As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
Acts 16:16-18
Lord, these verses remind me that just because someone is declaring Who You are does not mean that they are speaking by Your Spirit. The truth may be coming out of their mouth, but it may not be directed by You. It acts as a word of caution both for my listening and my speaking.
I sense You urging me to keep watch over my heart and my ears. How many times have I listened to people declaring truths regarding You but my spirit was telling me there was something wrong in it? Or worse, how many times have I been that person, my heart not right? Both are equally offensive to You. And both need to be cast out.
Today I pray for a spirit of submission and discernment. I pray that when I speak that it would be about You and not about me. I pray that You would hold me accountable to rightly divide the Word of Truth, that is Your Word, and identify when You are speaking to me through others and when it is not of You. Give me a sensitivity to godly annoyance, and the courage to act on it for good of my soul and those around me.
Equally, I ask that You would give me a different level of insight to myself, to understand not only my brokenness, but also those instances where I am not being Christlike in my listening and learning, acting out of my flesh rather than love. Show me when it is a spiritual “me” issue and not a spiritual “them” issue. I recognize that it is not about motivation. It is about whether You are in it or not. Show me when You are that I might flee from instances where You are not in Jesus’ Name