Trick-or-Truth: 3 Tricks Satan Disguises as Truths

Growing up, Halloween was my favorite holiday. I know, that’s so not the religious answer, but it really was. And, it wasn’t all about the candy…well, that was part of it. 🙂

Halloween was the only day of the year I had permission to be someone else with no questions asked. I looked forward to the transformation, even if it only lasted for one day. I wasn’t content with who I was. Sometimes, I still struggle with that trick from the enemy of internal discontentment. He screams that I am not _________ enough. (I could fill in that blank for days.) To make it worse, external discontentment hangs over my head like a thundercloud ready to unload with every farmhouse decor advertisement I see. Fixer Upper– I have a love/hate relationship with that show.

To be transformed. (No, that doesn’t mean to dress up like a Transformer for Halloween.)

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you
into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know
God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

During the transformation phase (sanctification), to recognize a trick, we have to know the trick master himself. The enemy is conniving and deceitful. He is the father of lies, and he wants to control our mind, our heart, and our soul. He is a thief and will rob us of our joy, peace, and contentment. In a nutshell, he wants to destroy us—–completely.

“Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring
lion, looking for anyone he can devour” 1 Peter 5:8 (HCSB)

“…He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 (ESV)

Looking through my hindsight glasses, I recognize the lies and tricks the enemy has fed me. He distorted who I was, what I looked like, how I should act, and my potential as a Jesus Girl.

The goal: Use my Jesus Goggles to see the tricks and slay them with my sword of the Spirit–the Word of God! #slaytheenemywiththetruth

Grab your candy bags, we are going Trick-or-Truthing.

Treat Bag 1

Trick: Jesus can’t use me because of my past. My sin wagon is full of regrets.

Truth: God chose you. You are called.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (NLT)

Colossians 1:13-14 “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and
transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.” (HCSB)

Colossians 1:22-23b “Yet now He has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. (NLT)

        Colossians 3:12-14 “Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love–the perfect bond of unity.” (HCSB)

Treat Bag 2

Trick: I am not strong enough to continue this lifestyle change. It is too difficult.

Truth: God will help you. He is your strength.

Hebrews 4:16 “So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.”
(CEV)

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (CSB)

Phil 4:13 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” (NIV)

Phil. 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Treat Bag 3

Trick: God’s Word isn’t the whole truth. It’s old and doesn’t apply to today’s time.

Truth: John 1:1 “In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (NLT)

Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” (NIV)

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (NLT)

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (NLT)

I hope your candy bags are full of God’s sweet truths. Ezekiel said His Word tasted like honey (Ezekiel 3:3). It’s vital to our spiritual health to recognize when we are exposed to satan’s germs. He wants us to become spiritually sick, leading us to a spiritual death. Put on your Jesus Girl Armor of God costume (Ephesians 6:10-18). Be ready to fight! There are people’s lives at stake being deceived by the enemy.

Renew your mind with the TRUTH. It will sustain you, empower you, strengthen you, and equip you for the journey. Happy Trick-or-Truthing!

Time to Unfold

• Read God’s Word:Read His Word to know His Word and His character.
• Pray: Ask Him to reveal the truth within the scriptures equipping you for the journey. 
• Do: Be alert! Be aware of the enemy and his lies.
• Repeat: Keep slaying the lies with the Truth.

Tasting and seeing that He is good,