BeyondSeeLevel

I once had an encounter with someone I was very familiar with. I had known this gentleman for over 10 years. We have a business relationship. But I also consider him a friend. Over the course of the years I’ve known him, he has been a big support and source of encouragement to me. The nature of our friendship would remind you of an uncle and his niece. I’d share with him the events of my life and he’d encourage me to “keep going in that direction and you’ll be ok”. I always got a feel from him that he was genuinely concerned about the welfare of me and my children.

One visit, we repeated the same usual routine. I shared. He listened, advised and encouraged. Now normally, that would be the extent of it. However, on this particular day, his words were different and immediately caught my attention. I would always let him know how God was working in my life and how He keeps on sustaining me and my girls. I would talk a little about how God was using me and positioning me in spite of me for His glory and my growth. I’d also mention many of the great things my church was doing.

But this day, he looked at me and said “You don’t have to be at that church all day.” In my mind I thought to myself “Where in the world did that come from?!” When did I every express to him that I spent all day of any day at church? He then continues on to say that it’s not necessary to spend so much time at church doing “church stuff” because God doesn’t require all that. All God required was one service. He said that there are bigger demons in the church than there are in the world; from the pulpit to the pews. He then asked me something that he hadn’t asked me before. He asked me what church I attended. I told him then he continued with his rant.

As he spoke, I said “Well, it works for me.” I, silently, wondered why would he discourage me from doing what apparently had been working for me as long as I’ve known him? If my commitment to “church stuff” keeps me out of trouble and “going in the right direction”, why instruct me to stop? But when I looked at his face and saw a disturbed countenance, I knew that that comment wasn’t about me at all. It was coming from his own place of frustration and disappointment with his own “church” experiences.

Because I respected him so much and valued his opinion, I could have allowed his words to take root in my spirit and followed suit. But of course, I didn’t. I realized that there was a message beneath the words he spoke. His message was “I’m frustrated! I’m tired! I’m angry!” But none of it had anything to do with me or my “church stuff”. Although, his words were directed to me, they weren’t for me. His words exposed his own personal struggles at that time in his life. I’m so glad that the Holy Spirit whispered that to my spirit in the midst of our conversation.

But even more calculating than the fact that his words to me weren’t even about me or for me, was the fact that his words were the words of the enemy trying to discourage me and detour my path. Yes, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “Sift through those words Tressa! They’re not for you.” In the like, Satan was whispering at the same time. He attempted to whisper words of determent and distraction. Satan knows the path that God has me on. He also knows that it’s a path destined and purposed to glorify God and affect the lives of many. I’m thankful that the whispers of the Holy Spirit overpowered what Satan was trying to put in my ear that day. I was able to look my friend in the face and say to the enemy, “Get thee behind me Satan!”

Praise God for His small still voice! Be mindful and watchful how Satan whispers in your ear. Recognize that it has little to do with the vessel he uses to speak through. But it has everything to do with the influence beneath the words of that messenger. We don’t war against flesh and blood. Many times, Satan chooses to whisper; not shout. He uses friends; not foes to do his dirty work. Don’t be deceived by the sound of a genuine sounding, gentle whisper. Always consider the power beneath the words.

I still hold my friend in high esteem and respect him greatly. But I also know that the closer the relationship of influence the more likely Satan is to use them against me. I also know that whatever I feed will lead. What empowers me to have discernment in the influence of words is the fact that I have the Word. I have Jesus! May the words of Satan through the mouths of man never mute the words of God in my ears!

*Tressa Jo