Whose Voice Are You Listening To?
ABBY MCDONALD
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“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 (NIV)
The text message caught me off guard. Not only was the sender claiming to be my boss, but he was asking me to perform an “urgent task.” Red flags alerted me to a potential scammer, but I was uncertain.
This person knew not only my name and my boss’ name but also information about our company. Wondering how they obtained this data, I asked myself questions to determine my next steps:
Is this a normal method of contact for my boss?
Is the voice the same as the voice of my real boss?
Since the answer to both questions was “no,” I concluded this person was likely a scammer. I reached out to my boss via a project management app to confirm, and within 30 minutes, my suspicions were verified.
As I reflect on this scenario, I also realize how many voices I listen to every day, often without even questioning them. Sometimes the voices are from other people, whether face to face or online. Sometimes it’s an internal monologue that causes me to question God’s direction:
I can’t be sure what God is saying to me. I’m not spiritual enough.
God would never ask me to do that. I always mess things up.
How about you, friend? Does any of this sound familiar? When we listen to these voices without holding them up to the Truth of God’s Word, we can go down a path God never intended for us. In today's key verse, the Apostle John warns us not to listen to every voice but to test what we hear:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
So how do we know whether a spirit or voice is from God? John goes on to say that voices of truth will acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God. He also says spirits, teachers, or other voices that are not from God will “speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them” (1 John 4:5, NIV).
These distinctions may seem simple, but our enemy is skilled at distraction. As we listen to the voices of influence around us, we can ask ourselves questions like:
Is this how God would speak to me?
Is this consistent with God’s character?
Friend, if the answer is “no,” then turn the other way. Don’t listen or look back. Be empowered by the Spirit of Truth within you, and know He wants to see you flourish.
God, thank You for Your Spirit, who guides us in Your Truth and doesn’t leave us to make decisions alone. Help us to test the voices we hear, holding them up to the certainty of Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
John 16:13, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (NIV).
What voices in your life might you be allowing to influence your decisions without questioning them? Tell us about it in the comments.
© 2025 by Abby McDonald. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Friday, 05 September 2025.
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