THE SPIRIT IN YOU
During a worship practice, HaShem said, “Don’t you see what is going on? You are allowing the Enemy to take over your spirit because of bitterness. Yes, he messed up, but you have too. You are forgetting that everyone on this earth is human and practice their human tendencies. The adversary tries to turn members of the church against each other by spreading lies. It is in these situations that you need to be running towards my perfect ways. This is why you need to guard your heart, even within the church community.” I then thought, if someone saw what I have done behind closed doors, how would I be seen differently? And how would I desire to be seen? Although, I cannot have contact with this man and a friendship was lost, I am still praying for him and genuinely want his ministries to flourish when he comes back to God. Jesus has extended grace to me, but am I practicing extending grace to others?
I had not realized how quickly I can be drawn into Satan’s ways. A simple riff between a Christian musician was determining my relationship with the Lord. The author of Proverbs warns us about guarding our ways. . Proverbs 4:20-27 says: “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep
Christian community. Although the individual did not do anything that would be out of character for a Christian to do, the small voice inside of me continued to tell me to think twice about his offer to mentor me as a musician.
After a series of events, over time this man revealed to me through his actions that he was not who he portrayed himself to be to the public and I cut off all forms of communication with him and have begun actively praying for him. Selfishly, I was disappointed because I enjoyed his music and I felt I could never listen to his albums again.
In my church, I am a member of the worship team and on Wednesday evenings, I attend weekly preparation sessions for the upcoming service. Frequently, this particular musician’s music is on the set list of songs that we do each week. For the first several weeks after the event, I was disturbed during worship. I would have a blank face and without realizing it, I refused to worship our living God. I would be occupied on the past actions of the writer of the music instead of the words and the meaning behind them. Two months after the incident, God revealed Himself to me in a huge way.
".... It is in these situations that you need to be running towards my perfect ways. This is why you need to guard your heart, even within the church community.”