So God has been dealing with me for a little over a year on the topic of manipulation as it relates to the destruction of relationships. I have been on both the giving and receiving ends of manipulation.
So what is manipulation? Manipulation is the act of manipulating. According to Merriam-Webster, to manipulate is to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage. How I see it, it is to convince someone to do or to not do something against their will or without their immediate knowledge of that will being taken from them.
Why am I sharing this? To be honest, I wasn’t sure when I began writing, haha. But now I see that this is something most believers are guilty of attempting in our walks with God. Have you ever told God "Lord, if You get me out of this, then I’ll serve You?" Or something along those lines? I know I have. I know I have attempted to manipulate God in the midst of my sin. I know I have attempted to bargain with God to bend His rules on my behalf. I have tried, in the past, to outsmart God. 😓 I said attempt earlier because we aren’t fooling anyone but ourselves. God is omniscient, knowing everything, especially our motives and the conditions of our hearts.
So here is my question: have you been trying to manipulate God by bargaining, lying to yourself or others? Could it be that this is one of the roots of the issues you face in your life? Could it be that your coming to God for forgiveness and deliverance is the key to your breakthrough?
Life Inspired By God 