DECEPTION: TWO-FOLD

DECEPTION:

The act of deceiving or misleading.

Artifice practiced; cheat

Deception is not one-sided. It is two-fold. It comes from within and from without.

Inward Deception

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?~Jeremiah 17:9

From this text, we learn that inward deception comes as a result of our wicked hearts. Our hearts are wicked because we are sinners. The Bible speaking about the human condition says:

For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (glory=character)

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 

What is man that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman that he should be righteous?

Behold he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? {Job 14:4; Job 15:14-16}

These texts go on further to explain the evil nature of every human being and this we can conclude as a reason for inward deception or self-deception.

Outward Deception

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. {Revelation 12:9}

We note that the Devil exists and his habitation is the earth. He does not exist alone but with his angels. He has a mission and it is in deceiving the whole world. He is responsible for every deception that is in the world. Furthermore, none of us are immune to his deception. Every race, tribe, nation, and people is not immune, including you and I.

In follow-up articles we will seek to answer the following questions:

·         How can I gain victory over self-deceit (inward deception)

·         How do I determine what is deception?

·         How do I gain victory over the Devil?

·         Why does the devil use deception and what is his end goal?

·         What constitutes deception?

Help Me Understand

I've been reflecting a bit about some of the tendencies that we have as women when our hearts are unconverted. We become strange, we become the strange woman. Why is it that we hate each other so much as women? Why are we so intent on breaking each other? What do we gain from all of this? What do you gain when another women is hurting? How can her pain bring happiness to you? How is her pain or flaw making you better as a Christian?

Furthermore, what is about men that makes us so willing to sacrifice ourselves, values & our relationship with God? Why? I pray God gives us the eye salve. I pray He reminds us that anything besides Him is a 'broken cistern' with no substance. I pray God help us to desire Him and no else.

May this be our deepest longing:

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.-Psalm 73:25

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.-Ephesians 3:14-19

Birthday Reflections

16. It's really worth the wait

Waiting isn't really a nice process. It barely is.You keep wondering about the 'when' and the 'how' it will finally happen. Sometimes waiting can make you distracted and end up missing out on enjoying the present. But waiting on the Lord makes all the difference in the world. It's really worth it. I've tested it & proven it!

1. Around mid-year, I was praying about something I really needed. I could see it would really make a big difference in my life & even concluded that it'd really help me towards future plans. I even made promises to God about how I'd do A,B, & C! How naive of me! After all, 'our promises are like ropes of sand'. Anyway I didn't get what I wanted.

But I got something way better. It's good for my growth as a person & it's given me a chance to pursue what I really love - writing. It's given me the opportunity to interact with different people too. I really enjoy what I do.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. ~Psalm 62:5

 Wait upon God. Lean upon Him in entire dependence; for His everlasting arms will sustain you. He who says that not a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of the heavenly Father will care for those who love and trust Him. Jesus knows every throb of pain, every throe of anguish and distress, and He will give His children grace to endure the afflictions that He permits to come upon them. His heart beats in sympathy with suffering humanity and those who suffer most have most of His pity and sympathy.~Published in Signs of the Times, February 28, 1906.

15. A NO from God is better than a 'yes' from the enemy

2. I desperately wanted to attend something. I was so confident that I'd have money then. But when the time  came, money wasn't there. I wasn't disappointed but I just wondered how everything would've turned out. Let's just say my heavenly Father who foresees things from afar was protecting me. How can I repay Him?

Godless Zeal & Missing The Point

As a church we are currently reading the book of Acts and it's been eye opening. It's made me think deeper about the whole purpose of the gospel and whether I truly understand the will of God. I've found myself asking: how is it that, we can read the word of God and still completely miss the gist of the matter? How is that, while thinking we are serving God, we can be scattering with Satan? This is something worth noting. I know in my personal Christian walk I've had moments when I've completely missed the point and instead of becoming a better person I wasn't.

In my personal experience this has happened when I've valued doctrine without seeking validation from God. By this I mean taking a principle and applying it wrongly; without actually asking God whether I am doing what he wants on a daily basis. I think it's really important to constantly ask God if we're still in His will. It's easy to be so engrossed in the truth while becoming more evil. Look at the Jews- how they were so keen on condemning & killing; yet the whole purpose of the gospel is to wash our sins away. It's to hate sin and not the sinner.

I believe when truth becomes effectual it changes us to God likeness and I think our personal duty as we continue to come into contact with truth is to ask ourselves if it's making us more like Christ & mindful of the next person. The gospel is deep. It's not about knowing-but it's truly about a changed life and about saving humanity from the sting of sin. I pray that we never lose sight of the bigger picture and truly our safest is in behold Christ & the cross. I pray we don't get to the point where we're so engrossed in the things of God and completely miss Him!

On losing Christ & Retaining Him:

[ Based on Luke 2:41-51]; Desire of Ages: Chapter 8

If Joseph and Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus. By one day's neglect they lost the Saviour; but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. So with us; by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day lose the Saviour's presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him, and regain the peace that we have lost.

In our association with one another, we should take heed lest we forget Jesus, and pass along unmindful that He is not with us. When we become absorbed in worldly things so that we have no thought for Him in whom our hope of eternal life is centered, we separate ourselves from Jesus and from the heavenly angels. These holy beings cannot remain where the Saviour's presence is not desired, and His absence is not marked. This is why discouragement so often exists among the professed followers of Christ.

Many attend religious services, and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God; but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the blessing, and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. Often they feel that God has dealt hardly with them. They do not see that the fault is their own. By separating themselves from Jesus, they have shut away the light of His presence.

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.

As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christ's, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be "changed into the same image from glory to glory." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

20. Choose friends wisely through prayer

I am thankful to God regarding the gift of friendship. I have come to value friendships immensely. But I realize the importance of choosing wisely because friends play such a huge role in one's life. I have come to realize that, if  a friendship leads me to a closer relationship to God and I do not find myself having to compromise principles, then it's good. I also appreciate honest friends who tell me when I err. I have such an one in Sharon's mom (whoop whoop). Haha!

I am also thankful for Thami's friendship. Each experience with her has made realize how much I need God. Man, I'm just thankful to have someone I can share my experiences with without feeling ashamed. She is the kind of a friend who literally takes your hand and tells you to not be afraid. And she does this with so much affection and genuineness. God bless her soul. I am thankful for every other friendship because it challenges me to become a better person.

19. Life makes sense when you serve others.

My best days are  the ones when I am a better daughter, sister, friend & server to those I come into contact with. Misery really comes when there's no purpose in my life.

18. Appreciate and Invest in your youth!!!

Man, I look back and feel like I haven't lived at all. Where did the time go?! I want my youth back. I think I spent a great portion of my youth self-conscious and closed in. I then started to think about marriage at 20 LOL. Why???? Now, I'm out here thinking, thank God you saved from getting married from such a young age. There's so much I still need to do. But my advice to those younger than me would be: to not be fearful and closed in such that you miss out on great opportunities. No need to rush. Just enjoy each stage because it does get real. And once in a while you wish you can be a baby with no cares.

17. Have a personal relationship with God

You really need one and it's awesome too. I've realized that sometimes we can be friends with those who have a deeper relationship with God and be deceived into having a sense of security; while we do not even know God. We each need to pursue God individually and we must never fall into the trap of comparing our own relationship with God with what others have with Him. OWN IT. BE OBSESSED WITH HIM. So worth it.

BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS

21. Focus on your journey

In a world that is always about posting pictures and updating statuses, it's so easy to lose yourself. People look happy and their lives are put together. Nothing wrong with that. But when we're constantly viewing other people's lives we are likely to think that we are missing out or we have nothing to be thankful about. IF NOT THAT-we find ourselves constantly wondering what's happening in so&so's life. I think this is what soapies do; they distract us from immediate realities. Sometimes it's real people-friends whom we are constantly chatting to that we don't even have time to think about where we are headed, whether we are becoming better people and growing in this life journey. I believe we should never be satisfied with being stagnant. I'm learning that the greatest gift we can give ourselves through the grace of God is self-development.

We should never be satisfied with a low standard in ourselves. Sometimes we are so focused on the next person-whether it's within the context of immediate relationships, society or politics that we forget that we also have flaws that must be worked on. Above all, the world doesn't so much need folks that are celebrating other great lives, but people who are living great lives themselves. Don't let the word great make you sink. A great life is not so much about being in the forefront, but adding value to those we meet.

Image Source:

http://www.kiaimani.com/dearkiaimani/2016/7/7/r3u5pw03xx78awgpipr42adsv0dfab

Sometimes it's not one sided at ALL

On my previous post I shared a bit on parenting and how sometimes  parents do err. But it will be unbecoming of me to not make mention of those brothers who are dedicated to their children and do all in their power to ensure the best for them.

So today I celebrate M,who has dedicated himself to ensuring all her daughter's needs are met. Who has worked tirelessly for the good of his child. M, I am so proud of you. Preparing for your child's arrival has made you more responsible and accountable. It's made you think of the relationship you want to have with her. What I appreciate is that you realize that as much as parenting includes making sure that the child is well fed and clothed, you also realize it's about spending quality time with your child and never making it about materialistic things. I love the fact that you want to be present. I love how you keep on saying you want to be your daughter's best friend. I think your daughter is blessed to have a father like you! I am also so happy that you are mindful of the values you want to teach her.

I hope we'll look back at this post, a year later, and marvel at how beautiful fatherhood is!

Also see this article:http://brotherjesseblog.com/black-men-black-fathers-accepting-challenges-embracing-responsibility/

Image Source:

Brother Jesse Blog

Birthday Reflections: 22. Parents do ERR & they aren’t perfect [Introduction]

I think we grow up thinking parents are perfect and of course they are supposed to be exemplary. Unfortunately, some are not. Not only are they not exemplary but they do not change for the better. And this really brings heaviness to the soul. As I continue to observe my parents and that of others, I have concluded that it is well for me to respect my parents. But I’ve learnt that they are not always right and sometimes their wishes for me go against my own conscience. But what I’ve observed is that mothers tend to be the better parent while the father just …oh well. I’ve personally concluded that parenthood is not for those who are not repenting and gaining victory over sin on a daily basis. It’s also not for people who are not transparent. I just think one has to think thoroughly before having a child; consider how they will contribute positively in all the facets of the child’s life. There’s much to consider because the child’s life will be affected immensely for the good or for the worst; save the grace of God. I also am learning that the PARENT-CHILD relationship requires effort from both parties. But it’s not easy, especially with us Black folks. It’s rare to have a relationship where you can freely share every aspect of your life without shame or feeling that you’re disrespectful.

To be continued.

BIRTHDAY MONTH~GOODBYE 24!

I don't know what is it that makes me excited about birthdays.Particularly mine. But I really think they afford one an opportunity to reflect on life's journey and really get to appreciate life. But above all, you get to reflect on God's grace and really count your blessings. I really don't believe it helps to dwell on the past. I don't think it adds any value. You can just take what you can and learn from your mistakes.

I'm thankful that I've learnt a lot of invaluable lessons in the past 24 years of life.

24. Center your affections on God- let Him be your sole source of love, significance and everything else.

I learnt this the hard way. But I am really thankful for the experience because it made me realize that God wasn't my all. And unfortunately when He isn't, we are likely to lose ourselves.

And this doesn't need to happen in the context of a relationship only; it also happens in friendships. When you start getting your sense of meaning from friends you really only harm yourself. I remember I had this experience earlier this year. I was no longer on whatsApp and I was quite disappointed that my friends didn't make an effort to get my other contacts. And then when we reconnected it was a bit one-sided at times. I was a bit hurt. But as God reached out to me, I realized I had misplaced my affections. And in return, I was feeling disappointed. The whole experience led me to conclude that no love that mortal gives can satisfy the deepest longings and the void that fills us when we do not have a deep, intimate relationship with God.

23. IF you're a Christian: Do you love God Himself or His Things? I'll explain this when I can express it clearly.

23. Cherish your family!