This is the 3rd of 4 blogs about how the enemy can trick and trap us in subtle ways we may not be aware of. Researching and writing these blogs has been quite educational and helpful for me and I hope for you as well.
Having a cold can be uncomfortable and annoying, but we ignore it as best we can and keep going. In the overall picture of our health it isn’t that big a deal. Sometimes as Christians we do the same thing with “little” sins. We allow small sins to hang around because, after all, they really are quite small and not that big an issue. Maybe we worry from time to time, or give in the temptation to listen to gossip on occasion. Perhaps we allow a few “innocent” thoughts of lust, or greed or jealousy to linger longer than they should. It could be we have a temper sometimes, but, after all, that runs in the family and we just inherited it. Small sins … a white lie here and there or a bit of deception when it makes us look better. Or it could be just “borrowing” some office supplies from work or not reporting everything on your income tax. No big deal. But to demons they are a very big deal, for they give demons a foothold to broaden and deepen in their work against us (Ephesians 4:27). Once a beachhead is secured then operations can work their way inland. Small sins prime the wood of our conscience so it can better withstand slightly larger stains until the final layer of black paint is ready to go on. Beware of “little” sins. If you let the serpent’s head into your life, his whole body will steadily follow.
Nag, nag, nag. How we hate it when a child nags us. We know we shouldn’t, but sometimes we give in just to shut them up. Demons use that same trick with us (John 13:2). We don’t get hit with thoughts of a thousand different sins, but we are hit with thousands of thoughts of the same sin over and over again. Eventually we get weary of it and give in to “get it over with.” Thinking of the same sin so much can make it start seeming more attractive. We have lots of time to rationalize and justify it. I don’t know what went on in Samson’s mind when he finally told Deliah the truth about his strength, but I do know it was only because she persistently nagged that she got what she wanted (Judges 16:16). Make note of those temptations which seem to keep coming over and over. Write them down. Pray against them first thing every morning. Be alert to them when they start popping up in your head and heart. Alarms should go off warning danger is near. (continued in next bog)
Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
John 13:2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
Ask God to show you if any of these tricks and traps are being used against you. If so, confess any sin you may have because of them and ask God to show you how to have victory over them.
Jerry Schmoyer
Christian Training Organization
SW.ChristianTrainingOrganization.org