The devil’s primary tactic is deception. In John 8:44, the Bible calls him the “father of lies” and says the “truth is not in him.” Our own voice will either echo the voice of the devil or the voice of God, so we must learn to decipher which one is speaking. Then we can consciously choose which one to agree with. 

Have you ever felt discouraged and didn’t know where the feeling came from? Have you ever started to think about things in the past out of nowhere and get upset? I had this experience last week. I was feeling really discouraged and negative about everything for 3 days. It just came out of the blue and really sent me for a loop! On the third day, I started to realize what was going on. I told the devil to shut up and quit messing with my mind!!! I told him “I am not giving up or giving in!” The feeling went away immediately! Wow! How many times has that happened when I have totally been unaware of what was influencing my emotions? Countless, I’m sure.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” What we believe is crucial to how we feel and to how we act. God designed us this way. The belief system is vitally important. This is why the enemy of our soul, the devil, loves to attack us in our mind. He knows that if he can get us to believe lies about ourselves, God or others, he can interfere with our effectiveness in achieving the purposes of God, individually and/or corporately.

I have encountered many people whose beliefs simply do not line up with what the Word says about them, God or others. And I see them struggling in their faith walk because of it. Many times at the root of depression, fear, anger, or conflict is a lie that the devil has told. But Jesus said in John 8:32, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Our minds must be renewed to the truth, which is believing what God believes and seeing things as God sees. God help us to renew our minds with the Word, Your truth, so that we can discern which voice we’re listening to and agreeing with!