<I>Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world </I>(1 John 4:1). <P>Paul warned us against the deception which<BR>comes through demonic influence (1 Timothy 4:1). John also cautioned us to test the spirits and to distinguish the spirit of truth from the spirit of error(1 John 4:1-6). Satan's demonic forces are at work attempting to pollute your mind with lies in order to keep you from walking in the truth. Hannah Whitehall Smith wrote: <P>There are the voices of evil and deceiving spirits, who lie in wait to entrap every traveler entering these higher regions of spiritual life. . . . These spiritual enemies, whoever or whatever they may be, must necessarily communicate with us by means of our spiritual faculties, and their voices, as the voice of God, are an inward impression made upon our spirit. Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit may tell us by impressions what the will of God is concerning us, so also will these spiritual enemies tell us by impression what is their will concerning us, though not, of course, giving it their name" (Quoted from Martin Wells Knapp, Impressions, Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc., 1984, pp. 14-15). <P>Due to the deceptive nature of his impressions, Satan's voice may not always be detected objectively. You need to pray in order to disassociate yourself from deceiving spirits. <P>Heavenly Father, I commit myself unreservedly to Your will. If I have been deceived in any way, I pray that You will open my eyes to the deception. I command in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that all deceiving spirits depart from me, and I renounce and reject all counterfeit gifts (or any other spiritual phenomena). Lord, if it is from You, bless it and cause it to grow that Your body may be blessed and edified through it.

Here's some more good devotionals:<P><B>"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you." - Isaiah 43:1-2</B><P>If today you are faced with difficulty or confusion and misunderstanding, seek the presence of our gentle Christ and ask what He would do if He were in the same circumstance as you. Remember always that Christ is truly with you.<P>A thankful heart doubles our blessings and causes us to enjoy them twice; once when we receive them and again when we remember them. Lord, let me never take You for granted and daily remember to say thank you.

Here's <B>Our Daily Bread</B>it seems to fit with the Neil Anderson Devo today...<P>How To Catch A Rat<P>Read: Matthew 7:15-23 <P>By smooth words and flattering speech [they] deceive the hearts of the simple. —Romans 16:18 <P>My grandson's chicken coop was invaded by rats. Attracted by the feed, they had moved in. He asked for my help and we set out a couple of traps. After a week, though, we had not caught a single one. Then a farmer friend offered some advice. "No rat," he said, "will touch an exposed trap. You must disguise it with food. Fill a pan with meal and place the trap in it. Cover it well with meal so it is completely hidden." It worked! The next morning we had a big fat rat. <P>All this reminded me that the devil knows this trick too. He carefully disguises his trap with truth. Nowhere is it better seen than in the numerous false cults and religions in the world today. All set their traps of error in a pan of meal. Many quote the Bible and preach a certain amount of gospel truth. They talk about prayer and Jesus and the Bible. But under the layer of truth is the trap of error. <P>This is the age of deception. The Bible therefore warns us to "test the spirits" (1 Jn. 4:1) and beware of deceivers (2 Tim. 3:13; 2 Jn. 7). The only antidote against the clever deceptions that come in the name of Christ (Mk. 13:5-6) is to know your Bible. Be rooted and grounded in the truth (Col. 2:6-8). "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Th. 5:21). Beware of Satan's traps. —MRD <P><BR><I>Satan dogs the steps of the saints<BR>And digs a pit for their feet;<BR>He craftily sows his tares in the field,<BR>Wherever God sows His wheat! —Anon.</I><P><B>Satan often disguises error with a veneer of truth.</B><P>