My sheep will hear my voice. They will not follow the voice of a stranger but will run from it. John 10:27
“Do not believe every spirit but test them to see if they come from God” (1Jn. 4:1).
So counsels the apostle John. But how often do we actually heed this counsel? How many decisions, actions or false interpretations of our circumstances are inspired by a spirit other than Christ’s? And how can we be more attentive to these spirits so that we can learn to ignore or flee the many “stranger’s voices” that would otherwise lead us away from the peace of God’s guidance?
I am convinced that there are many spirits that influence my thinking and actions in the course of a day, and that not all of them come from God. They threaten to derail my spiritual direction in both the large decisions of life as well as the seemingly trivial ones. These spirits might even lead me to good actions, but if they do so by a spirit that is not from Christ, they will inevitably bear a bad fruit in me.
What does a good action led by a bad spirit look like? A typical example of this for a pastor might be the perennial feeling that I should phone or visit someone. There is nothing wrong of course with this initiative but the spirit that inspires such a good action might not necessarily be from the Lord. It could be a spirit of guilt that I want to relieve. Or perhaps it is my fear of what the person might think of me if I don’t call. Or worse, it could be my secret hope that they will see me as a good pastor if I do show such care. In each of these cases it is easy to recognize that the spirit inspiring this action comes from below rather than from above. If that is so then, according to Jesus, I should choose to not follow that spirit.
It is not the thought of visiting this person that is wrong, but more the reason for doing so. Rather than follow a spirit of guilt, fear or manipulation into this action, I should wait for another spirit to lead me, one that I more easily recognize as my Shepherd’s voice. Perhaps it will be a spirit of compassion, love, or of genuine concern for this person that motivates me to action. This is the spirit I should act on as I now recognize it as having Christ-like characteristics. Following this good spirit, my visit or conversation with this person will surely be different than if I had acted according to the “stranger’s voice.”
Following this same reasoning, I have made it a rule to never let myself be led in any of my actions or decisions by a spirit of anxiety. The moment I sense that anxiety is the interface between me and some task or decision I am considering I will let go of that spirit and wait for a more Godly one, perhaps joy, love, peace or freedom, to lead me into this action .
For much of my life, fear and stress have overly motivated me in my responses. They have, in fact, been my spiritual directors, leading my actions, initiatives and inspiring too often how I interpret the circumstances of my life and future. Looking back I can see how the fruit that this spirit bore in me and in my relationship to life did not resemble the grace of God. As Jesus asks, “Can a thorn bush bear grapes?” (Mt. 7:16)
Guilt, anxiety or fear are all very effective motivators for action. Much gets done in this world prompted by such negative spirits. But we can easily become slaves to such spirits and we need to recognize how dishonouring it is to the Lord when we do. To walk through life as if the sky is about to fall is not only harmful but also undignified for the children of God. Jesus tells us to not heed the “stranger’s voice” that offers to lead us in our life and action by such spirits of guilt, fear or worry. Instead we are to honour God in the poise of faith, as children who truly trust their Lord.
Matt. 7:16
Rob Des Cotes
Imago Dei Christian Communities
FOR GROUP DISCUSSION:
- Can you think of times when you have been led to a decision or action by a spirit of guilt, fear or anxiety? What fruit did this spirit bear in you or in this situation? Is there a negative spirit that is overly determining your responses to life?
- How can you cultivate a greater awareness of the various spirits that lead you in the course of a day so that you can choose more wisely which ones to follow?
- How does the practice of silent prayer help you identify such spirits that are suggesting themselves to you? How does it help you be more attentive to the spiritual movements that take place within you in the course of a day?
FOR PRAYER: Take time in prayer to examine the spirit behind each thought you have. How would you name each of these spirits? Is it a spirit of fear? Of gratitude? Of enthusiasm? Of anxiety? Of self-pity? Of trust? etc.