A Liar and A Deceiver

The Pastor reminded us in his sermon that Satan is a liar and a deceiver. As God often does for me, everything just lined up so I understood that to be our prayer focus this week.

I’ve been adding one “thing” to my schedule, then one more thing, then another, and another, and I’m thinking I can’t do anymore. As I wrote last week, I wonder if it’s Satan. Yet, I feel called to do more. So, is God calling me to do more? Is Satan deceiving me? Am I deceiving myself? I need to figure it out, so I’ve been praying more. Every time I pray and then pause to listen for an answer, God gives me a game plan and I begin to think I can do it all.

What God brought together:

• Pastor’s mention of Satan as a liar and a deceiver
• I’ve been wondering if Satan is deciving me as to what I should be doing
• Reading and studying Pilgrim’s Progress (which just raises all sorts of questions)
• I’m contemplating reading the bible online (as in, outloud) (chronologically) and I wanted to find where the angels were formed and where Lucifer and the angels fell as a starting point

If you don’t see the connection, it makes sense in my mind and God works with that when He needs to convey directions to me.

Bible Verse of the Day

The Fall of Lucifer*
“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV

*I find it interesting that some of the newer Bible versions don’t use the name ‘Lucifer.’ I didn’t dig very deep into this, but just found it to be noteworthy. This chapter in Isaiah is talking about the King of Babylon, but transitions into this passage and then back to the Babylonian King.

Prayer

Dear Lord God, please open our eyes and reveal to us when we are being misled by the great deceiver, Satan. He creates doubt in us with his lies, just as he did to Eve, trying to separate us from You, just as he did with Eve and Adam. We are so very thankful that Jesus gave it all for us, tearing the temple veil in two, allowing us the ability to approach You. You are so merciful with Your children, Father. We adore You, we love You, dear Father. Words cannot express our gratitude. We know you do not allow us temptation beyond what we can handle, so please, Lord, deliver us from temptation and deception and lies. Keep us on the straight and narrow path. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

---

I’m continuing in the book I told you about last week, Approaching the Almighty, 100 Prayers of A.W. Tozer, Compiled by Phil Shappard, (Moody Publishing) and there’s just so much I want to share from it. I’ll try to be discerning in my selections:
“So Father, Thou seest the conditions we note this morning, as churches all over the city and perhaps most of the country are noting now abesenteeism resulting from a wave of Asian flu. And now we pray Thee, Lord, that Thou would put Thy hand of life upon everybody. And let not death take any toll, but let there be only life. Help us and give us courage and aptience to endure the inconvenvenice of it while it passes across. But, oh, we pray Thee, that where the blood is on the doorpost, there the angel may pass over, and that we may there be protected by Thy mighty grace.” (page 72)

Reminder

Keep an eye on our Home Page as we add new features in the coming weeks.
And/or, better yet, sign up for our emails to be kept In The Know.