Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~1John 4:1-4 (NRSV)
At times my heart is drawn away from your loving purpose and way. My spirit leans toward the unloving though, the unloving word. I am prone to turn away from you and to embrace those things I know to be wrong and harmful.
As long as I continue to fight against those things with the power to destroy my life, I know that you are with me and living in my heart. I want you to take complete control of every aspect of my life. What a strange thing to be new and old at the same time, to be recreated by your love and yet continue to struggle with my old self. You have freed me from the guilt and power of my own brokenness, but inner healing requires a long process of divine therapy. ~From Praying in the Weslyean Spirit by Paul W. Chilcote
Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that You are greater than the spirit of the antichrist. When I find myself in darkness help me not to be led astray by unloving words or to embrace those things to be wrong and harmful. Protect my heart during times of wandering. Help me as I struggle again with my “self”. Help me to find my way back into Your light. Amen.
