Do we walk by faith, or by sight? Do we let ourselves ride the waves of our emotions in discerning difficulties, of what is good and what is evil? Are we led by our sensual wisdom? Or are we led by God alone in faith, do we “lean not on our own understanding” but in ALL our ways, our emotions acknowledge Him? We will never see clearly to do and say what is right and of God in the midst of trial if we are controlled by our own emotions. “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot.”- Romans 8:7 ESV. Try as we may, we will not submit to God and be pleasing unto him when we lean on our own flesh, our minds and emotions for guidance. Fear will be our master, worry our constant “friend,” we will pity those who need reproved and judge those who we should pray for, we will condemn those God loves. We will act before seeking God’s face and act apart from His wisdom… we will act foolishly. Only through God’s free offer of freedom from the spirit of slavery- provided in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, by which we have received the Spirit of adoption as sons through whom we cry Abba, Father! will we escape deception. We will either be women of faith who stand firm in the day of trial, or we will be those whose hearts fail them in the day of trial, those who are used in Satan’s final rage as his time draws near, those who by neglect or rebellion of God’s loving instruction, correction, authority and claim to our all… are deceived. We don’t have to be what we have been in the past. Let us do one thing, as Paul said so perfectly, “…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:13-14. By the grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ alone who works within us all that is pleasing to the Father, Amen.