Would any of us willingly enter into deception? Of course not!
But we do when we ignore red flags in relationships with people whom we believe to be trustworthy.
When we are convinced they are the people we believe them to be and thereby choose to ignore warning signs or “irregularities” that should raise questions, we are willfully opening the door to deception.
For example…
A few years ago I experienced a deep betrayal by someone I completely trusted. We had spent hours talking. They attended family functions. It was a close relationship. When small red flags popped up…people said that the person wasn’t trustworthy, I ignored them because I was convinced I knew the individual. I just knew they wouldn’t do what I was beginning to hear. It was to my own detriment. The warnings were accurate.
The Holy Spirit was revealing issues, but I didn’t realize it–because of my relationship/friendship with the person. I thought I knew them and trusted them. When I asked about the areas in question, they always had a quick answer to put my heart at rest. And I believed them.
I couldn’t imagine they would lie to my face—but they did—repeatedly. It was all deception. And worse…I missed it for a long time.
Our relationship with someone can skew our discernment and can create willful deception. Worse, when we see or hear about irregularities that go against what we believe about an individual, without realizing it, we begin to create excuses for their behavior because we can’t imagine they would intentionally do something wrong.
I call it relational deception when people refuse to look at facts because it creates cognitive dissonance with what we believe about them. The Bible tells us in the last days even the elect can be deceived. I believe this is one of the ways—when we blindly defend people we think we know.
This past week, I was verbally attacked by a multitude of “friends” and people in leadership because of articles I have written as a journalist exposing corruption in someone in a top position in Oklahoma politics. I have been screamed at, denounced, called a liar and worse–even physically assaulted by two individuals who were enraged at me over my investigation into these matters.
Why? Because of relational deception.
When I talked about it in a meeting afterwards, a former friend stood up, came to the mic, interrupted me and said, “I just want to say that I don’t want to be a part of any of Karen’s ‘defamation campaigns.’ I think it’s disturbing. I think it’s ungodly to defame godly people.”
By saying that she evidently was okay with the fact they were defaming me and others.
It was an interesting moment as she defended the very people making the threats and defamation statements against those of us who were standing for truth. That is the epitome of deception.
We have been sharing the videos, recordings and other evidence which has been exposing what is being done and said in secret and it has enraged people unwilling to believe it. That rage is a sign of pride and deception.
Deception is the refusal to investigate or accept the evidence that says something is very, very wrong.
We are in a season of exposure. It will continue and we need to brace for it. We always need to recognize that some accusations may be false—while others are true. We need to be cautious before jumping in blindly on either side. Facts tell the story. Let’s not be afraid to research and learn.
Father, today we come to You and pray if there is any area of deception within us that You would reveal it to us now and ask that it be removed so we can see clearly. May we not be deceived and unwilling to see the truth. We bind the spirit of pride that has been unleashed in our nation that is the strongman that opens the door to offense which brings deception. We declare that pride, offense and deception will not control our city, state or nation—or our families. We take authority over those spirits and loose instead the spirit of humility, forgiveness and truth.
We declare that truth will prevail now regarding Joe Biden and his dementia ridden brain, over Donald Trump and the accusations against him, over the presidential election, over January 6, etc. I declare it over what is taking place in (your state, city and family) that false accusations will be exposed and truth, no matter how hard it is to digest, will come to the forefront and no longer dismissed or denounced.
We pray that those who have lied, acted with impunity, broken rules, laws and our trust in elected or appointed leadership positions, would be removed immediately and that they would humble themselves and repent. Where we or others have been falsely accused and denounced, we declare that the Lord will vindicate us and the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped. While evil people and impostors may proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived, we declare a hedge of protection of our hearts and minds and that of our family. Where injustices have been devised, and where corrupt individuals shoot off their mouths without fear, their own tongue is against them. We declare their evil is being exposed and may all the world see them and shake their head as the truth comes to light. May justice prevail so that all men will fear and declare the work of God.
Matt 16:19, 2 Tim 3:13, Ps 63:11, Ps 64: 4, 6 and 8