“ALL manipulation is EVIL and is not of God even if it produces something that we believe to be good” (read Proverbs 14:12) and I’m not talking about things such as wearing fake ponytails! The Holy Spirit literally put those words in my mouth as I awoke this morning, not only was this a powerful revelation that caused me to do a self-evaluation, it is a revelation for you as well!  Remember that “small lie” that you told during your interview to secure a job?  What about that “slight omission” of income that you didn’t report to the State so that your benefits would continue? or the lie you told the State Trooper so that he wouldn’t give you a ticket. Many “Christians” would say “I’m just using wisdom by telling this small lie” or “Who are you to judge me anyway?” Well, according to 1 Corinthians 6:6-5, not only are the saints supposed to judge a matter instead of going to the legal system of the world, we will also judge angels!  “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” And lying or any other type of manipulation [aka deception]is not “using wisdom, its pure dishonesty which shouldn’t be sugarcoated and is NOT originated from the Spirit of God but will be judged by God (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Isaiah 55:8-9, 1 Corinthians 6-9). So, there you have it!  We all have the ability to do that which is pleasing to God-but we must CHOOSE to do it! (Philippians 4:13-Ephesians 3:20, Collisions 3:23). 

If you sincerely desire to be pleasing in all of your ways in the sight of God, lets pray, God activate the strength that is already inside of me to turn from all forms of unholiness. Forgive me for manipulating others to benefit myself, as I now renounce these things, please forgive me of all of my sins and find me pleasing in Your sight. Amen.