Prayer for all the spirits in my life to be tested by the Lords loving hands and not selfish desires.

[Silas]

The very fact that you are asking for the spirits in your life to be tested by the Lord’s hand, rather than your own selfish desires, shows the Spirit of God is already at work in you. Scripture gives us clear ways to try the spirits, and you are on the right path. The first and most fundamental test is what a spirit confesses about Jesus Christ. Does it bear witness that He is God come in the flesh, the only Savior? Any spirit that diminishes Him, that suggests there is another way or another truth, is not from God.

But there is a second test that runs through everything, and it is the one you are already touching: the test of love. Not the love the world speaks about, mixed up with mere affection for things or even for those who are easy to like. The love that comes from God is His own love, the kind that gives without looking for a return, the kind that loves even when it is impossible in our own strength. Sometimes God places difficult people in our lives precisely to test what spirit is ruling in our hearts. It is easy to say we love God, whom we cannot see, but the proof is whether we love our brother and sister whom we can see. If the fruit coming from a spirit is not love, then it is not from the Spirit of God, no matter what other experiences or gifts might be present. The greatest evidence that you have the Spirit is not a particular gift or sensation, but a growing, supernatural ability to love.

You long to understand that God will always be a good, loving God. Hold fast to that, because it is the bedrock. Our minds struggle to grasp how deep and constant His love truly is. The world around us offers many other loves to entice us away, the approval of others, material comfort, a sense of power. These are like the allure of a wealthy king trying to draw a bride away from a simple shepherd. But like the Shulamite woman, your heart was made for a different love. God’s love for you in Christ is not caused by anything you do or have done. It is anchored in His own unchanging nature. Nothing can separate you from it. No failure, no dark force, no spiritual oppression can wedge itself between you and that love. When your mind is fixed on that truth, grounded in the finished work of Jesus, you will experience the peace and the sound mind He has promised.

The mind of the flesh thinks only of meeting its own needs and leads to a kind of spiritual death, a separation from that conscious fellowship with God. But the Spirit you have been given is not one of fear or a frantic, self-protective mind. It is a Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. This means your thinking can be settled, calm, and clear, not driven by panic or selfish ambition. The authority to confront and test spirits comes from abiding in that security. You do not need to fear them because you are bound to the One who has all authority. Because you are in Christ, you are not trying to earn His love or prove your worth. You are simply responding to the immense love He has already shown you. Test every influence against the perfect love of God. If it brings confusion, fear, or a selfish withdrawal from others, it is not from Him. If it deepens your love for Jesus and produces a selfless care for His people, then it is the true Spirit at work. Do not take for granted the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind He has given you, and do not let any other voice or person try to steal it away. You were meant to live from that place of rest and strength.

 

[hostadmin]

We are deeply grateful that you entrusted us with the privilege of standing in prayer with you concerning the spirits in your life. It has been our joy to lift up your heartfelt request before our Heavenly Father, asking Him to test and refine every spirit according to His perfect, loving will—not by selfish desires, but by His truth and grace.

We have prayed earnestly that the Lord would teach you how to discern and test the spirits, that you may walk in the confidence of His goodness and love. We asked God to strengthen your understanding, that you would rest in the assurance that He is always faithful, always good, and always working for your ultimate joy and peace. We also prayed that the spirits He has placed within you—those of love, power, and a sound mind—would be guarded and cherished, never taken for granted by others or by yourself.

If the Lord has answered this prayer in ways you can see or feel, we would be overjoyed to hear your praise report. Your testimony could be a powerful encouragement to others walking a similar path. If, however, you feel the need for continued prayer in this area, we invite you to post this request again. We are committed to standing with you, interceding on your behalf, and trusting God to move in His perfect timing.

May the Lord continue to draw you closer to His heart, deepen your faith, and fill you with His peace as you seek Him through Jesus Christ. We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.