BE QUICK TO DISCERN

Older woman on sofa.

How Not To Get Hoodwinked
By Dr. Sinclair Grey III 


Have you ever dealt with someone who manipulated you into thinking one thing, but later you discovered something entirely different? Let me say it another way. Did you allow what looked good on the outside to mislead you? I don't care who you are or what you do for a living, you must guard yourself against getting hoodwinked. Some may call it bamboozled. Others may label it as running game. However or whatever you want to call it, the truth of the matter is that spiritual discernment will prevent you from facing natural misfortunes. As my mentor dropped in my spirit about ten years ago, 'when you let God lead you, you don't have to worry about getting played.' Here's the Sinclair remix. Remain true to the you that God made you and you won't get hoodwinked.


While attending the University of Maryland in the 90's, I met a brother who testified to being hoodwinked by a particular young lady. According to his story, everything was fine in the beginning as things usually are. But as he stated, the more time they spent together, the more lies and deception he encountered. He would often tell me, 'all of the makeup she wore covered up more than physical flaws; it covered up some internal mess' (Do you know people like that? Thinking they can cover up or hide their mess with lies, manipulation, and deception) To fast forward the story, after they broke up, he found himself broke, depressed, and messed up from the floor up. It took him months to get himself back on track and the good news is that he's stronger because of the hell he experienced.


In this spiritual journey, I want to share with you a few lessons learned from this brother's story. The first lesson learned is don't get so caught up on what you see with your natural eyes that you neglect the intangibles. Simply put - does the person have a strong relationship with God? Are they allowing God to order their thoughts and steps? Are they committed to serving God and seeking His will in all they do in life? Once you access the intangibles, you'll know how much or little time to invest in them.

The second lesson learned is make sure the person you're trying to hook up with has a purpose and meaning. Here's a hint - make sure their purpose and meaning isn't to get you off track from doing what God has called you to do and become. God has brought you too far for you to transgress because of what someone appears to be.


While Jesus was having a teachable moment with His disciples, He said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Please don't miss this last lesson. Understand the enemy doesn't play fair and will do whatever he can to appease your wants and desires. The difference between what God gives and what the enemy gives is that God's gift strengthens you, elevates you, and empowers you. The gift of the enemy will drain you and deplete you. More specifically, the gift of the enemy will cause separation between you and God. Check this out - the enemy is already defeated. God's anointing on you has given you what you need to be strong and not become hoodwinked. [6.22.14]