Spiritual Tricks

By definition, a placebo is a substance with no inherent medicinal capabilities given to patients to “fool” them into thinking they are taking something genuine. Their minds are tricked into thinking they have taken something effective.

But new research, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, reports that “scientists are finding a growing number of ways placebos appear to bring about real health benefits in patients.” In fact, administering placebos reduces pain and symptoms in many cases, “even when patients know they are taking a placebo.”

The fake medicine has impact in part because the body is being fooled. It is “preconditioned to trigger the same response” as the real thing. So effective is this procedure that more than half of doctors are said to prescribe some kind of placebos for their patients.

In the spiritual realm, many people are fooled by various kinds of “fakes.” In fact, our enemy, Satan, specializes in counterfeits. Deceiving and fooling us. The Bible says that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). He can try to trick us with displays of “counterfeit power” and even false “signs and miracles.” He seeks to “use every kind of evil deception.”

Satan promises solutions that might seem to work but which ultimately point us in the wrong direction to deceive us into believing his lies, just as he did with Adam and Eve.

In your life, make sure you are on guard against this kind of deception. Don’t be fooled by clever ideas or popular movements. Fill your heart and mind with God’s Word. It is the truth and it provides answers that really work. Seek to stay sensitive to His Spirit, always being alert and prayerful.