Deception
by Madonna Bennett
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Having trouble knowing God’s truth in today’s world? If you answered yes, you are not alone. Deception, the work of the devil, is rampant in our world. It exists in businesses, governments, churches and relationships. Deception, which is hiding the truth, leads to confusion. People are left feeling fearful, anxious and insecure. We are certainly living in these times now. Satan does not want us to know the truth because he desires us to oppose God.
It is important as followers of Jesus to be aware of Satan’s tactics. The greatest assault the evil one will use is attacking a person’s mind. That is why it is imperative that Christians know the word of God. The bible is our guideline for how God wants His children to live. God’s word is true and firm. The devil will always try to twist the truth to make us doubt God’s word. Scripture warns about false teachings and false prophets. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18 When Jesus ascended into heaven, we were given the Holy Spirit. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. John 14:15-17. The Holy Spirit is our advocate, helper, counselor and guide. If we call on the Holy Spirit we will be led in the right direction. The Heavenly Father knew we couldn’t make it through this life on our own, so He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. A simple prayer one can say when asking for the help of the Holy Spirit is: Come Holy Spirit. Fill me with the wisdom, knowledge and discernment I need. Help me to see the truth of Jesus. Enlighten me Holy Spirit! We are also told in scripture to test the spirits. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that is coming; and even now it is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3. In my own personal prayer life, I test answers that I believe were given to me by the Lord. If the answer does not bring me peace and it is not in line with God’s word, then I know that it is not from God. It is also important to have sound doctrine and teachings, so that we do not lose our footing and be misled. The real presence of Jesus in the sacraments of the Catholic Church help to keep the faithful deeply rooted. He is our solid foundation that we can rely on. Let us not be trapped into the deception of Satan. Pray over all things especially when seeking God’s truth. Call upon the Holy Spirit to show the truth and test all answers to be sure it is from God. If we are seeking to do right, Jesus will lead the way. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John 14:6. 
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June 8, 2020
