Daily Archive

Judges 14:16-17 NLT So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.” “I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?” So she cried whenever she was with him and kept it up for the rest of the celebration. At last, on the seventh day he told her the answer because she was tormenting him with her nagging. Then she explained the riddle to the young men.

Manipulation is a serious thing. It attempts to put pressure on the other person hoping they can change their minds. From young children saying, “Let me play with it or else I’m not going to be your friend,” to older adults saying, “If you marry them, I’m not ever speaking to you again.”

Manipulation has ruined friendships, families, and careers. It’s not right and it’s demonic.

If someone makes a decision that we don’t like, we shouldn’t manipulate them to change their minds. We should accept it and move on or pray that they make wise choices. Some people don’t know they’re manipulators. If you want to check if you’ve manipulated a situation, ask the Holy Spirit and He’ll reveal that to you.

On the other side, if we make a decision that someone else doesn’t like, we need to pray and ask God if what they’re saying is beneficial. If it is, then make the Spirit-led adjustments. Either way, we shouldn’t bow to the manipulation of others.

Some people are good at manipulating others. If we’re unaware of people’s manipulation tactics, ask the Holy Spirit for His help. He’ll show us when we’re being manipulated and how we should handle it.

Let’s not manipulate others and let’s to the Holy Spirit to avoid being manipulated.