Satan is a deceiver and his tactics haven’t changed since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden Eden. He continues to perfect his tactics and is still on the prowl wreaking death and destruction. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He twists, adds to, and takes away from God’s word, causing you to doubt His perfect character and promises: “Has God really said that?” He’ll try to push thoughts that suggest God is unreasonable, or that He’s holding out on you. “We are not even to touch it!” God never said, “Don’t touch it!” He merely told them not to eat from that particular tree.
Satan will show us the doors to bondage as we go beyond what God asks of us, making up rules that seem harmless, but lead us to defeat and rebellion. The harsh reality is that when we accept the lie over the truth, it leads us to unimaginable levels of bondage. Satan tells us lies like, “You’re not good enough,” and we believe him over God’s truths—truths that speak life to us, such as, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Why do we allow this to happen? Because our gardens have been tainted. We must identify all the lies that we have been told that have defiled the garden of our hearts and replace them with the truth of who God says we are. This is the process of “renewing our minds” (Romans 12:2). Without choice there is no love. God’s love allows us to choose. We can choose the death that comes from believing lies or the abundant life that comes from believing truth. What are you going to choose?
