The Deception of Self-Help
“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
Podcasts, self-help books, and successful speakers seem to be what this generation consumes on a regular basis. They’re thirsty for solid advice from those who can speak from a position of experience and success. When they see what these individuals have achieved, see their ‘supposed’ contentment and joy, see all that they have and enjoy, why wouldn’t they be charmed?
This isn’t new. In 1989, a powerful self-help book took the world by storm. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People became a talking point among professionals and friends. Both the secular and Christian world seemed to embrace the sage advice and people were hungry to learn more. It shifted the thinking and doing of so many people from the ‘personal’ focus to the ‘character’ focus and, though it included some good advice, it missed the Scriptural foundation that should be the mark of a believer’s life. Yet many were swayed by the chapters and took to reading and following with the fervor that should have been reserved for their quiet time with the Lord. Instead of Bible time, it became self-help time.
Our sons and daughters have grown up with the self-help world surrounding them and speaking into their growth, goals, and processes. Why is it that we’re drawn to speakers, books, and podcasts that give us lists of things to do in order to be successful, get healthy, lose weight, or, you name the accomplishment. Theses systems and people promise success and prosperity and we take the bait. We’re eager to hear what we should do to be like ‘that’ person. We want the list to follow that will bring the results. I think it speaks to our human need to do something effective, to work toward bettering ourselves and being successful, to be able to point to our efforts as the reason for our progress and success.
And the Christian world is not immune. We like the polished presentation that promises the good God has for us and we fall into traps of the ‘prosperity gospel’. We can easily become entangled in the trap of works-based religion. When we can check off an item on a list, we feel accomplished and effective. If we’re discouraged, we can go back to our list and remind ourselves of how far we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished. It becomes a Pharisaical habit that puts Jesus on the back burner. We risk becoming obsessed with ‘steps’ or personal accomplishments and lose sight of what Jesus calls us to do and be. We substitute our efforts for the sacrificial atonement of Jesus on the cross.
We need to pray that our sons and daughters would be protected from the trap of self-help and promises of prosperity and instead that they would focus on and practice the Truth of Scripture to make them more like Christ.
Here are some prayer points:
Pray that our sons and daughters would ask themselves, “What am I pursuing?” “What is it that I want my life to represent?” Then, pray that they would have the mindset of Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t out to promote himself to gain accolades or wealth, He was focused on serving others to point them to God.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7
2. Pray they would live a life that demonstrates worship of Christ, not conformity to the ways of this world.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
3. Pray they would prioritize and pursue what has eternal value.
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (ESV) Mark 8:36
“So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:10-12
4. Pray that they would live, not for success and accomplishment, but live in such a way that others would see Jesus in them daily, in their actions, attitudes, and values.
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:14
We are not meant to be comfortable in this life, that’s something that the influencers of this world don’t understand. Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
Jesus didn’t save us to ensure we lived our best life now and enjoy our reward here on this earth…no, our best life is yet to come and our reward is in heaven, with Him. If we spend our lives trying to pursue success, wealth, and influence, yet neglect to share the gospel in effective ways we are missing our purpose here on this earth and not respecting or honoring the sacrifice Christ made for our redemption.
Instead of self-help, let’s plead for more of the Holy Spirit in us, in our children, transforming each of us. Instead of success, let’s pursue godliness. Instead of fame, let’s make Jesus’ name known among the nations. When we stand before the throne, our habits will be judged, let’s ensure they’re Spirit-led and God-honoring. Let’s pray that our sons and daughters are not deceived by the trappings of this world but are convicted by and committed to living according to the Truth of Scripture, not the habits of men.
“Oh, Lord, there are so many distractions and promises of success that this world throws at us. Please give (name) clear discernment to recognize what is the shallow deception of the enemy. Convict them to daily search Your Word for Truth and to be salt and light in this world to point others to Christ. I pray (name) would pursue You, not their own desires. Lord, help them to make much of Jesus, not of themselves. Develop Godly habits in them so that everything they choose to do and say would reflect Jesus to others. Lord, our time is short, this world is temporary. Please cultivate a right spirit in (name) so that when they stand before You their life would be a beautiful testimony to the redemption of Jesus, not an empty list of worthless actions and selfish pursuits. Lord, may Your name be glorified in them. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing. God is working!
Prodigal Prayer
Do you see your loved one pursuing the deception that says “I can make my own choices, I can be whatever I want to be, I can succeed on my own power”? The prodigal path is one full of lies, deceptions, and, ultimately, a life without Christ.
Don’t lose heart. Keep laying your burdens in prayer at the feet of Jesus. Trust Him and know that He’s working. You may not see it, but He works in dimensions that are beyond our comprehension. Pray for those who will interact with your beloved prodigal, that God would use them to bring them to the cross. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world, 1 John 4:4.
40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal
is a powerful book for anyone
crying out to the Lord
for the heart of their loved one.
This book addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal
through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith
that God will bring repentance and restoration.
The reader will prepare their heart with their own surrender to God
and then they will speak and pray the words of Scripture
back to God in effective and powerful ways,
praying specifically over the condition and situation of their beloved prodigal. Transformation can begin in the life of the prodigal
and in the reader’s own heart as well.
Grab your copy today! Read and share!