Sin’s Deceitfulness
by Suzanne Benner
**Here is an Online Bible Study that will help you experience a deepening fellowship with God enabling you to grow in Christian maturity. http://thelife.com/study/knowjesuspersonally.html?section=lesson4&ft=BSG-OS
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:12, 13).
Have you started to believe the lies of our sinful world?
Sin lies to us saying there is an easier way; we deserve better; it’s not going to hurt anyone; it won’t matter just this once.
Romans 7:11 says, “For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.”
We shouldn’t be surprised by the deceitfulness of sin, because Jesus described Satan as the father of lies. “…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
Letting go of sin: Exhale sin, inhale the Holy Spirit
Needing a timeout with God?: Take our Life Lesson
The Bible warns us repeatedly not to be deceived:
• “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 5:6).
• “I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments” (Colossians 2:4).
• “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers” (James 1:16).
Attitudes that glorify self entice us; behaviors that bring instant gratification appeal to us, but they are deceitful. They promise things that they cannot deliver.
True joy, fulfillment, and acceptance can only be found in Christ. Thus we need to be grounded in the truth in order to withstand the lies of Satan.
~Holy God, help me to be self-controlled and alert because I know the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Open my eyes to the lies that Satan tells, so that I will not be deceived.
Questions: What is an example of a lie that you have believed? What truth from God’s Word do you need to replace it with?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/suzanne-benner/
Tags: deceitfulness, sin, sinful, unbelieving
94 Responses to “Sin’s Deceitfulness”
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Patti,
I like what patricia said “You are no longer a sinner, you are a saint who occasionally sins, as we all are.” I guess that’s what I was trying to say earlier. I’m sorry if what I wrote didn’t come across that way. You know Patti, I think that my Christian growth has been something that has taken a very long time for God to develop and He is still doing a mighty work in me too. Each time my faith has been tested He has graciously given me a revelation of His goodness in my life. I love what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I have witnessed a great strength in you more than once Patti. You are a powerful women of God, an inspired prayer and a delight to each of us here. Stand firm against the lies of this world. Don’t question your salvation just move forward, hand in hand, with the perfector of our faith, the Lord Jesus. Loving you from far away. Donna
The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity! (Dr.Neil Anderson) I have at my finger tips Satan’s lie and God’s truth. Satan’s liesYou are a sinner because you sometimes sin.
God’s Truth You are a saint, one declared righteous by God who sometimes sins. Ephesians 1:1 says : Dear Christians Friends at Ephesus, ever loyal to the Lord: This is Paul writing to you, chosen by God to be Jesus Christ’s messenger. . “Undertanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life.!” When I have realize Who am I, it takes away depression. I have tried to say my scripture
outloud when I have been having a weepy moment! Speaking scripture is power! I hope this helps Patti
Dear Patti
I believe we were all predestined to be “save”, but some of us have rejected that salvation. God may have know who would reject Him, but He didn’t choose that for them.
The fact that you want to be counted amongst the saved is in itself proof to me that your salvation is real.
You are no longer a sinner, you are a saint who occasionally sins, as we all are.
Remember that everything that is not of faith is sin. Satan loves to challenge our salvation but when this happens we can ask God to forgive us for doubting and to “help our unbelief” He will!!
Donna…………..I am not continuing in sin………..choosing it now…..but the way some teach, the fact that I haven’t grown…..am weak….God will give me over as He did the Israelites.
What am I to do? Nothing, it seems. That is where predestination makes sense. I am so tired of this struggle….so very tired.
Patti,
Predestination is a hard one. I think its something that our human minds probably won’t fully understand until we stand face to face with God. Our God knows everything…what has happened, what is happening and what will happen. He knows who will accept Jesus as their personal saviour. It is my understanding that once saved we are always saved, even if we fall into sin again. If we continue to live in sin God cannot do His work in us….we have to repent, turn away from sin and go in a different direction…toward God. As we ask Him to change us, and spend time in His word, the Holy Spirit does His work in us and we grow spiritually.
No Patti, you are not lost….as you said maybe confused. Sometimes these questions we have can be answered by dilligently studying God’s word for ourselves. I pray that you will be able to do that so that you will fully understand that your salvation is sure….In His Love, Donna
Dear ladies,
I must ask this. From the time we are a glimmer in our earthly father’s eyes, are some of us predestined to hell?
Am I unchanged by what I thought as my salvation experience? I called out to the Lord as in John 3:16. Is it possible that some of us can call upon Him…claim that scripture and be predestined to hell? Is it whosoever believth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life………..or is it possible that we cry out…. our heart is earnest…yet we are denied…..predestined?
I have not grown much………I have stumbled into sin …and in fact embraced it at times.
I am so confused……….and if I am lost…then there is no hope…no grace…no assurance and no salvation……
If I have not grown much spiritually…..then do I question my salvation? Am I lost?
I’m confused………
Precious Maria! How I rejoice with you at God’s revelation to you, of His great love and faithfulness to you, His adopted daughter! There is no sweeter place than in His perfect will!! Praise Him, for He alone is worthy!
Marilyn,
I prayed for God to examine my heart and look deep so as to uncover what ever it was that would keep me from walking closer with Jesus.
Also, I asked for victory. The interesting thing about it is if you referer to my messeage above, I was faced with a trial that revealed a side of me I never relized I had. A past sin that I thought I had overcome. This Devotional made such an impact on me! I cried and praise God and rejoiced for his intervention. He stopped me from my own distruction. I wondered how and why would God allow me to fall for Satans lies so easly. And thats when I read your messege this afternoon ” I would encourage you to look deep into your heart to uncover the obstacles you face in your journey of faith! Ask God to illuminate the areas that hinder you, then let Him lead you to victory. Oh! I see this was uncover and obstacle that I need to face and feel the pain and void that it causes when sin and lies distance me from God. I made a chooice that nothing is worth living with out Jesus. Victory to Jesus
Dear sister Dianne, my honesty with you is born of my love for the Lord and His love for you! I shared from my heart, feeling a burden for you in your seeming lack of assurance about your salvation, wanting you to know how to experience the joy of your salvation! I, too, admire your honesty regarding your resistance to yield to the Holy Spirit’s efforts to bring you to full maturity in Christ; however, my dear friend, I would fail you miserably if I didn’t exhort you to examine your heart, encourage you to seek His forgiveness for your rebellion and turn to Him. He is faithful to forgive, when we confess our sins to Him and repent. But, while He is a very patient God, Dianne, remember how He judged the Israelites for their persistent rebellion? His patience will only go so far, then His wrath is levied. This does not mean that He no longer loves us, His children, but He disciplines His children, as a father disciplines those whom he loves. (Proverbs 3:12) I can assure you, my dear sister, that you will not know His peace, or experience joy in your life until you surrender to Him, and let His Spirit transform you from the inside out! I do not know what you fear, or why you would rebuff God. Again, my sweet friend, I would encourage you to look deep into your heart to uncover the obstacles you face in your journey of faith! Ask God to illuminate the areas that hinder you, then let Him lead you to victory!
Chris,
I don’t know what is happening to your body; but if you want to chat w/me use my home email:
mizabk@cogeco.ca
Sjogren’s is a weird one…..and if you are having strange swelling perhaps you may fit into the Angio-Edema medical name [it is considered a RARE condition & so most docs have no idea if it is internal. When it happens on the outside,then they can grasp what you may have been telling you for years.
Want to chat more? Use the home email. Would love to hear from you.
Andi
Dianne, The translation I mostly use is The Amplified. I like to know all the finer nuances and meanings from the Greek text. Makes it long winded but helps me to ponder it better.
Andi
Ladies, you have written absolutely awesome things on this day’s blog!
Thank you, Maria. I have prayed for you, too :-}.
Andi, “Do I talk to much? LOL??? You all seem to keep your responses so focused and spot on!”: No, just read almost any one of mine ;-D !
What translation did you get the Ephesians passage from?
Marilyn, thank you so much for your honesty with me. It is rare to find a person who is willing and able to speak both sides of the truth (grace/love and truth) at the same time (I thank God that there are some others on this site who are able to do the same, as well).
I do believe. I have asked and have invited. I have, and do, resist spiritual maturity, and the reasons have been fear and selfishness. Thank you for your counsel and especially the way you have given it; I very much respect this way of speaking the truth, and it is a salve to my soul, even as it does not let me off the hook. I so hunger for this kind of counsel that I have tears rolling down my cheeks as I write :-}.
Thank you also for the “crowning glory of creation;” it is a good reminder for me, too.
Barbara, I remember your writing about BDD, and about your books. It is good to know that you are still here and are reaching out to these wonderful women. I have, and will, pray for you. I am also encouraged by the positive tone underlying your statements of dedication to writing and to seeking out the proper care for you and your condition.
Yes–I am so glad that you are feeling and thinking better today :-} ! It is so good to have someone that has done as he has with and for you, and that you will now be able to make your commitments before God, too. I hope tomorrow will be a blessed occasion for you to remember, and the beginning of an even deeper relationship with the man you love and who loves you :-}.
Have you heard about “The Triangle?” It’s an illustration of marriage as a triangle, with the man at one corner of the base and the wife at the other corner of the base, and God at the top. The idea is that as long as the two of them keep the focus of the marriage only on each other, and try to make it work on their own power, there will always be that degree of separation between them. But if both of them keep their eyes on God as the “third person in the marriage,” and as long as each works on growing closer in their personal relationships with Him–which causes them to rise up the sides of the triangle–they will also move closer and closer to each other.
Margaret, thank you for sharing those affirmations and your experience with them; I can use all I can get of these right now, especially with the way my husband has been tearing me down lately.
Not only that, though, but I have also recently seen that my view of myself as “insignificant” has brought hurt (and harm ?) to others around me, because I don’t think of my actions as having much, if any, effect on those around me.
For instance, if I start to establish a friendship with someone and then cut back on my contact with them, I don’t think that they are affected by it [because I am "insignificant."]. The truth is, though, that they could be wondering whether THEY did something to hurt me or otherwise cause my distancing, and that can be painful to them. That is relational damage, and God is passionate about nothing else more than He is about relationship.
So, as long as I think as poorly of myself as I do, I also hurt others (without meaning to, or even knowing it); and THAT is definately NOT God’s will.
That means that I owe it to God and to others to start working on/believing that I AM significant, that I AM worth something, and I AM precious in God’s eyes.
Thank you also for your counsel and encouragement to Patti–you tell her the truth.
Thank you, penny b., for sharing your experience, strength, and hope, and “Sometimes He uses a miracle and makes things disappear, and sometimes He uses other means, whatever will give Him the Glory.” I don’t like taking medication either, especially when it is to treat mood and thoughts, but I do, now, too.
I take an antidepressant, and if you think I struggle now, you should have been inside my head before I was! Some of the ladies on this site have read things that I wrote back then. I was really messed up and virtually incapable of offering encouragement to anyone.
Back then, Fran said that someday I would also be offering encouragement to others (to God’s glory), and she was right. Medication, as part of an entire package, was necessary in order for me to be able to do that.
To Chris T.: Sjogren’s Syndrome…could this be what is going on with your pressure build-up and fluid retention? I have no idea, but has this ever been considered/looked into in your situation? Thank you, Andi, for sharing about this.
Patricia, thank you for your reply, your encouragement, and your prayer :-}. I thought that the reference was to the law of Moses, too, but I second guessed it once I’d finished. Thank you for the confirmation :-}.
Wow! Thank you ladies :-}. I love you !
Dear Andi and Patricia,
Thank you both so much for your encouragement and to all the other ladies here as well. I am having a much better day today and am so much looking forward to the BIG day tomarrow. How quickly God is to come to our rescue when we cry out to him.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to finaly marry this man that God has placed in my life several years ago. He has stouck by my side through thick and thin and has already proven his faithfullness to me in so many ways. My heart this day is seeing things so much more clearly than ever before and I am so filled with PEACE that is unspeakable.
Thank you all agian sisters in Christ and may you all have a blessed of a day.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen
i am a little behind on reading my devotionals but this one is a very good one .my friend kate is now in a nursing home and not doing good,she has fluid building up around her heart please keep her in your prayers
sharon b
Dianne
I believe that the commandment mentioned in Romans 7 was referring to the law and commandments given to Moses. The law was given so that people would know that they were sinning and recognize their need for God.
The law came through Moses, but grace came though our Lord Jesus Christ, and you are no longer under law, but under grace.
Galations 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
I pray that God’s grace will become more and more real to you as you choose to reject Satan’s lies and accusations.
Barbara
How sad to hear that you are not looking forward to your wedding day. Psalm 139 says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. I pray that God will set you free to believe that, and that Satan won’t be able to ruin your marriage by keeping you from believing your husband’s words of love.
Have just read a good book by a Christian psychiatrist (Dr. Mulllin)who believes that there is place for medication in the care of Christians because there are times when the medical side of things needs to be taken care of before they can benefit from counselling.
Response to Barbara: re: “satan does not want me to be able to accomplish this mission for he knows that if I do then lives will be saved. I am not going to give up the good fight of faith and I will survive this day and the days to come.”
I believe you have said it all in these 2 statements!! Praise God and LOL!!! Hallelujah!!! : -)
I stand in prayer with you today as does the rest of this Company of Wonderful Women STANDING on all of HIS promises that the evil one will stop playing with your thots and so will flee.
STAND instead on HIS promises and sing, sing, sing praises to HIM whenever the old thot pattern tries to come in. [Oh how easy to say and what practise and repetiton it takes to make it a habit that is centered in HIM!]
Tell satan HE has to flee as you call upon the Blood of Jesus for this he can not face.
“Greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world!”
I pray you will have joy and peace as you marry your loved one. May he always be able to tell you how beautiful you are to him. May you come to the place of knowing and believing this truth thru his eyes and may our Father grant that you be able to see yourself as HE created you in HIS eyes even before your birth. In Jesus name. Amen.
[I have a condition that requires taking steroids to try to control some aspects of it.
For me it is humbling as I try to come to grips that I have a HUGE likely hood of becoming over-weight,hairy in all the wrong places , pimpled faced and my head hair fall out!
If the docs say the time has come to have to do this; then I will have to learn to accept the new physical image I may develop in order to keep a lucid mind and focus on daily life. Errr!!! But the other option is to go home prematurely; before I have finished the plans and purpose HE had in mind when HE created me!]
Barbara I am SO glad you are going to seek professional help for this condition. I can’t imagine how you deal with it on your own.
And YES a huge round of applause to your decison to not allow doctor’s to dictate to you. I pray that you will find a doctor who will become a Team Member as you both look for the best treatment & care. Amen!
[the condition I have is called Sjogren's Syndrome and I swell up with Angio-Edema inside and outside,thus the steroids and other meds.
My husband and I knew for 17 years there was something seriously wrong; but the docs kept putting it all down to menopause! LOL!!!
Praise God for finally having the Angio-edema surface on the outside of my body! I was so swollen up inside and outside my face; we took a photo of it the second time! I show it to EVERY doctor I have to see now.......
However, it was this external swelling that led to a diagnosis;
It took a kind and caring Christian G.P. fighting for us amidst the specialized docs to finally figure all the symptoms out. We praise God for his tenacity and desire to find the truth!]
I pray that you also will be led to the one doctor who will help you and that there will be practical things you can do. If it’s medications so be it! Accept them as from the Lord and work with the doctor to find the best ones for you [often it takes a lot of trial and error to find the one or two or three..... & can be 'trial and error' for both you and the doc].
Keep writing and keep your eyes upon Jesus for you know you are HIS well loved child, created by HIM for a specific plan and purpose!
God richly bless you Barbara as you seek HIM for all your moments
and days. May HE lead you to finish the books and even give you more and more to tell and teach and pass on to others. May hundreds and more come to know HIM as Lord and Saviour thru your life that is fixed and solid and firmly built upon HIM! In Jesus name I ask all these things. May He bless you by becoming ‘
“the spiritual mother to MANY!” Amen and amen!
Penny Thank You so much for your words of encouragement and wisdom. I thought that I would be able to overcome this disorder on my own but maybe you are correct in what you say. I will seek out the help that I need but yet this time I am much stronger in selecting the proper help instead of just allowing any doctor dictate to me like in the past.
Thanks again
Dear Margaret……..I love your poem….a beautiful reflection of who you are in HIm. Andi….thank you for your encouraging words….I know this..truly I do. It is just one of those days……I am praying for you, dear sister……
How blessed we are to have t his place to come, share and be “real”….and still loved, uncondtionally.
Thank you Debra….and Suzanne……..all of you for your prayers….
This is a response to Barbara’s posting on 4/2/08. I hear the struggle in your words, because I have been where you are now. I want to encourage you in The Lord and to see a doctor. God has delivered you 5 times from killing yourself, and He has taught you to depend on HIm for life. That is wonderful, but I also believe He has given us people with amazing brains and knowledge in this area that you are struggling with. I also fight your fight. For 10 years I prayed for God to take away the thoughts that satan was telling me. The thoughts would sometimes go, but they would always return. I could’nt understand since I had been a believer for a long time and I knew He had the power. I thought my faith was week. But, sometimes God answers those prayers in a different way than we expect. Not until I was flat on my face did He lead me to doctors and medication. I have been taking them for over 15 years and they have helped to free me from the bondage of my own mind. God uses prayer, His word, and other people to help us in this life, including doctors. I do not advocate medication for everyone, only you and your doc can decide. Jesus is The Great Physician! Sometimes He uses a miracle and makes things disappear, and sometimes He uses other means, whatever will give Him the Glory. Talk to someone who has some training in this area. I pray that He will give you wisdom and discernment and courage!
Penny
There is a lot more but these are the ones I have highlighted on Who am I ! I am secure, I am signficant!
I needed to be reminded of knowing what the Truth is! It is one of those things I have struggled with all my life and now I am learning to replace the lies with the truth!
For me I have to look over and over again at Neil Anderson’s list of Who I am in Christ and the scriptures are an amazing too to read out loud.
I am a God’s child! John 1:12
I’ve been adopted as God’s child. Ephsians 1:5
I cannot be separated from the love of God. Romans 8:35
I am free forever from condemnation.Romans 8:1
I have used these and I have calmed down!
Pattie it takes a while to get over a loss of a mom.
Don’t rush your grieving but allow God to heal you and touch you. Tell him exactly how it is and wait for a word from him. He loves you and longs to comfort and help you!
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Oh, what a battle we fight against the lies of this world. Heavenly Father, our dear sisters are struggling with so many issues because they have been lied to. Lord, please help them to see the truth as set out in your word. Lord surround them with your love and equip them to fight this battle. May each one reading this devotional today know that they are your precious children. Thank you Lord that you hear our prayers….that you want only good for us. Lord please keep us focused on you. Amen
Praise point girls! Steve starts his new job on Monday. Thank you all for your prayers. LindaR, JudyD and Fran thanks for praying about Steve’s condition. He is doing really well at the moment. Our next challenge is that the new job is almost 2 hours away. Please pray for God’s protection for our family as Steve will be away 4 nights a week.
JudyD, Praying continuously for a positive outcome tomorrow….
Loving you all from far away….Donna
Amen! What a day this has been. Devotional was amazing… God has spoken thru his people.
Sweet Lord, You created the heavens and the earth and all that is within them, but it wasn’t until you created man and woman, that You said it was “very good!” We are Your crowning glory in creation, because we are made in Your perfect image! Thank You for Your goodness to us! Lord, we lift up our sweet sister, Barbara, to Your throneroom, that You may give her new eyes to see herself as You see her! Let her see through Your lenses the beauty of her spirit, and dim her view of the external, that fades with time, and betrays. Fill her, Lord, with joy at the anticipation of her upcoming wedding, thankful for Your provision and blessing! May she ‘see’ how beautiful she is to her husband, and let that be the reassurance that she needs! Bless their marriage, Lord, with faithfulness and enduring love! We pray this in Your precious Name, Jesus!, Amen!
Yes, Andi, we can thank Him for loving us enough to trim the dead-wood from our lives, that we may blossom more vibrantly for Him! The pruning may hurt a bit, but the results are glorious! :)
Questions: What is an example of a lie that you have believed? What truth from God’s Word do you need to replace it with?
WOW! Todays devotional could not have come at a better time for me today and I Thank God that i am still ablive to read it.
The biggest lie that I have been battling with is that I am UGLY and that each time I try to overcome such lies SATAN just steps on in and tries to devour me more and more and more….. To the point that I just cannot bear to keep on living this way anymore. I know that I must overcome these lies with the truths of GODS WORD for HIS word says that I am beautiful for HE is the one whom created me and He loves me no matter what.
I cannot stand living with this disorder much longer for it seems as if I am living in an inner prison that I cannot seem to escape from……DEATH looks so much better for me when I battle in the mirror for hours on end trying to LOOK half way decent. I know that all that I am writting here today may sound so superficail but when these lies come flying at me LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN lately I just do not want to live anymore. The disorder that I am battling with Ladies is called BDD (Body Dismorphic Disorder) and such must be broken from me in order for me to move on in life.
I am supposed to be getting married this comming Friday, April 4th and the deception that I still live in with this disorder is making it nearly impossibly for me to enjoy such an occassion.
Please pray for me dear sisters in Christ that these dreadful lies will flee from me for I truly do not want to live a disabling life anymore. I know that GOD has kept me alive for very good reason for as many of you may already know, I have tried to already take my life seven times via suicide because of the UGLY thoughts that invade my mind at times.
I have a blessed little childrens book that I know is a calling from God for me to complete and I also know that the other book that I’ve been writing also is a blessing from the LORD and thus is why the battle for my life is on. Satan does not want me to be able to accomlpish this mission for HE knows that If I do then lives will be saved.
I am not going to give up the good fight of faith and I will survive this day and the days to come. Sorry Ladies for being so down today for usually I am on the up when I write in but today is not the case.
Lord I pray that the lies that are within me this afternoon be removed and fill me up with the truths that will set me free. In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Thank you Suzanne, Marilyn, Marie and Andi for your beautiful prayers. We are all on a journey and we are at different stages in that journey towards the Father. All your stories and your prayers definitely help me along my journey. Blessings to all
Tahnks Maria.
Marilyn,
Wow! You said it SO well, not just for Maria but for all of us! Praise God. This is a tuff one for many of us to accept as HE changes us ‘from glory to glory’ isn’t it?
Ouch! There is pain in the growth process but it is for our good that HE prunes us Ouch! …..BUT when we can look back down the road we’ve traveled with HIM we can stand amazed at how much HIS loving hands have worked to change us even now on this earth! LOL in joy!!
Andi,
You dont talk to much. Today is a day that I need to listen.
I am taking to heart all that God is telling me thru the ladies messeages. I am humbled to know how God is loving me thru you and the other ladies. Today I am not alone facing trials of temptation. You don’t know me and yet you care. Our war is agains principals and principalities and spirits in high places. How beutiful it is to know that we are not alone.
God bless you all!
Dianne, you don’t have to wonder whether or not you are going to heaven — you can know it with assurance! If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, that He rose again from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of God, The Father, in heaven, and if you have asked Him to forgive your sins and invited Him to be your Lord and Savior, He is faithful to forgive! Salvation is not something we do, but something God has already done for us. We can’t earn heaven, we don’t merit heaven. Jesus has bought it for us with His blood. Once saved, you cannot become unsaved. He saves us, and then He imparts His Holy Spirit to indwell us, that we may be sanctified. This purification process should produce the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, and self-control) in us, at varying measures. As believers, we still struggle with our sin-nature, but we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome our sinful desires, as we depend more on God for our strength. When we resist the Holy Spirit’s efforts to grow us up into mature Christians, our lives can mimic unbelievers’, and we lack spiritual vitality, power, and our witness for Christ is weak. We become defeated by our unwillingness to obey God, and peace and joy elude us. Part of the purification/sanctification process involves the Holy Spirit shining His search-light into our hearts and lovingly exposing the areas of our lives — wrong-thinking, sinful behaviors, etc. — that He would like to transform, to gradually make us more like Christ. Spiritual gifts have been given to each of us, that we may build up the Church and minister to each other. Christians are never just left unchanged by their salvation experience; therefore, if spiritual growth and maturity has not happened for a professed Christian, then either he/she has not been saved, or he/she is thwarting the work of the Holy Spirit, which is a grievous sin. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) I say these things to you, Dianne, with a loving heart, feeling a burden for you in your desire to have spiritual victory and assurance of your salvation. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit can be very humbling, even painful . . . but never condemning. It is good for us to be pruned of the things in our lives that would hinder our growth! Do not fear God’s illuminating work, you will come out refined as gold! Surround yourself, dear sister, with Godly women friends, who will share this journey of faith with you, lifting each other in prayer support, holding each other accountable, and encouraging you toward the finish line! God bless you, sweet sister!
Do I talk to much? LOL??? You all seem to keep your responses so focused and spot on!
Maria, & the other ladies,
I pray for us all today that God will make Ephesians 3: 16 – 19 real over all of us. May HE grant us out of the rich treaury of HIS glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in our inner man by the Holy spirit- HIMSELF indwelling our innermost being and personality. May Christ through our faith actually dwell – settle down, abide, make HIS permanent home – in our hearts! May we be rooted DEEP in love and founded securely on love, that we may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all of HIS childred what is the breaadth and length and height and dept of HIS love. That we may really come to know – practically, through experience ourselves – the love of Christ which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that we will be filled [through ALL our being] unto ALL the fullness of God – [that is] may we have the richest measure of the divine Presence and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God HIMSELF!
Father may these words speak to Maria & to all of us.
Father I ask specifically for Maria that YOU help her to ‘act against sin’ before it becomes sin and therefore not ‘react to it,’ just as she has prayed. Lord help her to keep her eyes focused upon YOU the Author and Finisher of her faith; and help her to turn to YOU immediately when she recognizes the prowling or roar of the evil one. Father I agree with her that it is in the Power of Praise that the evil one has to flee and I stand with her and all the other ladies today who are searching their hearts and minds thanks to today’s question regarding ‘personal sin.’
Father when YOU reveal what our personal sin[s] is/are and we have confessed and asked forgiveness may we then know we are free of its power and feel YOUR blessing and peace, YOUR mercy and grace.
In Jesus name I pray for myself and all the ladies today. Amen
For Tina R:
A wonderful secular book that got me back to college in my 50′s might help you. It is called ‘Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.’ Written by a woman, forget her name sorry.
Patti,
42 years ago my little sister, Susan was killed due to a car accident in which I was the driver. This was just a year after my son was born [out of marriage].
It was almost 10 years later that the healing words of an older, mature, godly woman got thru to my spirit, soul and mind and I felt complete self-forgiveness.
All she said was, ‘Who do you think you are that God can not forgive you? God can and will forgive anyone who asks. Thinking HE can’t forgive you is placing yourself higher than HIM.’ And then she told me that,’I needed to understand this fully before I would be able to forgive myself.’
What a joyous day it was when I knew that forgiveness of self and God’s acceptance of me were completed! [this does not mean that I stop missing her…..but I do KNOW that I will spend eternity with Susan in glory! And that she’s waiting there for me now!!
Don’t let the evil one keep beating you up! STAND in HIS word and live for HIS honour and glory and joy can not help but bubble up.
It sounds as if you were loving, caring and kind to your mum. So stop beating yourself up too! Okay? : -) God loves you & I’m beginning to already! LOL
SUZANNE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEVOTIONAL AND PRAYER TODAY. AND THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT
CHRIS T.
Dianne,
Thank you, I am praying as being prayed for, It’s a battle!
Jesus has overcome and we can thru Him too.
I am praying thru out the day as the other ladies. We can do all things in Jesus Christ. Ishare your pain.
Correction: “at in some degree” should’ve been “at least in some degree.”
I hope that I haven’t mistaken Romans 7:11 for something that it isn’t. I don’t want to trifle with or misrepresent the word of God. What I wrote is only about how the verse spoke to me, and if there is any untruth in my interpretation (i.e. from my not knowing what commandment he was referring to [for instance, if it was the Great Commandment, then my response has been off base]) please, someone, correct me—I didn’t research before writing.
Hi ladies :-}
Romans 7:11 says, “For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.”
This verse speaks to me. I am naturally rebellious (which has it’s roots in fear and in imperfect love). When dad used to preach to me that the purpose of the law was to reveal our sin to us in order to make us repentant, I didn’t believe him. I knew that I certainly didn’t become repentant, I just ran away instead. Why would I turn toward a God who’s law just condemned me?
So I think I might understand what this verse is trying to say, at least as it has played/s in my life:
Being confronted with various things the Bible says (exhortations, commandments, etc.) I became afraid. This fear gave the devil an opening with me–an opportunity to reinforce the fear I already had of what God would do to me if I ran TO Him, instead of away from Him.
Over the course of 5-8 years this combination of my own fear and the devil playing on my fear built up to the point that I could not even say the words “our Father” when reciting the Lords Prayer, and I could not read any books that referred to God without becoming anxious and putting them down and turning my attention to other things.
I was also seriously hampered in my ability to do the Third Step (“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.”) of the 12 steps of recovery–even though my very life literally depended on doing it!
I was sure that if I let myself get that close to Him, He would slam me with all the anger and retribution I thought I’d avoided during my years of running.
Today, I still fall into believing the lie of the image of God I have in my head (angry, punishing, unpredictable, capricious, etc.)–unless I consciously make the effort to think otherwise.
I still lapse into self-condemnation and/or despair over the thought that I probably will never get into heaven. I even question whether I am actually nothing more than a devil’s seed being decieved into thinking that God loves me and wants me and has forgiven me.
I still sometimes also go into these destructive trains of thought when I read passages in the Bible that point out my my current sins, or that describe the ways God has punished others for the same kinds of sin. It hasn’t been as bad as it used to be, but it does still happen if I am not careful to counter those thoughts as I go along in my reading of those parts of the Bible.
But for a few years, I had to severely limit my exposure to those kinds of chapters and verses altogether. I needed some time to focus on the positives instead of the negatives before I could do what I have been able to do more recently.
It is work for me to remind myself that God brought me into recovery, and then to Christ even AFTER I committed many serious sins (there are few, if any, that I haven’t, at in some degree).
It is hard to really believe that I am precious in God’s eyes, but I am starting to use affirmations like, “I am a child of the Most High God,” and “I am awesomely and wonderfully made,” and “I can do all things through God, who strengthens me”—and I feel a warmth and a confidence within from saying these.
I am also being surrounded by a handful of women who have been regularly reminding me that God loves me, sees me as “precious” and “without sin,” and who speak against the hateful things that I think and that my husband still tells me about my character and my soul.
I have also cut down on the amount of time I spend with other friends who also judge me.
And I try to not let the condemning passages of the Bible get to me as much as they used to.
So, I am beginning to actively contradict the lie that I am irredeemably unworthy of God’s love, and that no matter what, I am going to go to hell in the end.
That, and the lie that God is secretly evil, are probably the biggest and most influential lies that I contend with on a pretty much daily basis. I guess I also need to get more active at contradicting that second lie, too.
So, “the opportunity afforded by the commandment” in my life has been fear. And that fear literally took me to the brink of physical death—more than once. But God would not let that happen, no matter how serious I was about it.
I need to step up my efforts to put verses that speak to me about God’s goodness and about my worth in God’s eyes on note-cards to carry around and review. I have been cutting and pasting many verses over many months to keep in this computer (it’s faster), but they don’t do as much good as they could do when all they are doing is sitting around in storage on this thing.
So thank you for this devotional. It has been very good and timely for me :-}.
suzanne I stand in agreement with the prayer you prayed of
our dear sisters according to Matt.18:18-19, so be it Amen!
In time past when I wasn’t a christian and even after I be-
came one the devil had a field day with my mind. I was a
shy, quiet person, so the devil felt I made a good target
for him to come against with lies. I was weak and without
strenght, not knowing God and when I got to know him I didn’t have a lot of knowledge and understanding of his word. I also didn’t have knowledge and understanding of who
I was in Christ and all the promises God had for me. I was
living a miserable and defeated life at that time. But thanks be unto God who causes me to triumph always in Christ
Jesus. I found out that Iam morer than a conqueror to him
who loves me. I realized that greater in he that is in me
than he that’s in the world. I discover the secret to being
content, and that is “I can do all things through Christ
which strenghten me. I now know that all things work to the
good of those who love God and is called according to his
purpose. When I started growing in the knowledge and the
understanding of God’s word, my trust, my faith, my confidence in God increased more and more. I can now stand
with boldness and confidence proclaiming the word of God.
The devil probably hate that he lost out on me being used
by him to lie to so much! Praise be unto God for his great
grace, his unfailing love, for his enduring mercy, toward
me and you. These following words are being placed in my
spirit:”I was once blind but now I see, once was lost but
now I am found”, oh! what amazing grace!!!! Have a wonder
ful and refreshing day in the Lord ladies.
Suzzane,
Your prayers are very powerful. You have a gift.
God bless all.
Holy God, I pray for these women today, for Maria in her relationship with you, for Patti and her cry for forgiveness, for Tina and jerseygirl and others who have negative thoughts dominating their minds.
I pray that You would replace the lies Satan feeds their minds with truth from Your word.
I pray (as Paul prayed) that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen Maria, Patti, Tina, Chris… with power through Your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. And I pray that Maria, Patti, Tina, Chris…, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.(Ephesians 3:16-19) Amen.
Patti,
As you know I struggled with this concerning my Mom as well. It took several years for me to overcome the guilt but my friend, your Mom would not want you to feel the guilt you feel today. She loved you dearly and doesn’t want you to suffer any longer. Our Moms greatest wishes for us are to be happy in life. She would not want you to waste another moment on anguishing over those things you may or may not have done but to live each day as a blessing from God.
Precious Lord, help Patti to feel the love You have for her and impart Your wisdom to her to understand how to let go of this grief for her Mom. Help her to understand how to forgive herself as You have forgiven her as Your Child. In the Precious Name of our Lord Jesus I pray.
Hello Ladies and good morning.
From reading your replies, it reinforces the insight I have been having in recent months that my thoughts are my worst enemy. When I read psalms that mention the enemy, I have been inserting my thoughts as the enemy. Satan uses those thoughts to send message that I am no good – or that person did this to me, or -I can’t do this or that. I can replay grievances over and over. But as I become more aware of those thoughts, I realize that is all they are, thoughts. They are my past and have no power over now. Now whenever negative thoughts come in, I give them up to God. Sometimes I keep God very busy, because in the span of 5 minutes I am lifting the same thoughts up over and over.
Loreli, you always have such comforting reassuring comments. Thank you all and many blessings to you today.
~Holy God, help me to be self-controlled and alert because I know the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Open my eyes to the lies that Satan tells, so that I will not be deceived.
I CAN ALWAY COUNT ON GOD TO SPEAK TO ME. I HAVE BEEN NEGLETING WORSHIP. I KNOW THE WARNING IN REGARDS TO SELF-CONTROLLED AND YET MY FLESH IS ALWAYS COMPRISING. IF I OPEN THE BILE THERE IT IS. IF I LISTEN TO A CHRISTIAN RADIO SERMON THERE IT IS AND TODAY AGAIN THRU DEVOTIONAL FOR WOMEN. IT’S TIME FOR ME TO ACT AGAINST SIN NOT REACT . I NEED ALL OF YOU TO PRAY THAT I MAY RESIST SATAN AND TAKE A STAN IN THE NAME OF JESUS. SIN IS SIN AND WE SHOULD NOT SEE IT ANY OTHER WAY.
I WILL NEED TO BE STRONG AND POUR MYSELF INTO PRAYER AND FASTING. THE ENEMY WANTS TO DESTROY MY LIFE. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LIVE TO SEE THIS DAY WHEN I AM COMPRISING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. HE HAS BEEN MORE THEN WONDERFUL IN MY LIFE. SOMETHING IS HAPPINING TO ME, THEY CALL IT MENOPASE. FOR THOSE OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING THRU THIS CHANGE KNOW THAT WE WAR AGAINST THIS TOO. A WOMEN CAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD BUILT A BEUTIFUL HOME AND BY THE INFLUENCE OF SATAN, WITH HER VERY OWN HANDS DESTROY IT. PLEASE LADIES PRAY FOR ME!
Thank you, Suzanne, for the encouraging devotional.
Loreli…you are such an encouragement. I am having to learn to deal with satan when he attacks.
I think my most vulnerable thing is accepting the fact that it was God’s timing in taking my mother…rather than my mistakes with her care. It still haunts me as I can see her face so plainly asking me to help her. I didn’t and by that time, I couldn’t. I will always have regrets and know that I should have done things differently.
I realize the Lord would not have taken her unless it was His timing….and the thought just came to me that I have never asked Him to forgive me and probably should.
I think I need to forgive myself as well, but don’t quite know how….
I love Psalms 139…..have read it many times!
Tina, Be encouraged. God has put inside you everything you need to succeed. When the Holy Spirit dwells inside of us we have to put off our flesh and depend on him.I could never do my job without the Holy Spirit guiding me. When you get up each day claim the promises that God tells you in his word that you are. You are blessed, You are loved, your mind is the mind of Christ when you are in tune with him. Being in tune comes from spending time with him and reading his word and claiming those verses for yourself. Start in Proverbs and just start reading and then the Psalms. Psalm 139 is one of my favorites because it tells you that the Lord searches out your heart, has known you from conception and will fight your enemies, he perceives our thoughts from afar, he descerns our going out and our lying down,you see he is all about us!!!
I believe that my mind is filled with lies concerning my ability to be successful in a career. As soon I’m offered a great opportunity that I KNOW that I can do, I become filled with fear, anxiety and doubt and usually end up walking away from it. I am so tired of “giving up” and believeing those lies, allowing those lies to prevent me from moving forward.
SOMETIMES IT IS REALLY HARD TO SEE THE TRUTH THROUGH ALL THE LIES. FOR ME, I BELIEVE WHAT I HEAR AND THEN IF I AM SHOWN THAT THAT PERSON DIDN’T TELL ME THE TRUTH I WILL CONFRONT THEM ABOUT WHAT I HEARD. I DON’T LIKE TO BE LIED TO AND I WON’T LIE TO OR FOR ANYONE. AS A CHILD, MY MOTHER WOULD BE ABLE TO JUST LOOK AT ME AND KNOW I WAS LYING. SO I HAVE LEARNED THERE IS NO USE LYING AT ALL. IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO TELL THE TRUTH THEN YOU DON’T HAVE TO REMEMBER PAST LIES.