Having discernment

I believe now more than ever that Christians need to pray for more astute discernment.  What spirit is this?  Is this a trusted source?  Is this person truly of God?

These questions are ones we need to ask ourselves, and God, as the enemy endeavors to deceive even the elect.

Are we beyond deception?  I think if we think we are beyond it, that is precisely when we can fall into it!

Now I've been studying God's word for over three decades.  I'm no scholar, but I know God's character.  I know His ways.  I believe Him with all my heart.  I know that He is true and that He is the one, true, living God.

Does this make me impervious to deception?  I must stay in His Word, seek Him daily, in order to not fall into any sort of deception.

Deception is deceitful!  Yes, I am aware I am being redundant!  But because it can be subtle, and sound even good, we really must be ever vigilant.

We may even need to give ourselves a good ol' dose of some of the older, tried and true, staid preachers who have gone before us.  They made it about preaching Christ, and not about us - "living your best life," be all you can be, and other worldly ways of thinking that have infiltrated Christians' thinking.

Deception can even be appealing - but never to our spirit, but to our flesh.  Listener beware!  Or reader beware!

They say that those who are trained to spot counterfeit money are trained by studying the real thing intimately.  This is how they can spot a counterfeit, by knowing what real money looks like, down to microscopically.

That is how we are to know right from wrong, too!  The more we familiarize ourself with the Truth - with God's Word - the more we will spot a phony off the bat.  Something in our spirit will sense that this just doesn't line up with the Gospel that I know, with God's truth and character.

God not only has the first word, He has the last!  And every word in between!

So though "feeling good" has become a god in itself, and doing whatever it takes to reach that, it is crucial that we stay close to Christ and His words so that we too, the elect, are not carried away by passing fancies, current trends, or "popular" notions.

This takes the courage to perhaps appear old fogeyish or stubborn.  So be it!  "Get with the times!" we are told.  Thank you.  I will stick with Christ - the Author of each dispensation!  He is the Author of every generation and era, so why not lean into Him more than anything or anyone else?

There is far too much misinformation out there via the internet.  And thanks to marketing geniuses, it all "looks" and "sounds" good.  Bah!  Don't buy it!  

Stick with Jesus.  Believe on Him and be saved.  Believe in Him and know real truth.  He knows the beginning from the end.  Trust Him to lead the way.

Lord, we pray for discernment and wisdom that You alone can give.  You warned us that even we, Your chosen ones, can be deceived if we are not careful.  So help us gird out loins and stand on Your truth, Your promises, Your Word as never before, Lord.  For the days are indeed evil.  Help us shine and stand out like Your stars in the universe holding Your truth up for all to see and hear.  For the time is short and nearing an end - even if it's another few years - I believe we're closer to the end than the beginning!  Thank You for Your precious Word to us, Lord.  Thank You that no one can kill it or get rid of it!  For it is eternal and true.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.