“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” - Isaiah 5:21

One major hindrance against the work of Grace in our life is “self-deceit”. This happens when we deliberately lie to ourselves or are simply sentimental regarding the ordinary things of life, or regarding basic spiritual tenets and obligations. Not minding the fact that we suffer being deceived from time to time from external sources, our own hearts are also deceitful—so much so that we easily fool ourselves. Some believe they know it all and tend to look down on others. They talk so loud about their presumed knowledge, while at the same time, they either rubbish or vehemently kick against the opinion of others, and claim superior knowledge in matters beyond their reasonable understanding. By so doing, they forget that only empty vessels make the loudest noise. Stop lying to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love altogether. The Grace of God is meant to strengthen us and make us strong in areas of our weaknesses; but if we already adopted a lying posture or pretend through self-deceit to be strong, or full of knowledge, we do not benefit from the perfect work of Grace. One root cause of self-deception is arrogance. The scripture says, “The pride of your heart has deceived you” (Obadiah 1:3). Human pride always blinds us to truth. It promises honor, but it delivers disgrace: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Second root cause, is absolute disregard to the “doing of the word of God” For instance, if you are praying for the wellbeing of anyone, back it up also with physical action.

Therefore, if you pray for the poor also feed and clothe them. That is what makes prayer to work. Prayer and action creates manifestation. Don’t just pray without doing anything to help in the physical, otherwise, you deceive yourself. Flowing with the spirit is not all about accumulating truth in our mind; it’s about putting the word of truth into action. Therefore, if we read the scriptures and do not do the word of God, we deceive ourselves. James 1:22 warns us against deceiving ourselves: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Empty religion allows a person to employ his bodily members and his material resources toward self-centered objectives. But God approves of “faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6). Beloved, self – deception is disastrous, for you alone are accountable. The word of God is telling you today to avoid self-righteousness or self-judgment. Stop self – referential or a syndrome of measuring yourself with yourself, or compare yourself to yourself. Those who do that are not wise, (2 Corinthians 10:12). Starting from today, employ humility in your affairs, open yourself to guidance by the Holy Spirit so you are able to tap into the grace of God at all times. Become radically committed to measuring your life by what the scriptures call us to do and to be and by nothing else. Listen carefully to criticisms about your person – especially, those who openly opposes you. This ought to serve you best because open criticisms usually do not spare your feelings, and are spoken honestly, even though harshly. Make Psalms 139:23-24 your fervent prayer all the time. In addition to this, remember Jesus is there always for us, ready to show us the WAY and to make us STRONG when we are lost or weak.

Psalms 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. AMEN