We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. Acts 15 v 24
Not everyone who speaks to you and disturbs or upsets you is "authorized" to do so..
Do you allow people to upset you? While every person is deserving of consideration and it is a wonderful show of empathy to try and understand why they may be feeling the way they do and what the underlying cause.might be, you don't need to allow them to "dump" on you.
This is because not every person carries authority from those who's opinions you do value. I'm not talking here about those times we develop blind spots in our lives and are unable to see weaknesses that are a hindrance to ourselves.
What I mean is that we are to surround ourselves with people we know and trust and have chosen to allow to speak over, and into, our lives. These people should be hand picked based on the fruit on their lives and may be long, enduring relationships or for seasons in our lives as we journey and grow.
So those we have not granted entry into our lives may be part.of our lives by association but not by authority. They may rub shoulders with us by their proximity to us but they are not positioned by us. They may be in our lives but are not necessarily grounded with us to remain together through a storm.
These people may gain our ear but should not gain access to our hearts to trouble it. Our ear faces the world and is visible to others. Like the eye it may be a gateway to our inner world. But our hearts are from where the issues of life flow and out of which the course of our lives are directed.
As such very few should have access to our inner spring. Many would happily stomp through without so.much as a thought for the damage their muddy boots may cause. Those in our lives we have granted access would carefully consider the consequences of their words and approach and would be mindful of our lives and where we are in our journey.
I'm no saying we just need yes men in our lives but we also don't need frivolously strewn destructive attacks that have no Spirit leading and are designed to manipulate and control.
So smile politely but pay no heed to those who fire off without the "authority". It doesn't matter if they do so subtly or crudely. The spirit behind it is the same and we should ensure we are protected from its effects by recognising who we have bestowed the right of access in our lives to.
