Be careful or you too will risk being led astray.  These are dangerous times where opposing influences revel in each heart or mind that they capture through deception, false teaching or corruption.  Have you looked around you recently to see all of the earthly gods of money, job, sex and adventure vying for your time, loyalty and attention?  If those who have seen Almighty God, as Solomon did, fell pray to these foreign influences even after being specifically warned then what hope shall any of us possess outside of God’s direction?  We both know the answer.  So check your heart, capture your thoughts and pray that the Holy Spirit of God protects us from all stimuli seeking our deception.

Are we the elect?  Do you know that you are headed to heaven, certain of your salvation, sealed by the Holy Spirit of God to be among the raptured?  Or is something in your life between you and God, prohibiting that relationship from blossoming?  It may be an unbelieving man or woman, who holds your love, leading down a path that you would otherwise have avoided.  Perhaps the dreams of success, whether job or competition calls you to dedicate your time, talent and resources to something other than Kingdom pursuits?  Maybe it is fear of being abandoned that keeps you standing among peers for which you were never intended, grasped by the false agony of potential loss.  Or worse yet perhaps it this new global voice of tolerance, asking you to be rational and voice opinions contrary to God’s Word in hope of being accepted.  Whatever the influences, beware the false gods of this world.  Anything that leads you outside of God’s Will or draws your energy away from what you know must be done is anti Christ.  Remember these are spirits not humans and their weapons are lies, fear, deception and promise of satiated desire.

I see these influences competing daily for my limited attention.  I am not saying that I always succeed in doing the right thing.  That is not a requirement for being a citizen of the Kingdom.  However, capturing thoughts, repenting and turning away from sin and not returning to wickedness are expected of Christians.  But we humans will certainly continue to fail, even when we are certain of our strength.  I wish to encourage you to turn to the Lord in repentance and truth.  Ask God for forgiveness, accept it and then ask Him to change your heart, thoughts and actions.  He will make you a new creature, you have but to surrender to His awesome, shaping Hand.  There is nothing each of us has done that He does not know from the beginning of time.  He knows yet He still listens and forgives.  I will never be worthy of such love and acceptance.  Thank God, I don’t have to be.  You are my Lord, the one and only God of all universes.  Besides You there is no other.  You are worthy, You are righteous, You are Eternity and everything lays before and beyond.  Praise You Father in the name of Your Son, King Jesus, Amen.