The Loop

How Satan's Deception Impacts Your Daily Life 

The Origin of Our Struggles 

Jesus says in Matthew 7 that "you can know a tree by its fruit." Throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, this tree-life analogy remains strong. The fruit that grows on our "trees" is what people around us – our family, friends, loved ones, coworkers – are consuming. But where does the bad fruit come from? 

We've been exploring how sin and unhealthy behaviors grow from fears, which grow from shame, which ultimately comes from wounds – either things we've done or things others have done to us. But today, I want to go deeper and answer: where did all this come from? 

The Garden Deception 

In the beginning, God placed Adam and Eve in a perfect garden. He told them to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28), to spread His image throughout the earth. Everything was good, beautiful, and perfect. God created choice because love isn't love without choice. 

Then the serpent appeared. As John 8:44 tells us, Satan "was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." 

The serpent approached Eve and twisted God's words: "You will not certainly die... God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5). 

Have you ever noticed that the best lies are mostly true? Satan is masterful at taking something that sounds a little true and twisting it just enough to make you think, "maybe..." 

Satan's Common Lies 

Here are just a few lies our enemy loves to tell us: 

These lies anchor into our hearts and make us question God's goodness and provision. They target our deepest wounds and insecurities. 

The Enemy's Playground 

After Adam and Eve's fall, Satan was "hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray" (Revelation 12:9). This world became his domain. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:2, Satan is "the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." 

Your job, your community, your schools – they are all under enemy influence. That doesn't mean everyone you meet isn't nice, but we must maintain a Biblical view of the world we live in. 

I remember reading about John Eldridge driving with his family, completely content one moment, then suddenly furious with his wife the next. Have you experienced that? Where does that come from? Your enemy. That's why Paul says in Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." 

The Point of Attack 

The point of your deepest pain is most often the devil's playground in your mind. Therefore, whatever wounds you've experienced – whether from your sin or the impact of other’s sin – its usually the place where these lies take hold in our hearts.  For example:, Did you do something terribly embarrassing?  Did you grow up in an alcoholic home?  Were you bullied as a kid?  Satan uses these painful situations to plant lies: "I'm just always going to be this way." "I guess I'm not worthy of love." 

These lies create shame, which creates fear, which creates unhealthy behaviors or more sin. It's a vicious cycle that Paul describes in Romans 7 when he laments, "The good I want to do, I don't do. And the thing I don't want to do, this I keep on doing" (Romans 7:19, paraphrased). 

Life Application: Jesus Is Greater 

But here's the good news – the cycle can be broken! Paul concludes his struggle in Romans 7 by saying, "But praise God, I have a savior in Jesus Christ," which leads to Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." 

Whatever has happened to you, whatever you've done, whatever shame that's created, whatever lies the enemy wants you to believe – in Jesus Christ, they are all overcome. Jesus is greater.  

NEXT STEPS: 

Remember, the enemy doesn't love you or care about you. The lies he whispers are intended to destroy you. But Jesus came that you might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Choose His truth today.