Trust but Verify

12 Mar Trust but Verify

March 12, 3023

Trust but Verify

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. I John 4:1-3

Trust but verify is a quote used often by former president Ronald Regan.  How I wish I had instituted it in my life on a few occasions.  Lost a very good mentor because of information that I passed along that I did not verify, and he passed it along because he trusted me.  Hard life lesson. Same holds true in the spirit.  

We have been studying the person of the Holy Spirit how he dwells in the believer, how he guides us and as it says in our reading homework assignment in Romans chapter eight verses 4-5 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” 

See God builds us up on what we learn/know from the Word and put into action as believers. Our minds must be renewed to doing things God’s way (Romans 12:1-2). The hearing and obeying God is so important, we were taught in school if we do not understand something raise your hand and ask a question. Governing our lives should be no different. if you have a question, ask God, He is a quick responder.

Look at Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” 

James 1:5 says If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jeremiah 33:3 says, ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’  So, if you are not checking with the Holy Spirit on things, you are missing out on getting direction from the best solution provider there is on any subject or situation.

But what happens when you get an answer and you are not sure or you just want to verify that it is God speaking, what do you do. Realize that there are three voices you deal with God’s voice, yours, the devils, and you must rule out yourself and the enemy.  That is where that trust but verify comes in.  John 10:27 AMPC says^” The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.” As a believer there will be a confirming yes, an inner witness lining up with the Word of God realized. The old folks call it a witness in your spirit that gives you peace.

Ever decided to go somewhere or do something… and got a check in your spirit/ bad feeling about it. Simple things like you always take the highway to work but something is telling you to take the street today. Reread that email before you press send, go back home you left the iron on… Or on bigger things like changing jobs, major purchases, relationship decisions…, that is the Holy Spirit directing/protecting us. Helping us avoid danger, alerting us that this thing/situation is not of God, you forgot to do something, or your timing is off…  

Practice and incorporate trying the spirts to see if they are of God and watch Him answer you. Yes, you must recognize how God speak to you but if you partner with the Holy Spirit, He will never lead you wrong.  You can trust but just verify all things with the Holy Spirit.    “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”  Isaiah 30:21 💕

Theresa Woodard