How do you defeat the enemy that lurks within your circle?

You know the one who, with their lips, says they love you, but their actions are those of evil. The one in your presence gives compliments and flattery while hiding a knife behind their back, waiting for you to be caught off guard.

These are the same people who always want to be around you, keeping an eye on what you are doing, what you are accomplishing, just increasing bitterness and anger for you, wishing you would fall, wishing you would fail, wishing you would be destroyed, wishing ill will upon your life. They don't want you to succeed in life and will suck the joy out of you. They try to consume you with their issues to keep you from focusing on your own health, your own business, because ultimately, they want to destroy you. What's sad is this can be a close relative, like a mother, father, sister, brother, any relative, or close friend. However, they are really on an assignment from the devil.

As a christian your trying to stay focused on the lord, doing things pleasing in his sight, but at the end, what do you really do?

Do you walk away, go no contact, develop hate for them, as it clearly is hate, jealousy, envy fueling them?

NO, You follow what the word of god says.

You forgive them, pray for THEM, ASK the lord to deliver them, and set THEM free. You want them to have joy, love, peace, and comfort, but at the same time, you want them to realize the errors of their ways and take accountability for actions that cause them to be left alone, OR THAT CAUSES THEM TO FEEL LOW IN SPIRIT. THEY HAVE TO FIND THEIR WAY TO THE CROSS, THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO BREAK THAT SPIRIT IN THEM CAUSING THEM TO HAVE THE ANIMOSITY, BITTERNESS, ANGER, AND FRUSTRATION AGAINST SOMEONE THAT IS TRYING TO HELP THEM, GUIDE THEM, AND SHOW THEM TRUE LOVE.

TRUE LOVE IS NOT SOMEONE AGREEING WITH EVERYTHING A PERSON SAYS OR DOES. TRUE LOVE IS NOT OVERLOOKING FAULTS, BUT ADDRESSING THEM IN A MANNER FOR THEM TO BE HEALED, DELIVERED AND SET FREE. SOMETIMES IT'S THE PERSONS OWN FEELINGS OF INSECURITY THAT PLAYS ON THEIR MINDS AND CAUSES THEM TO BECOME EMOTIONALLY DETACHED FROM RELATIONSHIPS WHETHER IT BE A SPOUSE, RELATIVE OR FRIENDS.

You have to walk in the spirit of Christ with the whole armor of God on, because if you don't, you will suffer a fatal blow to the spirit, it can hinder you in your spiritual growth, and destroy your faith in God. I remember having thoughts of ending everything just to get rid of the pain from the very same people who claimed to love me. I was being drained of my peace, love, and joy, but now my heart is saddened for them, because they do not know true joy, and it is even sadder that they probably never will. Why? Because they cannot give up the past,they cannot take accountability for their actions and are playing the role of a victim.

We have to learn from the actions of others and not so much the statements of others. We have to read between the lines that have not been said yet discern the actions being displayed. When you are aware of what you're actually fighting, then you won half the battle. Sadly, we walk around with blinders on, and if you speak on things, then you're being controlling, demanding, or putting people down. The truth of the matter is that no one wants to be corrected, and they are perfectly okay with living in a fantasy world of deception.

Sometimes, in life we need to take heed to what is being said, because it could be the Lord directing it to you for correction. There could be something in a person that is hindering them from maturing or being elevated by God because of their pride. Pride is a downfall of man, we have to learn how to take creative critizism, the problem is we take everything as an attack.

To understand the biblical perspective on deceitful people, consider these verses:

• Proverbs 12:22 - "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy."
• Psalm 101:7 - "No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes."
• Proverbs 26:24-26 - "Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart."
• Jeremiah 9:6 - "You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me, declares the Lord."
• Matthew 7:15 - "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves."
• Proverbs 20:17 - "Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel."