Watch Out!

Matthew 24:4  "Watch out that no one deceives you."

Oh, Yahweh, Abba, I have needed the past couple of days of reminders from Your word in Matthew.  The cautionary encouragement to "not be alarmed" and the warning to "watch out that no one deceives you" both validate my own emotional reactions to the current events in the world.  

Confession: I have been alarmed.  It is hard not to be alarmed when so many undeniably alarming things are occurring.  Please show me how to "see to it that [I am] not alarmed."  Is there something, some skill or strategy, that I can learn?  I am willing if You will teach me.

And likewise, would You show me how to watch out effectively?  Being on guard is what comes to my mind, in an almost paranoid way (LOL).  However, no human can be constantly alert to all the dangers, and really "good" deception is really difficult to discern.  Again, I pray that You would teach me how to sniff out lies--especially the ones that are so subtle and SO damaging.

Today, Ron Waddell (on The Journey preaching team) pointed out the lies that the devil tried on Jesus, of all people.  (What arrogance!)  But the nature of those lies was illuminating to me, as Ron explained them.  Just enough Scripture to make the lie seem like God's word, but the difference between the exact wording and the heart motivation tells the tale and God, You know the difference.  Help me, please, to know You so well that I know what You mean when You say something.  Twisting truth and gaslighting are becoming Olympic-sports level skills these days.

Help me tonight to accomplish something meaningful?

Love you!