First we need to understand that becoming a Christian does not ensure that all your promptings are from God. As a matter of fact, the apostle John says in 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” or leadings are a common experience for the Christian believer today.
Examples of Godly promptings;
- Simeon was “moved by the Spirit” to go into the temple where Joseph and Mary were dedicating Jesus to God (Luke 2:27).
- Jesus was “led by the Spirit” into the desert to be tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1).
- Paul was “compelled by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22).
But, it is equally important to remember that there are other kinds of promptings that we can experience besides those of the Holy Spirit. Some can be good promptings, while others can be bad:
Examples of other promptings
- Your heart can “prompt” you to give (Exodus 25:3).
- But your emotions can also “prompt” you to speak (Job 15:5).
- And your troubled thoughts can “prompt” you to answer (Job 20:2).
- The devil even “prompted” Judas to go out and betray Jesus (John 13:2).
So, it’s important to distinguish which “promptings” are from our fresh (our thought or head), from evil spirits or the devil, and which ones are truly from God.
When it comes to being prompted to pray something specific for another person, I would be very cautious, unless it agrees with Scripture. This is really the test: Does it agree with Scripture? If the answer is yes, then it is from God. If not, then it could be either from you or an evil spirit.
Remember, Satan is a master at twisting the Scriptures to mean something God never intended… (read Luke 4). With that in mind It’s always prudent to look at the context of a passage and see what God intended, rather than praying a phrase from the Bible out of context. As you continue to grow in holiness, you will also find yourself growing in your ability to discern God’s will:
Romans 12:2 says; “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
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