“The devil made me do it.” It sounds like a funny excuse, right?
I picture it said with a shrug and a crooked smile. Maybe because we all know deep down inside… the devil just tempted us to do it. We took the bait.
In other words: The devil didn’t make anyone do anything. It’s a lie.
But we can all probably relate to that feeling of heavy temptation. A feeling that can overwhelm our sensibilities to the point where we almost lose control — or do lose control. Ugh. (If you’re there right now, see this post.)
The First 10
One night I saw a thread go by on Twitter called #LiesFromSatan. People tweeted some of the most tempting thoughts that float through our minds at some point in life.
Thoughts about being too tired to read the Bible (God doesn’t care), too forgone to get saved (God won’t forgive you) and too busy to serve Him (You’re a Christian as long as you tell people you’re a Christian).
More you may have heard:
- You can save yourself. (@proverbs31girl_)
- God knows you’re young. Get right with him when you turn about 28. (@soulsafeDaveO)
- You can’t be saved and have fun. (@astrongbw)
- God can’t use you because of your past… (@rivers_flow)
- You were born that way... (@hoodiesnheels)
- The pastor just wants your money… Go pay your bill or buy a new outfit with that tithe money (@FromAdamsRib)
- He/She will never change
(God can change anyone!)
When I lived in and for the world, I believed all of these and more. Thank God they are lies!
Going by faith means believing the truth of Jesus Christ… even when we feel compromised. Even when no one else around us agrees. Even when it seems like the world teaches us otherwise.
Want to grow in your ability to discern truth from lies? Right from wrong? It’s not bad advice: Read the Bible.
Watch Out! 7 More Lies from Satan
Lie #1: You’re in control. You know what to do to make it happen.
What the Bible says:
A man can do nothing except it be given him from heaven. -John 3:27
We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands. -Proverbs 16:1
Lie #2: There are many paths to God. You’re a good person, that’s all that matters.
What the Bible says:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. — Matthew 7:14
Lie #3: You have the freedom to choose, which includes making no choice. (Sneaky!)
What the Bible says:
“But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15
Jesus tells us that no man can serve two masters — Matt 6:24 and Luke 16:13
Lie #4: You’d have a better life if you looked like … (fill in the blank).
What the Bible says:
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” — 1 Sam 16:7
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.
— 1 Peter 3-5a
Lie #5: It’s ok to have sex outside of marriage. What’s the big deal?
What the Bible says:
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. – Hebrews 13:4
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5a
Lie #6: You went too far down the wrong road. God can’t use you now. You’re dirty.
What the Bible says:
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. — John 15:3
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:11
Lie #7: There are some people/acts you just can’t forgive.
What the Bible says:
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32
Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. — 2 Corinthians 2:7
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. — The Our Father
So what do the lies of Satan have to do with faith? When we have faith, we know the truth; we cling to it. We go by faith instead of going whichever way the wind blows us. Amen!
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
Hua says
Another great post, Jen! I’ve heard all of the lies you’ve mention and admit that I’ve succumbed to a few. The biggest lies I deal with nowadays are related to the importance of success in the material world. Too often, I forget that this life is just temporary, and what we accomplish in terms of money and material possessions aren’t the most important things to strive for.
Jennifer Johns says
Thank you for sharing Hua, and for reminding us that — yep — the real treasure is in heaven!
Joe says
Satan had me think The Lord Jesus Christ would do nothing for me in my times of trouble, for after all they happened didn’t they? Well truthfully The Lord did more for me by letting me experience hardships then by bubble wrapping me like a glass package. I wasn’t just saved from those hardships but strengthened so that I could praise God in spite of them. The Lords wisdom is far greater then all of mankind combined. God is our refuge in our troubles.
Jenn Johns says
So true Joe. Amen.
BJ says
One of Jesus’ commands that has been a part of me for a long time is: “Do not worry.” “Do not fear.”
Worry and fear produce ANXIETY, and all are of the evil one.
Every time that I felt that I was starting to worry or fear, I immediately thought of Jesus’ command, and the worry or fear quickly dissipated. Thanks be to God!
The evil one knew he didn’t have a chance with worry or fear with me!
.
However, a few times in my life, I became very nervous and developed terrible ANXIETY. It was controlling me and consuming my life.
I had no peace.
.
I finally realized that intense FRUSTRATIONS I had about some situations were causing me to be very nervous, which resulted in intense ANXIETY.
.
Although I pray to God to control my life, in retrospect, I was actually trying to handle those situations by myself. Therefore, I was not totally focused on God as I had thought.
So in effect, the evil one was controlling my thoughts and feelings with a different approach to ANXIETY.
NO MORE! And I have peace.
John says
I have been praying for along time for the anxiety to stop, how did God finally make it happen?
Jenn Johns says
John… This isn’t always so easy. As person who has experienced anxiety it wasn’t a switch I could turn on and off, but I have started looking at the struggle of anxiety as more of an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord to trust Him. It may not change the situation, but it changes my approach to it. It reminds me that He is in control no matter what, and that He has my best interests in mind, no matter how that plays out in this lifetime.
These are some encouraging verses: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Also: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim 1:7)
Turning to the Lord and depending on Him first and foremost helped change my whole experience of anxiety. Even though I can’t stand here and say it doesn’t come on from time to time or will in the future, I can say I’m not walking in it alone, and that has lightened the grip it once had in my life. Now it is something I persevere through when it comes.
Jennifer says
I was tempted to believe that I was not fornicating by not having actual sex intercourse. I thought it was actually okay to be touched sexually and do other things. I’ve been doing it since I was like 18 and I learned that being touched is also fornication. I checked the dictionary before and read that it had to do with sex outside of marriage or something like that but when I looked online and found out that fornicating is not just people who are not married at all having sex, it’s also touching. I’m not going to fornicate anymore. Please pray for me that I won’t do it again and neither will my mom’s friend. Also, please pray for my brother, because he fornicated with his girlfriend.