Trapped

Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8)
 
Our Adversary, the devil, works to get our hearts and minds away from God. He sets up snares to catch us in any way possible using whatever and whomever to distract us and turn away from our Time with God, our Walk with Jesus, and the Guidance of the Spirit. But God did not leave us defenseless, His Word is always with us.
 
Don’t Stray 
Before I was humbled, I used to go astray; but now I observe your word. (Psalm 119:67)
 
When we neglect our time with God we lose the desire to pray and read His Word. Keeping His Word on our hearts and minds as He commands us and then talking with Him through prayer keeps our life, both spiritual and physical, healthy. Too many Christians still do not know what it is like to feel alive and released when they do not spend time with God daily.
 
Sometimes it is hard to say no to our non-Christian or straight up non-believer friends. The temptation to return to our former life (B.C.) is sometimes so overwhelming that we yield to the past and fall into the trap the Adversary set before us. If we stray once, the devil has control and we must vigilantly return to the Word and prayer while surrounding ourselves with the Body of Believers to get back on track and defeat our personal demons.
 
So how do we keep ourselves from straying? Devote everything to God. He desires time with you and the same should be true from us. Spending time in devotionals and drawing nearer to Him through prayer, reading the Word, and practicing His Ways keeps us from falling into the temptation of straying. Having an active faith life keeps the devil coming but also keeps him at bay.
 
Don’t Strut
Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before failure. (Proverbs 16:18) 
I could sum this up in two words and many will get this right away, be humble. But I am going to go a little deeper because everyone needs to be reminded on how to act in humility before God.
 
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (John 12:42,43)
No one can tell me they do not know someone like this. Everyone from Cardinals and Bishops down to the small Church Pastor, Bible Study Leader, and Parishioner, know someone who does “God’s Work” but for his/her own personal gain and glory. Why do some seek approval from people rather than just pleasing the Father God? Why do some seek to get rich off of their “work” for God when all it leads to is sorrow and pain with the desire for more earthly riches? This is the devil’s snare of strutting one’s own stuff.
 
So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28,29)
Jesus was a humble man who declared He could nothing by Himself but was dependent on the Father. In saying and doing this, He pleased God. When we have an active faith and do not physically try to gain self-accolades we are doing our best to be humble and live a Christ-like life.
 
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)    
Doing things that are pleasing to God and placing Him as first in our lives creates a humble heart within us. When we think of others before ourselves we are showing humility, not weakness but a strength that is beyond a non-believers comprehension. People may see us one way but God knows who we are trying to please. When people see a person rise up in being known not for what he/she has done but what God has done in the person’s life, the devil cannot touch him.
 
Don’t Stoop  
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
We are living in a time where evil is seen as good and good is seen as evil, this must be changed and we must change it. We are condoning everything that is against God’s Word in the name of being socially acceptable. We have let the immoral become the normal, and we accept violence as a natural way to get things done. Moral standards have dropped so low that we allow immoral behaviors and confusions to be taught to our children as young as Kindergarten age.
We cannot accept all sinfulness as normal or we will have lost. We must, however, remember that God Loves all people so then we must as well but that does not mean we must accept their sinfulness. Jesus ate with sinners, yes but He did not let their ways influence His behavior nor His relationship with the Father. He showed them the truth and many repented, never looking back.
 
Don’t Stop 
Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm.(Matthew 10:22)
Keep the faith and continue to walk in the path with God. Do not stop, keep walking, pass go, and collect eternal life. Do not let the devil’s snare of distraction or his attacks get in the way of the prize. Sometimes what the devil offers looks attractive but it leads to nowhere but down. No problem is too difficult, no trial is too severe, and no burden is so heavy that Jesus cannot bear it and us to get us through. God’s Grace and His Mercy are sufficient.
 
I leave you today with this thought:
No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
 
In God’s Arms,
Rob, Servant of God