Recognizing the Devil's Schemes

I saw these verses today, and watched a study called "The Great Deceiver" where it speaks on the different ways the devil tries to destroy us and depend on something else besides faith in Jesus for salvation. It is on Amazon Prime video; I highly recommend it, but one of the things they point out that Satan uses is complacency. I have learned over time that God did not create us to be complacent; he created us to have a relationship with him and to spread the Good News. This will not always be comfortable (and it most likely most ever be), but God has something better for us than any plan we could have thought of for our lives. I have went through this myself; before I was saved, I had an idea of what I wanted to do, and I put much of my joy on wrong things including money, (accumulating) stuff, opinions of people, and pride. This set me up for a feeling of emptiness that cannot be described, but once I came to Jesus and really understood what he did for me, I did not want to live that way any more. God changed me, and he can do the same thing for you! Do not worry about cleaning yourself up first; God wants you to bring those problems to him, so that you can be reconciled with him. If you need proof of this, look at the people God uses in the Bible. David was a great king that God said was after his own heart, but he committed heinous sins such as adultery and murder. How could he be a man after God's own heart if he did such things you ask? God's love for us is incredible, and according to 1 Peter 4:8, " Love covers a multitude of sins, and God has said if we come to him and confess our sins, he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Also, God says that once we come to him and ask for forgiveness our sins will be as far is the east is to the west, and he will remember them no more (Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 43:25, Hebrews 8:12). It is such an Amazing Love. The gift of grace is truly indescribable once you ask God to save you, and he is with you through every trial. Do not let Satan steal your joy!