THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 16:21-23
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me.” (23)
Do you have negative or deceptive voices in your life?
Either from people, even loved ones, or as thoughts in your head?
The Satan is a deceiving voice, always trying to mess us up.
Adam and Eve faced him, Jesus faced him, and we do too.
He can speak through any form – other people, or media, or thoughts in our mind.
‘You’re no good, you will get away with it, God doesn’t love you, everyone’s doing it!’
Even people we love – like Jesus loved Peter – can give voice to Satan’s lies.
Not intentionally, Peter thought he was speaking positively to Jesus.
Which is why we need to learn how to discern the voices, to see if they’re from God.
As we talk with Jesus in prayer and hear from Him in scripture, we learn to recognize His Voice.
As we think through our thoughts, or messages from others, we ask ‘does this sound like Jesus?’
I am personally in a time of discernment, trying to clarify God’s will for my life.
The Lord is speaking, but so is Satan, and at times its hard to know whose voice it is.
Is this God’s direction, or Satan’s distraction?
I have to dig deeper, are these thoughts about human concerns, or God’s concerns?
I have to seek counsel from friends, and seek confirmation or clarification.
There are no shortcuts, learning to discern with the Lord takes time and practice.
But its worth it, because Satan has only one thing in mind – to make me stumble.
So with Jesus I am determined to listen for God’s agenda, and reject Satan’s!
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (23)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, My struggle is less about hearing You, and more about listening to what I hear. I’ve followed enough lies to know I don’t want to go down THAT path. Help me strengthen my ‘listening’ muscles.