The Folly of Deception

"The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving." - Proverbs 14:8 ESV

It is so easy to fall into the trap of deception. There is a big risk when we try to convince ourselves that certain habits aren't that harmful, or that we can handle them without any consequence. The truth is, we cannot deceive God. And when we allow sin, deception or self-destructive behavior to take root in our lives, we end up damaging ourselves and affecting those closest to us in a ripple effect.

Consider any self-destructive behavior in your life that you pretend isn’t there. It could be anything from unhealthy eating, excessive screen time, toxic relationships. Whatever it is, it's important to acknowledge its presence and recognize the harm it causes.

Reflect on the possible lies you are telling yourself or others. You may be telling yourself that you'll address that issue later, or that it's not really that big of a deal. Maybe you convince yourself that you're in control and can stop whenever you want. But deep down, you know these are just excuses that prevent you from taking action for a change.

In our human nature it is easier to lie about the self-defeating acts in our lives instead of being truthful with ourselves and God. The reality is that facing the truth about our behavior can be uncomfortable and confronting our weaknesses requires humility. It's often easier to ignore the problem and pretend it doesn't exist than admiting our faults and surrender to God for help.

God offers us grace and forgiveness when we come to Him with repentance. He desires to help us break free from the cycle of lies and self-deception. He wants to lead us to a prudent life of discernment in our ways.

Power of 4 Discussion Question:

What practical steps can you take today to confront any deception in your life and make positive changes?