How to Recognize the Devil’s Lies Before You Fall for Them

I was recently watching a sermon on YouTube while doing some housework. You know how it goes: sermon playing, phone sitting somewhere nearby, and you’re moving from room to room trying to get things done.

At some point, I walked away from my phone.

A few minutes later, I started hearing something that was definitely not the sermon.

So naturally, I wandered back over to investigate.

And when I got closer to my phone, there was an animated story playing. It was about a woman who had just found out that her sister was engaged.

To her ex-husband.

Ma’am.

I was flabbergasted.

At this point, I assumed YouTube had started playing some kind of trailer for a movie or one of those dramatic little animated stories. And I’m not gonna lie to you: I wanted to know how this thing ended.

Because everytime I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did!

The woman, who was pretty but definitely insecure about being overweight, was constantly being reminded that her slimmer, more stunning sister was now marrying her ex-husband. And then, to add insult to injury, her sister asked her to be…

Wait for it…

A bridesmaid.

The Turning Point

Ooh, child. It can’t get much messier than that!

Then her mother tells her that she absolutely has to attend because, after all, this is her sister’s wedding. She can’t just skip it.

So now our main character decides she needs to lose weight before the wedding.

And this is where the story went completely off the rails.

Apparently, she starts using oil of oregano. This somehow helps her get her cortisol under control, lose all the weight, and transform into a slim, bombshell with an hourglass figure (and a borderline new face!).

She shows up at the wedding looking fabulous in this dark, green dress that hugs every curve.

Her ex-husband’s eyes practically pop out of his head.

Her sister notices that her soon-to-be husband is still attracted to his ex.

And somewhere around there, I stopped watching. Because suddenly I realized something.

This wasn’t a movie trailer.

This entire dramatic saga, ex-husband, sister betrayal, bridesmaid drama, weight-loss makeover and all, was an advertisement.

For oil of oregano.

ALL OF THAT…

for an oil of oregano ad.

And once I realized what I had just watched, I couldn’t help but think:

Isn’t that sometimes exactly how the enemy works?

The Enemy Is Always Trying to Sell You Something

The Bible describes Satan as a deceiver. John 8:44 (NLT) tells you that lying is consistent with his character and calls him the “father of lies.”

And lies usually work better when they’re wrapped in a compelling story.

The enemy doesn’t always walk up and announce:

“Hello, I’m here to convince you to do something that will take you outside of God’s will.”

No.

He sells you a narrative.

• If you get this man, you’ll finally feel chosen.
• If you compromise your sexual boundaries, maybe he’ll stay.
• If you ignore that red flag, you can finally have the marriage you’ve been praying for.
• If you can just become prettier, thinner, younger-looking or more impressive, then somebody will love you.
• If you lower your standards because “good men are hard to find,” at least you won’t end up alone.
• If you manipulate the situation just a little, maybe you can help God get you where you’re supposed to be.
• If you chase the opportunity even though you have no peace about it, maybe success will finally make you feel secure.
• If you compare yourself long enough to the woman who has what you want, maybe that dissatisfaction will motivate you to become “better.”

See the pattern?

If you get X, it’ll lead to Y.

If you do A, you’ll finally get B.

And, if you compromise C, surely D will make it worth it.

But sometimes you’re not looking at your happily-ever-after.

You’re watching one long advertisement designed to sell you something God never told you to buy.

Sometimes, the relationship you're considering really isn't your happily-ever-after. You're watching one long ad designed to sell you something God never told you to buy! #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

And Sometimes the Man Is the Advertisement

This applies to dating too.

Some men will falsely advertise themselves.

The preview looks fantastic.

• He tells you he loves God.
• He says he wants marriage.
• He talks about family.
• He’s attentive.
• He communicates constantly.
• He says all the right things about protecting you, providing, commitment and the future.

His marketing campaign is top tier!.

But over time, the actual product starts looking very different from the commercial.

Suddenly, the consistency disappears.

• His relationship with God doesn’t quite match what he advertised.
• His stories don’t add up.
• His character changes whenever he doesn’t get his way.
• He keeps pushing boundaries you already made clear.
• He says he wants marriage, but everything about the relationship remains vague.
• He calls himself protective, but he’s controlling.
• He calls himself a leader, but he refuses accountability.
• He calls his jealousy love.
• He calls your discernment insecurity.

And eventually you realize:

Welp, I have been bamboozled.

The advertisement and the reality were two completely different things.

That’s why discernment matters.

So How Do You Keep From Buying the Lie?

You go back to the Word of God.

Because when somebody, or something, is selling you a story, you need something more reliable than your emotions to determine whether the story is true.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”Then it tells you to seek God’s will in everything you do and promises that He’ll show you which path to take.

That matters because sometimes something can make perfect sense to you and still be completely wrong for you.

You can rationalize almost anything when you want it badly enough.

That’s why Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) tells you to “Commit your actions to the Lord.”

Not just your church decisions.

Not just your career.

• Your dating decisions.
• Your friendships.
• Your relationships.
• Your opportunities.
• Your reactions.
• Your plans.
• Your desires.

All of it.

And Psalm 37:5 (NLT) gives you similar instruction: “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”

Notice how frequently Scripture points you away from self-reliance and back toward God.

Because you don’t just need God to bless the decisions you’ve already made.

You need Him to help you decide what’s worth choosing in the first place.

Pay Attention to What Interrupted You

Here’s another thing I found interesting about that oil-of-oregano ad.

I had been listening to a sermon.

I was doing something that was feeding me spiritually.

Then something else interrupted it with this dramatic little story designed to capture my attention.

And it worked…for a minute, anyway.

That’s a word all by itself.

How often does something show up right in the middle of what God is trying to do in your life and get your attention?

You’re becoming content in your singleness…

Then he texts.

You’ve finally decided to establish boundaries…

Then somebody tells you that you’re being too picky.

You’ve been praying for wisdom…

Then loneliness makes the wrong option look appealing.

You’ve been healing…

Then nostalgia starts editing your memories and showing you only the highlight reel.

You’ve been focusing on what God gave you…

Then comparison shows you somebody else’s life and whispers, “Shouldn’t you have that by now?”

How often does something show up right in the middle of what God is trying to do in your life and get your attention? #forsinglewomenonly Share on X

That’s why 1 Peter 5:8–9 (NLT) tells you to stay alert and stand firm in your faith.

Everything that gets your attention doesn’t deserve your agreement.

• Every story doesn’t deserve to be finished.
• Every opportunity doesn’t deserve exploration.
• Every man doesn’t deserve access.
• Every thought doesn’t deserve belief.

And every advertisement certainly doesn’t deserve a purchase.

So the next time something pops up and interrupts the godly work God has been doing in you…

The next time you’re being sold a fantasy that requires you to compromise your convictions…

The next time somebody presents a beautiful story but the details don’t line up with Scripture…

The next time you feel tempted to keep watching just because you need to know how this ends…

Girl.

Press “Skip Ad.”

You’re probably not missing anything worth buying.