Key Bible Verse: I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent (2 Corinthians 11:3). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 4:25-27

Every so often I'll stop by to say "hi" to my friend who owns a magic shop. And he'll sucker me into buying a new gag. He's taught me that the key to illusion is misdirection. Get the person watching to focus on the wrong thing, and you can pull off almost any trick.

The villain is a master of misdirection. It's a wonder we still fall for his trickery, because it's so old. He used it against Adam when he misdirected his passion for God in the garden. He used it against David when he misdirected his love for God with lust for Bathsheba. He tried to use it against Jesus by misdirecting His servanthood into selfishness. But Jesus didn't buy it for one minute.

You don't have to, either. Don't go stepping down evil's pathway. You've got a better road to follow.

The devil knows he has no future and that the most effective way to get back at God is to attack the object of His affection—us. He does it by misdirecting the passion that's wired into us for God toward other things: power, possessions, pleasure. Artificial romance in any form will work for the enemy if it keeps us from a genuine walk with God.

—John Bolin in Life Unlimited

My Response: What has Satan used in the past to divert my attention or affection?

Thought to Apply: Our adversary is a master strategist, forever fogging up our minds with smokescreens.—CHARLES SWINDOLL (Texas pastor & educator)

Adapted from Life Unlimited (Multnomah, 2003) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Give me the resolve, Lord, to block Satan's accusations by citing my justification through Christ, and his deceptions and enticements by focusing on You.

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