HOW DO WE AVOID SATAN'S TRAPS?

We must be aware every day that he will try to trap us. He knows our weaknesses and preys on them. But thanks be to God, through Christ we are overcomers!

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES             by Sally Bair

The trapper

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. (Psalm 91:3)

My son has a trapline in the Alaskan interior where he spends several weeks in the winter setting snares for martens, beaver, wolverines and other mammals. Some of the animals he pursues are elusive because of their intelligence and cunning nature.

God’s Word speaks of the devil as a trapper—one who sets snares for the unsuspecting victim. Like animal trappers, and war strategists who plant deadly mines, Satan sets his traps in carefully planned places. Like the animals that fall into my son’s traps, we may not recognize Satan’s schemes. We may be so entrenched with our own thoughts, worries and problems that we don’t realize how close we are to falling into a trap.

What kind of traps does he use to deceive us? Entire books have been written about them, including deception regarding Christianity, wrong social morals or our own lack of self-worth. Often cleverly hidden, we step into them without realizing it until too late.

We can avoid the snares of our enemies, however, such as wrong thoughts and attitudes. When Jesus sent His disciples to share the Good News of His salvation, He sent them out “as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

We are told to use wisdom and grace, according to Paul, who often compared the Christian life to that of a soldier. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ ….” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Jesus also said, “The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Through faith in Him and repentance of our sin, we can have His abundant life and “dwell in His secret place,” as Psalm 91:1 says. Then He will deliver us from the trapper’s snare.

Lord, thank You for Your promises of deliverance. Set us free from the traps of the devil as we dwell in Your secret place of prayer and Your living Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.