Overcoming Deception

I am on Chapter four in Beth Moore's book, "Praying God's Word." It's entitled, 'Overcoming Deception.' I'd like to share some of my reading from today.

"Sometimes we're very aware of tolerating or even fueling a lie. Other times, we are caught in such a web that we can no longer see ourselves or our situations accurately. It's not always clear when we're being deceived, but one sure sign is when we begin to deceive....Anything we are believing or acting on that is contrary to what the truth of God's Word says about us is a lie. Second Corinthians 4:2 tells us how to respond to such things: "Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God." This passage helps us identify four of Satan's specialties that must be renounced and rejected by the believer in order for him/her to walk in victory:

1. Secrecy
2. Shame
3. Deception
4. Distortion of Scripture

As you consider each one, you can readily imagine how deception permeates all four and how interrelated they are. Satan's plans toward the believer are always the antithesis of God's. Our Redeemer wants to loose us from the closets of secrecy and bring us to a spacious place of joy, freedon, authenticity, and transparency. Satan wants to keep us bound in secrecy where he can weigh us down in guilt, misery, and shame. Oh, beloved, I know from experience that so much of the shame we experience is wrapped up in the secret. In fact, the enemy knows that once we expose the secret places of our lives to the light of God's Word, we're on our way to freedom."~Beth Moore

She notes later that there is a difference between sharing our faults, weakness, and mistakes with others and confessing every detail of every sin to God. Not every believer can handle a detailed confession. Be careful who you share with.

I've noticed that God is in no hurry to expose anyone to public shame. He shows His mercy and grace time and time again to a soul in error, hoping that they will repent and return to the truth. It is only when someone has hardened their heart repeatedly that things that are done in secret are shouted from the housetop.

I think of the verse in Ps. 32:8~"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye." If God can guide you with His eye, your heart is not hardened. If He shows you something, you will repent and change. He will not expose your secret sin unless you refuse to give it up. Let's not wait too long to do so.