FAITH CAPSULE: A heart that engages meditation on the word of God disengages negotiation with the devil.
Luke 22:1-23
It is written, ““The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Ecclesiastes 9:3, “This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after they go to dead.” (Jeremiah 17:9) The Bible clearly demonstrated that the heart is where the rise and fall of man begins. It is what flows from the heart of a believer that makes a believer. The heart of a believer will make or break a believer. Among the part of a believer, the heart is the most important target for the devil to launch its attack. Judas spent time with Jesus and went to places with Him. Despite his entire experience with Christ his heart volunteered for the devil to manifest. The book of Luke 22:3-4 stated, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.” Satan went after the vulnerable heart of Judas and he was able to establish his plan of betraying Jesus. Invariably, faith will fail when the enemy attacks the heart.
Peter was close to Jesus and could also have been a victim of the devil. Once Jesus said to him, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) The only proven target for the enemy to strike is the heart. Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, were not forced to voluntarily sell their possession to buttress the fellowship of others, but they came up lying about the proceedings, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep part of the price of the land for yourself? (Acts 5:3) Hearts need to be constantly engaged through meditation day and night.
A heart that is engaged by meditating the word of God is disengaged from negotiation with the devil. Determination to keep focus from letting Satan have its way can be disappointing. It was determination that failed Peter when he was determined not to deny Christ and eventually denied Him three times. Thank God that Jesus had already prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail. It is a wise thing to join King David in praying Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” God answers prayer. Meditate the word and keep your heart from the agenda of Satan. What is the state of your heart?
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to be constantly kept from the moves of the Satan against your heart.