The devil is an accuser of the brethren and the father of all lies. He despises love of any kind and will do everything in his power to destroy and eliminate it by whatever means. His initial goal is to create animosity and dissimulation between people, bringing about confusion, disarray, and disorder, hoping for a final demise of love in the end. Lucifer is everything that is opposite of love. He opposes it and strives to stamp it out completely.
Most of the time when Satan zeros in on individuals they are not cognizant of his craftiness and cunning ways of deceit. They fail to recognize what is happening to them. The spirit of anti-Christ is at work attacking from the spirit world of which the naked eye cannot see. We are made to believe it’s our own personality and traits that are to blame for the undercurrents. Satan does not want us to recognize who the real culprit and perpetrator is.
He leads us to think that it’s our suspicious mind working overtime that is creating the problems. We blame ourselves and everyone else for sleepless nights and the hurts that we endure. Excuses are implanted in our confused, subconscious mind by the enemy of our soul to camouflage his mode of operations. These implants are phrases like: It was the way I was raised; my dad was abusive; my folks were alcoholics; I was sexually abused; I was abandoned as a child; no-one loved me when I was growing up. All are deceptions from the devil, because he wants us to fail.
Sometimes we think it’s because of whom we are and our station in life that causes us to act and do the things we do. On the contrary, it’s the devil accusing us; making us to believe that it’s our fault or someone else. It’s a smoke-screen laid down to prevent us from seeing Satan for the deceiver that he is. He wants to trick us into thinking that we created the problems, when all the time he is the manipulator that misrepresents and manufactures lies—closing in for the kill. We must learn to recognize his mode of operation and then counter his attacks. Our actions must be sensible and empowered by God when going up against a deceitful foe like the devil.
We are led to believe that we cannot change our personality, because it is set in stone. We feel that we are stuck, because of our gene pool; the environment in which we live; the circumstances around us; or the company that we keep. All are lies from Satan.
As long as the devil keeps us convinced of these lies, he can manipulate us into believing most anything he wants us to believe. With these beliefs come feelings of heartache, worry, doubt, suspicion, fear, pain and many more unfavorable sensations that eat at us, which eventually tear down sound thinking. Our trip on the emotional roller coaster has just begun.
Soon the mind thinks up scenarios of the worst kind, bringing more hurt and deceptions. After the damage has been done, we ask ourselves questions like, “How could I have been so blind?” and “How could I have believed such things?” When the mind is not kept under subjection and it is allowed to conjure up untruths that have been placed there by the devil, broken-heartedness prevails. Likewise, when the tongue is out of control its poison kills life, which destroys relationships and long lasting friendships. It sits on hell fire and is full of venom and death.
There is an antidote for the devil’s deception—LOVE. Jesus is love. He helps our thinking to change. Jesus renews and restores broken relationships that have been torn apart by the conjuring tricks of Satan. God’s power works in and through us when we become children of God. Jesus speaks life back into the hearts of those involved. The sweetness of God’s healing begins to spring up like fountains of living water from deep within our soul, because we opened the door of our heart to Him. Life flows to every part of our being and those around.
I am very analytical in my thinking, which causes me to lean heavily on intellect. I look at situations from every angle and rationalize my conclusive action. God made me this way and I.................. Oh…Wait… Am I hearing something in these words that I addressed in my writing above? I believe so. Yes, I am who I am, but when I incorporate God in my decision making, the other side of the coin is revealed. Satan is exposed. When we include God it prevents Satan from getting a foothold during the process of decision making.
God will never lead us astray. If you are in doubt as to the will of God, ask yourself this question; “What would Jesus do or say in this situation?” It will give the answer you are looking for. You will then be faced with the choice of going God’s way, or pursuing your own freewill. When you go His way, the fruit of the Spirit goes with you.
(Galatians 5:22-23), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
I’ve found that as I walk with Jesus, things just have a way of working out for me. The Holy Spirit enables me to keep Satan at arm length, while my eyes are stayed upon the Lord.
We must trust God. (Romans ), “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
We must stay alert. (1 Peter 5:8), “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
We must remain strong. (Ephesians 6:10-11), “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” vs.11 “Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:12-17) explains what the whole armor of God is.
We must allow God to fight our battles for us. (Philippians 4:13), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This is my hope and the hope of all Christians.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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