Everyone Knows the devil is a Liar
Recently I have been in a battle with the devil and the devil is a liar.
Anyone that has a big goal in their sights whether it be a promotion, vacation, graduation, mission trip whatever it may be you will be dragged out into the desert to meet the devil. It may not last a full 40 days of temptation as it did for Jesus. I bet it will start around the 40 day mark before your goal though. The devil will use every tool he can to stop you from reaching your goal, after all the devil is a liar.
Back in the end of March and early April the devil and I danced a few rounds before my graduation in May. He got in my head and fed me lies I had heard before. I was weak and almost fell to his ploy. In my last semester of college I was ready to quit. I was convinced that the words I had heard most my life were true. “I was not good enough“, “I never will finish” or “amount to anything“.
It took other prayer warriors to fight with me to battle off the lies. I was prayed for and prayed over, yet he still kept coming. It was not until I sent him packing that he left me be… for a time.
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ~ John 8:44
About a month ago, maybe three weeks he reared his head again. This time it was not my will he was trying to stop but God’s.
On September 11th we leave to go on our first mission trip to Canaan Haiti. Since we prayed and decided to go we have had hurdles galore. My wife has been sick for about three or four weeks now. Two rounds of antibiotics and still fighting him off. Around two weeks ago I too fell ill and almost fell to his lies.
Last week, in order to start preparing we figured we would get our paperwork together. Somehow he moved my passport on me. In turn a frantic search ensued. For three days I tore apart every room in our house. Going through years of papers and receipts shredding them along the way.
Meanwhile I had in my head that maybe I was not supposed to go. I had a game plan just in case which required going to Miami and pay all over again to get an expedited replacement passport. All the while I had tried to control and fight the devil’s lies on my own. Once I called God into the battle the battle was won.
In just less than 2 weeks from this post, we are flying out to Canaan, Haiti for our first mission trip. I have been warned repeatedly that the trip is going to break me, I hope so. I have spent the last several months battling a battle that had already been won. Break me as Jesus broke the bread, make me the vessel to be his hands and feet so that his children may be fed.
Now its your turn: How have you had to battle the lies and deceit in order to gain your goal? We all know the devil is a liar as long as we never give him control.
About Charles Johnston
Charles is a Christian, husband and father of fur-kids who shares his walk with others in hopes to help other's along the way.
Many times I have battled the devil. For years and years it was difficult to try and work and raise children when it was only one-sided. There was never any support from the spouse and the devil would get in my head and say things like “Well everyone else here has their husband/wife with them. You call yourself a family?”, or the pity party would be thrown in my mind that the husband is supposed to be the head of the family, yet he won’t even acknowledge God? However, he never stood in the way or contradicted how the children were raised. Continually I would go to my mother, or the priest, or support groups within the Church seeking encouragement, and somehow managed to survive 40+ years of marriage. Then, out of the clear blue the Holy Spirit descends upon the spouse, and his heart and mind were turned. The goodness I had seen in this man throughout the years continue to blossom and manifest itself now through my husband. His generosity and kindness abound and he works tirelessly both at home, work, and at Church. God is good – all the time! We need to continually seek him, pray without ceasing and thank Him and worship Him first and foremost. God is always with us, we just need to take a look at where “I” can change to help make the change in others.
Charles, you aren’t the only one. It seems that every time I take more territory for the Lord, or for example, my book gets closer to publication about the schemes of the enemy with respect to our mental health, the more ferocious he gets. I commented about it on my Facebook page last night in fact. I had to remember to put on my armor and fight…fight like a girl…like a daughter of the most high God.
Thank you! I believe your story is common to all believers. But key was what you remembered to do: “It was not until I got on my knees and prayed for guidance that night and found it in the most…”
Thanks Kathleen, that is a step many forget even as believers we forget to give God the glory and ask for His guidance.