.

I’m no poet. I know. But I’m going to share what poured out of me recently anyway.

.

What Cries My Heart

My heart, it cries,
too often.

It cries
for her who does not know,
for her who doesn’t even check,
for her who Shares and Likes.

She embraces false teaching,
and helps error spread like gangrene.

Oh Sister, my sisters,
long time believers,
worship team members,
pillars of the church,
greeters and servers,
Sunday service goers,
newborns in Christ,

Please,
test everything.
Test it all,
and never stop.

Test your pastor,
and favorite teacher.

Test that speaker,
and recommended author.

Test that podcast,
that video,
that meme!

Test them all,
and never stop.

There’s many, so many
subtle lines of error.
And some, not so subtle.

Deceptions and twisting
distortions and falsehoods,
to draw you away.
Draw you away.
Do you even know?

Listen carefully.
We were warned
in the Great Book.

Not all speak truth;
therefore,
we must test all.

It’s a command,
not an option.

Test.
Examine all
by the Scriptures.
Are they right?
Is it true?

Test.
For you,
for your family,
for your sisters at church,
for your Facebook friends,
for the glory of God’s truth!

Be discerning.
Don’t go by your feelings.
Don’t trust them.
Our hearts are sick,
desperately sick
and deceitful more than anything.

If the message is about you,
wonderful, awesome you,
or about making you happier,
healthier,
wealthier,

It isn’t about Him.
Him.

If it’s about problem areas,
not sin
or fixing yourself,
not sin
or thinking positive,
not sin

It’s not the gospel.

If it’s about the creative
power of your words
to bring things into existence,
or a new word heard from God,

Stop.

Pick up the Word.
Let it richly dwell in you.

It has all you need.
His words. Not ours.
His Word. Not ours.

He creates. He is sovereign. He has spoken.

HE

God help us.

So cries my heart.

.

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”
(Acts 17:11)

“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;”
(1 Thessalonians 5:21)

“Beloved, 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)

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Resource: Discernment Guide: How to avoid or escape the snare of false teachings

 

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Sharon Lareau

  1. Well, I’d say you are a poet :-) And I say you are a blessing: this warning is SO necessary for today. Thank you, Sharon.

  2. I’m responsible to present a “devotional” or lesson sort of thing at a monthly luncheon for a local women’s ministry. For the last couple of week, discernment, discernment, discernment has been what I’m emphasizing next week. May I have your permission to read your poem at this luncheon? There are seven ladies in total, not a large group. If not, I understand, absolutely. God has a lot to say about this, and I have no dearth of materials. As someone who has written over a hundred rhyming poems, and twenty or so that don’t, yours is assuredly a poem and is very powerful. Thank you for sharing your heart and God’s direction.

    1. Hi Nancy, Yes, you may read it. Thank you. I am deeply touched that it could be a part of your luncheon. I will be praying that all goes well for you and the ladies. Thank you for your feedback on my piece too. I hesitated to share it as I really didn’t know if it was well written. My husband encouraged me to share it, so I decided it was worth the risk of embarrassment. I pray it helps discernment increase.

  3. Sharon, thank you for permission to read your poem at my meeting. One of our ladies was there who hasn’t been for a few months, and your poem nearly brought her to tears as she said it was exactly what she needed to hear this very day, and she would like to have a copy. I gave her the one I had right away. (Your name and Chapter 3 Ministries is credited at the bottom of the page.) It was a God thing that your poem was read the day she was there. God is amazing how He works out even small details like that. You never know how something you share will touch someone.

    1. Hi Nancy, Thank you so much for the update! I am very happy that it went well and that the Lord worked things out as He did. He is awesome! Thanks again!

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