Day 57

New terms such as data smog, infobesity, and infoxication have surfaced to describe the massive amounts of information that bombard us on a daily basis. Never before could such vast amounts of information be distributed almost instantaneously to a global audience. In spite of all the benefits information affords, it also provides numerous opportunities for the father of all lies, Satan, to bombard us. Lies are the primary weapon Satan uses to reach his ultimate goal:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).

As a Christ-follower, we must sift everything we hear and every thought that enters our mind through God’s truth. In ancient days, a man named Job experienced devastating circumstances. Job’s faith eventually resulted in victory and blessing through his suffering. Yet in his protracted trials, he temporarily succumbed to lies about God, deepening his despair. His lie-based beliefs also affected those around him:

“Job uselessly opens his mouth and multiplies words without knowledge (drawing worthless conclusions that the righteous have no more advantage than the wicked)” (Job 35:16).

His conclusions were worthless because they were untrue, founded upon lies. Daily, we’re confronted with a plethora of worthless, lie-based mindsets and behaviors:

We’re enticed to believe our worth and happiness come from what we do, what we possess, or even who our friends are.

Similarly, there’s a pervasive mindset that our children’s happiness is of paramount importance, determined by their appearance, achievements or the acceptance of their peers.

We’re told it’s loving to advise people to seek happiness. Yet God calls us to seek holiness and joy.

According to Scripture, wisdom that doesn’t come from God:

“…is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (James 3:15).

It’s a sobering thought: without a diligent pursuit of truth, even people with good and godly intentions can act upon and speak lies. Such actions always reap consequences that steal, kill, and destroy the abundant life Jesus died to give us.

Will you ask God to reveal any lie-based beliefs that have crept into your thinking? When He does, repent. Then rejoice, embracing the freedom that comes from believing and walking in God’s truth:

“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

John 8:32