Let it Bring out the Best in You

I have personally seen in recent years that people are becoming more deceptive and manipulative and this is not just in the world, but the church has become a breeding ground for the spirits of deception, manipulation as well as the spirit that I loathe, taking advantage of people. If you watched my recent Vlog, the Fatal Attraction Series, I share how this fatal spirit has shown itself in my life on many occasions. But I am at a place in my life, I am always on guard against the user and manipulator. The Bible warns us to be on the alert. We must be on guard, so that we’re not deceived “with empty words” (Ephesians 5:6) or “with well-crafted arguments” (Colossians 2:4 NLT). And we must realize that we even can deceive ourselves (1 Corinthians 3:18). When we are not this spirit will attach itself, destroy us and harden our hearts.
 
There are some people in this world are selfish, lovers of money, or simply greedy and when they see a person is nice, wealthy, or whatever, and they make a decision to try to milk a person for what they can get out of them as long as they can. They will ask to borrow money, ask you to fix their car or do home repairs, ask you to babysit daily, and so forth and never offer anything in return. The more you do, they more they ask you to do. It is right to have a heart that would continually give to others, and it pleases God to see this wonderful characteristic in our lives, the Bible teaches that when we “give freely we become wealthier; when we are stingy we can lose everything. (Mark 8:34) However, in this area of giving and helping, it also teaches that we must have wise discernment (Matthew 10:16).
 
Our Father gives us certain standards that we must take into account when it comes to giving our time and money to others, so when it tells us we are to help others, the purpose is never for us to do this to the point where it becomes detrimental. So, there must be limits; we must use discernment and be cautious as giving is not always black and white. We must yield to the Spirit, use discernment when making the choice of whether to give, or how much to give. And we must remember that Satan is eager to deceive us. He constantly endeavors to plant ideas in our minds and manipulate our thoughts. As Jesus warned, “Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). When we are walking in obedience to the voice of our Father, the Holy Spirit will move you and let you know when you should give and when you shouldn’t. Giving is a form of worship and it’s how we keep the flow of prosperity so don’t allow the enemy to block your flow.
 
Today, remember that you will face many forms of manipulation. This is why you must base your life on God’s Word and be rooted and grounded in His truth. Don’t allow the past experiences of those who have used your gift of generosity keep you from operating in your gift of giving. Let it make you better as Matthew 5:41-45 says: 
 
“And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves."
 
I love the Message translation of this passage. It challenges us to use the experience with the user as an opportunity to become better. That’s why we need to discern between an opportunity and a distraction. ​We must be alert, filled with the Spirit and sensitive to His leading and His warnings. The Holy Spirit has given us a powerful prayer language that we can use as a weapon against the whiles of this enemy and that is prayer. Join me today to pray against the deception and manipulation of the user.

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Heavenly Father, I come to you asking You to destroy and remove any deception in our minds. Expose the dogs nipping at our heels. I ask You, Lord to confound those pigs that seek to devour our gifts. Destroy the destroyer that is coming against us to discourage us from operating in our gifts. Let the veil be torn to allow us to see through the haze, smoke screens, the schemes, the plans of man and the enemy and know absolutely what Your truth is. We renounce all forms of deception, they will be exposed, driven out, and thrown into the abyss with all its lies, effects, adverse effects, and stings never to return in Jesus Name. 


We speak divine health over in and through them that seek to use us for their selfish advantage. I declare total chemical and mental balance over in and through them. Give them a sound and sober mind; long life, longevity in spirit and mind, all the days of their lives. Let peace infill them. Destroy their plans and schemes. Lord I ask You to strengthen them and protect them in all areas of their lives. I claim full protection of the shed Blood of Christ for energy to abound in and through us in our individual lives, our marriages, families, possessions, churches, neighborhoods, towns, and nations.  
 
I proclaim that we will not shrink back as the assignment was designed to do, but we will be BETTER because of it.  Un the next years of our lives we will be wise and overflowing with discernment. You will surround us with the light and power of Your Holy Spirit, filled with the life and love of Jesus Chris in our personal relationships and we will live as you intended us to live, and that’s filled and overflowing with abundance. To God Be the Glory. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.
 

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