Same Old Tricks

The devil knows your likes and dislikes. He knows which area or areas you're weak in. He knows what and who to use for your demise. He's mastered how to lure you into temptation and successfully entice you to do the things you know are against God's will.

 "But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).  Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death." (James 1:14-15 AMP)

Take a moment to really think about it. When you look back, you'll realize that he uses the same old tricks against you. He doesn't make it obvious...and why would he. In Genesis 3:1a (AMP), we read that the devil is very subtle in his tactics..."Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made". Therefore, because he is crafty, he wouldn’t "reinvent the wheel"; if the same tricks have been proven to work.

Let me give you an example (know that the example used may not be your weakness, however, this blog applies to anything the enemy can use against us).

EXAMPLE: If you struggled with lust before you were married, he's going to use that in your marriage. He's going to bring the "right" person (so you think they are) around you, and they’re going to say the "right" things (that satisfy your flesh).

The bible instructs us to be on alert:

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour". (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

If you are not diligently staying alert, you allow him to devour you by falling right into his trap...(again), but this time, you're married. Why, because he made it look so tempting that it becomes hard for you to resist. So he then plays with your mind. You start thinking...maybe I married the wrong person, this (new) person has to be my real "soul mate, or spiritual wife/husband", because they do and say the things that my spouse doesn't. At this point you begin to magnify all the wrongs in your marriage, as it relates to your spouse. Then you begin to justify your feelings towards this other person. Now that you've convinced yourself that how you feel is right, you entertain thoughts of how your life would be with them. You now take their compliments to heart, partake in subtle flirting, exchange phone numbers, and accept invitations to lunch. And before you know it, you've engaged in physical contact; be it a hug, kiss, or worse, intercourse.

Once you've stepped across those lines, an emotional bond is created between you and this person, whom you feel is a dream come true, or better yet, heaven sent. Now you're getting deeper and deeper in a relationship with someone you're not married to. As a Christian, you've then entered a carnal state of mind.

"[That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.  So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him". (Romans 8:7, 8 AMP)

You are catering to your flesh; driven by your emotions. You justify your feelings and actions, even though they are against God's will; therefore, it displeases Him. At this point, it's becomes very difficult for anyone to talk you back to your "spiritual' sense (spirit minded). A carnal mindset will cause you to get so far away from God, that you no longer pray to Him, hear His gentle voice, or reverence Him. Basically, you're doing your own thing.

The devil will have you lying to your spouse/family. You hide things that pertain to this adulterated affair; like deleting their text messages and emails. You tell your spouse you're going one place, when you know you're really going to meet up with the other person. One sin leads to another. Your life is now a lie! There's no more peace in your mind, in your marriage, in your home, in your finances, or on your job...all hell has broken loose in your life. And why is that? Because the enemy knew that you still (secretly) struggled with lust. Before you decided to get married, you never really dealt with the problem. You "thought" you were delivered from it, when in all actuality; you put your "bondage of lust" in the closet with all your other skeletons. So here it is, the enemy is once again using the same old tricks on you.

But you CAN overcome this! You must overcome it to save your relationship with God AND your spouse! You have to learn to refrain from allowing yourself to fall for the tricks of the enemy (over and over again)! No longer should you be bound by those things you have yet to really and truly ask God to deliver you from!

Rejoice in knowing that it's never too late to get up, dust yourself off...and REPENT!

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved". (Romans 10:9-10 NLT)

"Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory". (Romans 3:23 GWT); "God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, He forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong". (1 John 1:9 GWT); "So change the way you think and act, and turn to God to have your sins removed". (Acts 3:19 GWT)

I earnestly pray for those that are currently living in a carnal mindset (and also may be reading this blog)...I pray that God will deliver you right where you are (in your current state of mind)! I pray that you will turn from your ways and get realigned with God's will for your life (and your marriage). REPENT AND TURN from your sins. Stay in GOD'S WORD. Continually PRAY. Then STAY ALERT! And learn to recognize the enemy whenever he "tries" to use the same old tricks against you.

"So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you". (James 4:7 AMP)

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