Deceiving Yourself

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." - James 1:20

It's astonishing how easily we can deceive ourselves, yet scripture makes it clear that this is possible. We hear the word of God preached and may understand it to a degree, but often we don't apply its teachings to our lives. Instead, we stick to our own paths, doing what feels comfortable, what makes us happy, and what brings us ease. However, this is exactly the pathway the Bible talks about that ultimately leads us to our death, even though it feels right to us. (Proverbs 14:12) The verses that follow in James chapter 1, when referencing this self-deception, likens this to a man looking in a mirror. So, let's do a quick exercise to show this theory. Pause for a moment on your scrolling and go look in a mirror for one entire minute, then come back to this blog.

Ok, welcome back! Here we go...

Can you tell me what that spot was above your eyebrow?

Oh, you didn't see it?

Maybe there wasn't one?!?

What about that scar on the side of your neck, where did you get that?

You don't have a scar?

Then what was that?

How did you get that stain on your top color of your shirt?

Maybe it was just a shadow?

The truth is, we often only notice our reflection when we're standing right in front of the mirror. Once we turn away, it’s surprisingly easy to forget what we saw. As soon as we step back, articulating our impressions can become a challenge. Doubts start creeping in, leading us to question our own perceptions. We may find ourselves struggling to recall what was once clear. Perhaps we overlooked something important. Or on the contrary, we may seem prideful standing on what we thought we saw even if deep down we are uncertain. 

The Bible is often compared to a mirror, illustrating that a mere glance—reading a few verses and then moving on—is insufficient for truly supporting our beliefs. This lack of depth can leave us ill-equipped to face spiritual warfare or tackle life's tough questions. This is why we are encouraged to go beyond casual reading or listening. We are urged to meditate on His word day and night (Joshua 1:8), to study it diligently and acquire a deep understanding (2 Timothy 2:15). We are called to internalize these teachings, storing them in our hearts (Psalm 119:11) and binding them to our very beings—making them an integral part of ourselves (Proverbs 3:3).

James highlights the danger of possessing knowledge that remains dormant and unapplied in the life of a believer. We are invited to reflect on His words, allowing us to embody His image for the world to see. The Scripture teaches us that the key to achieving this is to abide in Him (John 15:1-10). His word assures us that when we remain in Him, we will walk as He did (1 John 2:8). But how can we truly understand the path He walked without delving into the Scriptures? Reading the stories. Taking in every red letter. If we constantly find ourselves rushing back to a mirror, feeling uncertain or unable to recall what we saw, it's important to take a moment to truly reflect this time. We should honestly examine our hearts and ask ourselves the following questions with genuine sincerity:

1) Am I genuinely engaging with God's word, or am I merely reading it to tick off an item on my to-do list, or absorbing it passively during a Sunday sermon?

2) Am I truly storing His words in my heart, or merely storing them on a shelf for when I need them?

3) Am I truly binding His words to myself, through my actions and behaviors, or am I merely leading a double life?

The truth is, Satan knows who God is, and so do the demons. In fact, the Bible tells us that the demons believe in Him (see Revelation 12, Mark 1, and James 2:19). However, they choose not to obey His words. They do not seek a close relationship with Him, nor do they desire to hear or read Scripture. So, what does this say about us when we behave in a similar way? Shouldn't we strive to be better than the demons? The reality is that the Bible is banned in 52 countries. Imagine if someone came to your home, your town, or your city and confiscated every copy of the Word of God. If you could no longer turn to the Scriptures for guidance, would you have enough of His words stored within you to continue moving forward? Could you address the tough questions that others pose? Would you be able to reflect His teachings in your life? Could you defend your faith with the memory you have from your time with God?

I would find it deeply unsettling to feel uncertain in that moment, especially knowing that I have spent over 20 years close to the Word of God, but perhaps not fully immersed in it. This is a call to ensure we truly embrace the Scriptures, so we can stand firm in our faith. It's not about memorizations, it's about personification. It's about the word being inside of us so much so that the reflection we give off to others when they look at us, is nothing more and nothing less than Jesus Christ. 

Sincerely Selena