Devil on Both Shoulders (Deceived) Limited Edition Giclee Print

About This Piece

I was working out in the gym one day, listening to music by NF, when I heard a lyric that stuck in my mind:

We walk around with the Devil talkin’ on both shoulders

I had never heard anything that so perfectly captured the feeling you get on a bad day. A day when you look around and it’s hard to find the good in anything. 

In the Bible, Philippians 4:8 tells us, “...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” This idea is often depicted as the voice of an angel on our shoulder. In Christianity, the Devil is referred to as “the Father of Lies”–there is no truth in him. He schemes to distort our perspective, steal our peace, destroy our relationships, and kill our joy.

When we operate with the Devil on both shoulders, we cannot see anything clearly–not ourselves, others, or our circumstances. We become self-doubting or self-aggrandizing, irritable, reactive, and cynical. We fall into judgment, accusing, and blame. We lose sight of hope, trust, and grace.

What lies are you believing about yourself? About those around you? About your circumstances? 2 Corinthians instructs us to “take every thought captive.” As you go through your day, begin to notice the thoughts and judgments that cross your mind. As you observe, take a step back and ask yourself:

“Is this true?” 
“Is this helpful?”
“What’s a more empowering way to look at this situation?”

Remember: we have thoughts; we are not our thoughts. We don’t have to live at the mercy of the Devil(s) on our shoulders.