Daily Devotional Day 52

The word of God says that Eve was deceived. Why? It is because she never experienced another voice or a question, and she acted out of deception and manipulation. She was beguiled or tricked through her five senses into acting independently from God and to use her own ability to answer Satan's question.

This happens to all of us continually. She was distracted by the pressure of the question and lost God's voice through her independent attempt to answer. Eve succumbed to her five senses, ate of the tree, and consequently gained personal strength from the information that the tree offered her. She answered with this natural strength given to her by the fruit of the tree. Through this act of eating this fruit, she, for the first time, gained the ability to live independently from God. It was not sinful; however, it was fatal, for it was without God's influence.

This ungodly influence is the influence we live by and are deceived by daily. The process is the same every time. First distracted by outside influence, and then we are disconnected from the still small voice of God. We are then disengaged from His presence. We then act independently of Him and are in disharmony. We finally reap the consequences, and we experience degeneration.

Sin was not the first mistake made in the garden. Self was Eve's mistake. Relying on herself and not God. This action led to sin. Whenever we live independently from the voice of God, we build up our flesh, and strong flesh is bound to sin!

Pray today that the Holy Spirit brings to your awareness when you are living in your own understanding and strength. Ask Him to empower you to seek His voice throughout the day. Ask Him to strengthen your trust that He WILL SPEAK to you if you are listening.

"Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways, know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your path straight and smooth.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord with reverent awe and obedience and turn entirely away from evil. For length of days and years of a life worth living (tranquility and prosperity the wholeness of life's blessings) they will be added to you." Proverbs 3