09/06/2025
Iโve realized how many voices I listen to every day, often without even questioning them. Sometimes the voices are from other people, whether face to face or online. Sometimes itโs an internal monologue that causes me to question Godโs direction:
I canโt be sure what God is saying to me. Iโm not spiritual enough.
God would never ask me to do that. I always mess things up.
Does any of this sound familiar? When we listen to these voices without holding them up to the Truth of Godโs Word, we can go down a path God never intended for us. In Scripture, the Apostle John warns us not to listen to every voice but to test what we hear:
โDear 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 worldโ (1 John 4:1).
So how do we know whether a spirit or voice is from God? John goes on to say that voices of truth will acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God. He also says spirits, teachers, or other voices that are not from God will โspeak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to themโ (1 John 4:5, NIV).
These distinctions may seem simple, but our enemy is skilled at distraction. As we listen to the voices of influence around us, we can ask ourselves questions like:
Is this how God would speak to me?
Is this consistent with Godโs character?
Friend, if the answer is โno,โ then turn the other way. Donโt listen or look back. Be empowered by the Spirit of Truth within you, and know He wants to see you flourish.
- Abby McDonald - Writer
What voices in your life might you be allowing to influence your decisions without questioning them?
