the Spirits - Your Daily Prayer - October 15
A Prayer to Test the Spirits
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God…” – 1 John 4:1-3, NIV
Listen or Read Below:
These verses remind us that not every voice, feeling, or message we hear is from God. Sometimes what we think is guidance from God may actually come from our own emotions, from worldly influences, or even from evil that is trying to confuse and mislead us during spiritual warfare. Because of this, the Bible urges us to “test the spirits.”
Testing the spirits means measuring everything we hear, feel, or believe against the truth of God’s Word. God will never contradict himself. If a message or idea goes against the Bible, then it can’t truly be from God. If it points us away from Jesus or causes us to ignore his role as the world’s Savior, then it’s not really coming from God.
The Holy Spirit will always glorify Jesus and lead us to the truth. In contrast, false teachers and evil spirits try to distort the truth. Their messages and ideas may sound wise and persuasive, but the meaning of their words doesn’t line up with God’s Word. We may hear messages like this often in our fallen world.
When we face important decisions, we may seek advice from friends, read self-help books, or simply consider how we feel about the choices we need to make. But how can we know what God wants us to do? That’s where prayer comes in. Before making important decisions, it is essential to take time to pray for wisdom and discernment. God will faithfully guide us, but he will do so in his own timing, which may be different from the timing we prefer. If we’ve prayed but haven’t yet heard from God, we need to wait on him rather than rushing ahead in our own strength.
When we pray, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us. Then, we hold what we sense or hear up to the Bible. If the message agrees with God’s Word, honors Jesus, and produces the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – then we can move forward with confidence. If not, we should wait and continue to pray until the Holy Spirit clarifies what choice to make.
Discernment takes practice. Just like musicians learn to tune their ears to the right notes, believers learn to recognize the voice of God by spending time with him. The more we read the Bible, pray, and walk with Jesus, the more we can tell the difference between his leading and counterfeit guidance. We need to stay alert in this fallen world because not everything that sounds good or feels right is truly from God. But we can trust God to guide us after we ask for his help.
Here are some simple ways we can “test the spirits”:
- Pray first. Before taking action, ask God for wisdom and discernment.
- Check the Bible. Does what we’re sensing agree with God’s Word?
- Consider the potential results of each choice we’re considering. Will it draw us closer to Jesus? Will it produce peace, love, and holiness in our lives?
- Seek advice from mature believers. Let them help us discern the best decision to make.
- Don’t rush. Wait on God’s timing before taking action.
When we take these steps, we protect ourselves from deception and enjoy the blessings that come from walking in God’s will!
Let’s Pray:
Dear God,
Thank you for reminding me that not every spirit is from you. I confess that sometimes I’m quick to trust my own feelings or the voices around me without stopping to ask if they are truly from you. Please forgive me for the times I’ve rushed ahead without seeking your wisdom and discernment. Please help me make decisions that line up with your Word. Teach me to test the spirits and to recognize the messages that are truly from your Holy Spirit. Let me never accept anything that takes my eyes off Jesus or leads me away from him.
When I face important decisions, please remind me to pray first. Guard me from being deceived by my emotions, my desires, or the lies I hear in this fallen world. Guide me step by step through your Spirit, and give me peace and confidence when I should move forward with each decision. I choose to trust your timing and to follow where you lead me. I believe that you will always be available when I need you to guide me. Thank you, God, that you’re willing to serve as my personal guide through life.
Help me to hear your guidance clearly and to walk in obedience to it. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/NiseriN
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