Prepared for Deception

How unique our problems can seem! How lonely it can feel to face life’s challenges! To wonder what to do when we reach a crossroad. Needing to make decisions, to struggle with our options. To wonder what to believe. To have doubts and questions.

These are moments to remember the truths from the Bible and learn from the failures and successes of believers over the centuries. For followers of Jesus, these are moments to help us discern our spiritual foundations. To evaluate our relationship with God and how we make decisions. To determine how strongly we are committed to His Word. To what degree we are influenced by popular opinions or personal preferences.

The Bible warns that our “adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Just as he did with Adam and Eve, he surely will try to tempt and deceive each of us. He will distort and reinterpret God’s Word.

This is why we must know God and His Word, and do things His way.

Looking ahead, we need to be prepared for these temptations. This means being people of constant prayer. As Jesus told His disciples, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation.” As He warned, our flesh is weak. But we gain strength when we trust in the Spirit. For “the spirit is willing” (Matthew 26:41).

We need to be armed with God’s Word, knowing that these battles are spiritual in nature (Ephesians 6:10-17). We also need to be on guard against pride. Always walking by faith, humbly trusting God, confident that He is with us in the midst of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Today, stay alert for temptation and deception. Be ready!