“[The Idolater] feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot rescue himself, or say, ‘Isn’t there a lie in my right hand’” (Isaiah 44.20)?

The idolater cannot say, “Isn’t their a lie in my right hand?” That is, I cannot sit down and truly understand what drives me if I’m serving the creature rather than the Creator. I cannot do what I know I must do. This is spiritual warfare and I don’t have the power to stand on my own. If give a nod to God, it is a deceitful nod. 

This is why I have such a great Savior! Jesus is mighty to save! Stronger is He that is in me than he that it is in the world. The Spirit of the LORD is on Jesus because God has anointed Him to preach the good news to the poor. God sent Jesus to proclaim release to the captives like me and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor (Luke 4.18-19). I need not feed on ashes. I have light and liberty in Jesus. I am a child of God. The blood of Jesus Christ gives me cleansing and life. He alone is sufficient for me. If I walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all sin (1 John 1.7). As sin and deception rear their ugly heads, the grace of Christ is sufficient for me. My salvation is everlasting. 

Jesus would tell me to sin no more …to be aware of self-deception and the corruption of my old nature. I carry a body of sin and death. I am a new man, but the flesh still strives against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5.17). Satan still has the power to tempt me and sift me like wheat. I cannot stand against him in my power. I cannot save myself. “The just live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10.38-39). 

I will watch and pray today lest I enter into temptation. I will clothe myself with the whole armor of God so that I may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared for everything, I will take my stand (Ephesians 6.13)!