Avoiding Satan’s Snares
By Steve Williams
Mitchell County
Howdy Friends:
Let me welcome you into 2024, it’s here ready or not. This coming year will hold one of the same things that we all faced last year and that is Satan’s Snares. He is always out there looking to trip us up, year after year, month after month, week after week, and day after day. He is always looking for a time to attack God’s people. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: or Be sober [Not intoxicated sound minded] [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times.” That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry] seeking someone to devour.
We live in a day where it seems that Christians are falling like flies. There is little to no difference in the Christians’ Rate of Divorce, Problem Children, Financial Trouble, and the list could go on. What is the problem you say? It’s simple, Christians need to learn to be Persistent in their Christian Walk with God. As Christians, we need to understand that when we make a mistake it is not over. We’re not to give up, let up, or back up, but look up to our Lord and Savior and Press On. When you and I mess up, we do not automatically become failures in the eyes of God. We as Christians need to learn the difference between being a failure and experiencing failure in life. Once we trust in Christ as our Savior, we are new creations, and our past failings are just that—in the past.
In Luke 22:31-32 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:….” And we know that Peter denied Jesus 3 times. What if Peter had allowed his past to follow him he would have never accomplished anything for the Lord. The Bible shows us this great truth in Acts 2:14-36 when the spirit of God entered into the upper room on the Day of Pentecost Peter preached and 3000 people were saved. Any future mistakes in our lives are to be regarded as temporary defeats; learning processes along life’s way do not define who we are.
Peter learned this lesson well. No matter how many times he was reviled, chased out of town, or put in prison, he did not consider himself a failure. Rather, he looked to His Lord to determine the truth about who he was—a forgiven sinner.
Christians, we need to understand this important fact: It isn’t the load that weights us down- it’s the way we carry that load. God’s Word promises us that He will make our burdens light.
Christians also need to learn something else. Encountering difficulties and tests does not automatically mean to change direction. They may delay us in reaching our goals, but they are not necessarily a dead end. Look at trials not as reasons to quit, but as opportunities that can assist us in reaching goals. During moments of defeat, God wants to teach us something that will help us succeed later on. Satan places snares all through our lives and we need to try to avoid these snares in life. There’s not a person reading this, that has not gotten entangled in the snares of Satan at one time or another.
Let’s listen to these words again. Could Read like this: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Don’t allow yourself to become Satan’s next Victim, but allow God to help you have victory over Satan’s Snares. Lions attack sick, young, straggling animals. They choose victims who are not alert. Peter is warning us to be alert for Satan when we are suffering or experiencing difficulties.
Pastor Steve Williams
Words of Wisdom:
- Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other. Walter Elliot
- By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.
- Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. John Quincy Adams
- Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority. Vince Lombardi
- Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears. N/A
Smile when you Get it:
I started out feeling Bold
Then I
Lost My “B”
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Steve Williams is the pastor of Berry Chapel Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. You can read more good Christian news from Steve HERE.
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