I had listened to a book the previous year about the spirits of darkness and the realities of the spirit world. And when I heard a minister speak one day about these spirits I could understand where he was coming from. But one thing he said reproved me in a way I had never thought of.

As he spoke about the spirit world, he began to speak of those who once claimed a closer walk with God through conservative living, and had now left that way of life, claiming an even closer walk with God, despite going against so many of the Bible’s teachings. But it was his next words that made me go still. 

He talked of how these people always tend to find each other. They don’t wear signs saying what they represent, yet somehow they always find each other. He asked the ones listening why they thought that was. Then he answered his own question. It was because their spirits called to each other. One spirit found another similar spirit. 

Intriguing. 

As the days went by, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The more I thought about it, the deeper it went, and all I could think of was how it speaks in the Bible about being our brother’s keeper. That I know of, there is only one time in the Bible where it’s actually spoken in that way, and yet so many verses make reference to that. I’ve always known we are each our brother’s keeper, but that week it hit a little differently. 

If my spirit calls to your spirit, then I am truly my brother’s keeper. The spirit I allow within me is not only my own, but can also become freely entangled with yours. Am I keeping your spirit where it needs to be or calling it astray? Are you keeping mine?

Maybe I sense a spirit of anti-authority within me and I think it’s just me and not doing any harm to anyone else. But if what the minister says causes a bit of rebellion in your heart, will my spirit of anti-authority call to yours and you’ll feel justified in how you feel? Will we then form a pact and talk amongst ourselves?

I may have a critical spirit that I don’t take care of, yet I think I hide it well. But if you are having critical thoughts also, will my spirit call to yours and you’ll feel I am a safe place to backbite and criticize? Will we be critical together?

Maybe I have a spirit of the world in me. I come to church on Sunday and try to be “one of you”, but I long to adorn myself with nicer things and long to pamper myself with pedicures and manicures. I think no one else knows the secret longings of my heart. But if you have the same desire, will my spirit call to yours and one day life will find us doing such things with kindred spirits? Will we find comfort in knowing the other one is doing it as well?

There are times when we find ourselves doing things we never would’ve considered doing before, because our friends are doing it too. Thoughts we would’ve never entertained, we are now thinking, because of the company we hang out with. Doubts we would’ve never had in the past, filling our hearts, because of having the doubts of others made known. Our spirits whispering to each other in the darkness.

Say, on the flip side, I have a deep longing for Heaven. As a minister put it, “the option of not making it to Heaven is unthinkable.” Although I fail often, my ultimate goal is to live for Christ. How great of a thing it is then when our spirits yearn towards each other. When my spirit finds yours and yours finds mine and that bond runs deep even amidst the laughter and fun, it’s no wonder there is such joy amongst us in those moments for He is the author of joy.

My love for God might make you love Him more and your deep respect for his church, gives me a deeper respect. Our neighbors great love shown to others might make our spirit of love deeper, while our by-sitters spirit of gentleness, gives us more gentleness. It isn’t a wonder then how sitting in church with members of like precious faith makes us feel his Spirit all around us—for it is there… feeding our same spirits and feeding our hearts.

What a great work God has started in each one of us. Our spirits are not our own but are freely traded with each other even without signs stating where we have come from and where we are going. 

What a great responsibility we have towards each other as your spirit witnesses to mine and mine to yours. When I think of my spirit, whatever it may be, actually calling to your spirit, my eyes almost overflow with the emotions within. How I want to be sure to guard my heart even more that no dark spirit enters into its gates. Oh that we could all realize this great calling to be our brother’s keeper and walk each other safely Home. “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”