Let’s be honest: Christians sometimes tell lies.

This might surprise you, especially since Scripture is clear—“You shall not lie” (Leviticus 19:11). But the truth is, we often lie without even realizing it. We lie to ourselves, and sometimes, we unintentionally pass those lies on to others.

These aren’t malicious or intentional deceptions. Instead, they’re misunderstandings—half-truths or assumptions we’ve accepted for so long that they’ve started to feel like the truth. But even well-meaning lies can hinder our growth and keep us from fully experiencing God’s freedom.

Today, I want to uncover some of these lies, particularly ones we tell ourselves about spending time in the Word and walking closely with the Lord. My hope isn’t to condemn but to help us align our lives with the actual truth of Scripture, rather than our personal interpretations or traditions.

I pray you’ll stick with me to the end of this post. If you do, I believe you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of God’s Word and a heart set free from the lies you may have unknowingly believed.

Every day, I hear from people who struggle to consistently stay in the Word of God. When asked what they find most challenging as Christians, the answer I hear most often is “time.”

They don’t have time to dive into Scripture. They don’t have time to quiet themselves before the Lord. They don’t have time to pray or read the Word daily. If only they had more time, they believe they could spend more meaningful moments with God.

But here’s the truth: you’ve believed a lie.

The Lie: I don't have enough time in the day to spend with the Lord.

We are all given the same 24 hours each day. So why is it that some people seem to find an abundance of time to spend with the Lord, while others can’t seem to squeeze in a single moment with their Creator?

If you believe you don’t have enough time to spend with Jesus daily, you’ve accepted a lie from the enemy.

I recently received an email from someone who shared a small but powerful breakthrough. They wrote, “I had a few hours before bed.. I thought about continuing my series on Netflix, but instead, I opened the Word and spent the next hour with the Lord in the book of Philippians. It was the most precious time. I would have missed it if I had given that time to something else. I CHOSE to spend that time with Jesus.”

And there it is: a choice.

The Truth: You are choosing not to spend time with the Lord.

Let’s be real. Here’s what often happens:

You set your alarm to wake up an hour early, ready to spend time in the Word.
You drag yourself out of bed, start the coffee pot, and . . .
Decide to check Instagram or TikTok real quick.
Which leads to checking the news.
And then scrolling Facebook to see what happened overnight.
And maybe clearing out your email inbox while you’re at it.

Before you know it, the kids are up, the day has started, and you’ve missed your time with the Lord.

The Hard Truth: You had the time. You just wasted it.

Or maybe this sounds familiar:

You sit down at the end of the day, determined to read the Word before bed.
But you’re “too tired” to read . . . yet somehow not too tired to watch the newest Netflix series.

You had the time.
You wasted it.

The Lie: The enemy is keeping me from spending time with God.

The enemy is not keeping you from studying the Word of God.
The enemy is not stopping you from praying.
The enemy is not preventing you from opening your Bible and reading it.

All the enemy has the power to do is suggest.
You are keeping yourself from these things.

I know that might feel uncomfortable to hear, but it’s said in love and with the hope of helping us all grow. If we want to become strong, rooted followers of Christ, we must face the truth—even when it challenges us.

Perhaps you’ve heard—or even spoken—statements like these:

“The enemy is keeping me from studying the Word.”
“The enemy is distracting me during my quiet time.”
“I just have to fight off the enemy when he tries to take me from my time with Jesus.”
“Show the devil who’s boss today!”

I want to gently but firmly challenge this thinking.
These are lies. While the enemy may whisper suggestions or plant distractions, he cannot force you to do—or not do—anything.

The choice is always ours.

The Truth: The enemy has been defeated! Why do you keep resurrecting him?

In Luke 10, Jesus sent out seventy disciples to prepare the way for Him and to bring in a harvest of believers, much like the Twelve had done. When they returned, they were overjoyed, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17).

Jesus’ response was powerful and clear:

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:18-19).

Did you catch that?
Satan has already been defeated.
Jesus has given you authority over the enemy through His name and power.

When you submit yourself to God, the enemy has no choice but to flee from you! “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Revelation 1:18 reminds us that our God holds the keys to death and hell. The same power that conquered, destroyed, and defeated the enemy lives in you! Romans 8:11 declares, “The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.”

So why do we act as though the enemy still has power over us?
Why do we give him room in our lives when the victory has already been won?

The Lie: The Enemy is distracting me from opening the Word.

From the very beginning, the enemy has used lies and suggestions to pull people away from God’s truth. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent didn’t force Eve to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead, he planted a suggestion: “You will not surely die . . . you will be like God” (Genesis 3:4-5).

Eve believed the lie.
She made a choice.
She took the fruit, ignored the voice of her Creator, and ate it.

The serpent didn’t lift her hand or force her to take a bite—any more than he forces your hand to open Facebook instead of God’s Word.

The reality is this: Eve made a choice, just as we make a choice every day to either open God’s Word or turn to something else.

The Truth: He has no power. The devil didn't cause you to do anything. He can't. He has no power. All he has in his arsenal is the art of suggestion and lies.

The devil didn’t “make” you do anything—because he can’t. He has no real power over you. All he has in his arsenal is the art of suggestion and lies.

Jesus made this clear when He gave His disciples authority over the enemy. “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” (Matthew 10:1). This same authority is echoed in Mark 6:7 and Luke 9:1.

That authority—the power of Jesus—dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. The enemy knows this, which is why he works so hard to keep us from the Word, our greatest weapon against his lies.

Yes, the enemy will try to dissuade you. He will lie, cheat, and deceive because he is the father of lies. As John 8:44 reminds us, “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” But here’s the critical truth:

The devil cannot make you do anything.
You have the power and the choice to resist him.

Whenever you choose to listen to the Father of Light instead of the Father of Lies, you defeat his schemes. The question is, are you allowing yourself to be deceived? Or will you stand firm in the truth, knowing the power of Christ is in you?

Good for you! I’m proud of you for sticking with me. I wrote this post out of love for the people of God and a deep concern about the lies we sometimes believe—not out of malice, but because it can feel easier than taking responsibility for our actions.

You might be thinking, “But Erika, the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, ‘Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’ Isn’t the devil devouring me by keeping me from the Word?”

To that, I say this:
Dear friend, read 1 Peter 5:8 again—slowly.

Notice the wording: “as a roaring lion.” The verse doesn’t say the devil is a roaring lion. He merely prowls around like one. He’s an imitator, a deceiver, disguising himself as something bigger and scarier than he truly is.

Yes, he tries to devour—but he can only devour those who give him the opportunity.

How to Get Into the Word and Ignore the Father of Lies.

Remove Distractions
Put your phone and social media aside—literally. Place your phone in another room, turn off notifications, and eliminate distractions. Give God your undivided attention.

Rebuke the Suggestions
When thoughts or distractions creep in, rebuke them. James 4:7 reminds us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Stand firm in your authority in Christ and refocus your mind.
Evaluate Your Time
Take a day or two to track everything you do. Yes, it’s tedious, but it’s revealing. This practice will show you where time is slipping away and when you can dedicate time to the Word.
Adjust Your Schedule
Put the kids to bed early, turn off the TV, and make room for Scripture in your day. These intentional choices create space to hear from God.
Just Open the Word
Stop saying you don’t know how to start or where to begin. You don’t need another devotional or study guide—just open the Bible. Choose a book and begin reading. God will meet you there.
Try Scripture Writing
Writing out Scripture can be a powerful way to stay focused and absorb God’s Word. The act of writing keeps distractions at bay and allows His truth to sink deeper into your heart.
Spend Your Lunch Break with Jesus
Take your lunch hour and use it as a quiet moment with the Lord. Open the Word and feed your spirit as you nourish your body.

The Key: Open the Word and Start Now

Once again—open the Word. Rebuke the enemy. Stop giving him power. Just do it!

I know this post is different from others I’ve written, but it’s a message we need to hear. The body of Christ must take responsibility for our actions instead of blaming the enemy—or anyone else—for why we aren’t in the Word.

If you want to see God move in your life—if you want to hear His voice and witness miracles in your marriage, family, and relationships—you must know His Word.

Another journal, devotional, or Bible study isn’t the answer.
You already have the time, and you already have the perfect instruction book.

So now, dear friend, be strong. Open the Word. Dive in. God is waiting to meet you there.