Scripture:

“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” — Matthew 7:16 (NIV)

Excitement filled the car as my spiritual sister and I drove down the highway, heading to the Woman Evolve IRL conference. The atmosphere was electric—we were filled with anticipation, eager to get in the room and hear a word from the Lord. Between the chatter and giggles, I happened to glance out the window as we exited the highway.

Something caught my eye.

There, sitting perfectly still on a wall, were two iguanas—camouflaged so well that, had I not been paying attention, I would have missed them completely. Their ridges blended seamlessly with the texture of the wall, making them nearly invisible to the untrained eye.

“Look!” I pointed out to my sisters. “There are two iguanas sitting on that wall!”

Their eyes widened in amazement at how well the creatures had disguised themselves. And in that moment, the Holy Spirit downloaded a revelation into my spirit.

Just as those iguanas sat unnoticed, blending effortlessly into their surroundings, there are people in our lives who do the same. They appear to be for us, blending into our circles, speaking the right words, offering a listening ear—yet, in reality, they are only close enough to watch, monitor, and measure our progress against their own.

These are not true intercessors. They are observers. They are not rooting for us; they are keeping tabs.

The Bible warns us about such people:

      “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” — Matthew 15:8 (NIV)

They show up like friends, but their motives are misaligned. Their presence in our lives is not to build but to distract, derail, and discourage.

We continued discussing this revelation until we arrived at the conference, eager to hear what God had in store for us. And then—confirmation.

When Pastor Sarah took the stage, her sermon began with this very theme: discerning the fake from the real.

She emphasized a powerful truth: what makes something real or fake is the maker and, by extension, the sender.

Who sent them? Are they truly placed by God in our lives, or did they just sneak in unnoticed, camouflaging themselves to blend in?

In our busy lives, we can become so distracted that we fail to recognize the spiritually camouflaged among us. Discord, dissension, and unnecessary battles often arise because we’ve unknowingly allowed the wrong people into our inner circles.

Jesus told us how to discern them:

      “By their fruit you will recognize them.” — Matthew 7:16 (NIV)

No matter how well someone blends in, their fruit will eventually reveal who they truly are. Their words might be sweet, but their actions will always tell the real story.

A Prayer for Discernment

Father, thank You for wisdom and discernment. Open my eyes to see those who are truly for me and those who are simply observing. Help me to walk in love but also in wisdom, recognizing the fruit of those around me. Remove every spiritual distraction and every counterfeit connection that is not from You. May I always be aligned with Your will and surrounded by those You have sent. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

      1.    Have you ever experienced someone in your life who was only there to observe and compare?

      2.    How can you sharpen your spiritual discernment to recognize those who are truly for you?

      3.    Are there any relationships in your life that may be more of a distraction than a blessing?

Remember, not everyone who is close is called. Some are simply camouflaged. Stay vigilant, stay prayerful, and stay aligned with God’s will.

ElevateHerLife 💗 S.A