THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
(2 Corinthians 4:4).

Be aware that you have an enemy: the god of this age…the accuser of brethren…the father of lies. 

Be cautioned that the god of this age loves to darken your understanding, so that you would not recognize the Light of the message concerning Jesus Christ—that He offers Himself to you in times of need.

WE ARE HARD-PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, YET NOT CRUSHED; WE ARE PERPLEXED, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Recognize the voice of the deceiver, the father-of-lies:

When you are hard-pressed, he will demand that you have been crushed.
When you are perplexed, he will declare that your circumstances are hopeless.
When you are persecuted, he will proclaim that you have been forsaken.
When you are struck down, he will claim that you have been destroyed.

Be encouraged that the Lord Jesus came to save you from the father-of-lies and his oppressing beliefs.  But you have a responsibility—to submit your perturbing perceptions to the Lord Jesus when you feel crushed, hopeless, forsaken, and destroyed, so He can tell you the Truth about yourself and your situation.

DO NOT OFFER ANY PART OF YOURSELF TO SIN AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WICKEDNESS, BUT RATHER OFFER YOURSELVES TO GOD AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE; AND OFFER EVERY PART OF YOURSELF TO HIM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
(Romans 6:13).

I bless you to stop offering your mind to the father-of-lies to be used for his wickedness; but instead, offer your thoughts and reasoning to God as instruments of His Righteousness.

What makes you feel crushed, hopeless, forsaken, and destroyed, today? EMBRACE these feelings, EXPOSE your interpretations to the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to EXCHANGE them for His Truth, Hope, and Love.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I embrace the perturbing perceptions that cause me to feel crushed, hopeless, forsaken, and destroyed. I expose these perceptions to You. Please exchange these oppressing beliefs for Your Truth, Hope, and Love, so I may live by Your glorious Light and stand against the god of this age.