Trapped

Satan's desire is to lead the whole world astray; he wants to trap us, ensnare us, and hold us captive.  So, are you getting that it's his DESIRE to lead YOU astray?  No, this is not just about your spouse.  Satan will always do whatever he can by whatever means necessary.  His goal is for all of us; it's not just your spouse.  It's kind of mind-blowing, actually.  The enemy is out to lead every one of us astray. How is he trying to do it?

One of Satan's strong weapons against people is deception. Satan is the deceiver and father of all lies. He wants to deceive the entire world including you, your spouse and your children! Are we even aware of the tricks and schemes? Do you tell “white” lies? Have your children started to lie to you? Are you teaching and telling your children of all ages not to lie and why not to lie? Lying becomes easier and easier to do and the lies will become bigger as they grow into adulthood. This is something that we have been seeing a lot of lately.  If Satan feels that he can deceive your children....he will do it.  Are we watching out for them? Are we teaching them how to defeat Satan?

Satan's plan for the church and family is to discourage, divide and destroy. Satan wants to steal, kill and destroy every person, every marriage, every family and every church.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  John 10:10

It really should not be about how our spouse is "the bad one."  We must realize that Satan aims to deceive us all, and if he can do it with pride--then he will. Do you understand that your spouse was deceived, tempted and blinded from the truth of right and wrong? It's happened to us.  It's not about the degree of sin--it's about whether or not you have been deceived at one time or another.  Have you?  Then you can understand. Satan uses deception every day against everyone including Christians, so remember this powerful scripture:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.  I Peter 5:8-11

 Maybe if we realized how easily Satan can cause us to lose sight of right and wrong we wouldn't be so quick to judge. It only takes one small step in the wrong direction, and continuing on in it. As we repent and turn back onto the right path we must not doubt the power of what the Lord is doing in touching and changing sinners’ lives. God hears our crys and He answers our prayers. In feeling we are above reproach or "not the wrong ones" is causing our returned prodigals to turn away from God.  We must minister hope to our spouses who have confessed their sins as they try to rebuild their heart and lives. We have noticed that couples are wanting their spouses to spend a lifetime repenting of their wrong-doings, instead of moving forward and building their lives on Jesus Christ. Satan is being defeated every day by sinners turning their hearts to the Lord in repentance and for salvation. We need to rejoice in this and believe that God is powerful.

Eve was deceived in the Garden by the serpent, the enemy who was very crafty and deceitful. Satan deceives and tempts us to fall into his trap of sin. He can deceive you into listening to people's opinions about marriage and divorce, instead of God's Word. I  The enemy wants us to believe that we have no power to change our daily lives with all of the circumstances. We don't, but God does! Satan does not want us to remember that nothing is impossible with God. We have all sinned by believing the devil's lies, deceptions and temptations of the world. Your spouse has also been deceived, tricked and has fallen into the sins of the world with no commitment to their marriage or by taking little or no responsibility for their family, their temper, anger, abuse, adultery, alcohol or other addictions. God's truth will set you and your husband or wife free from Satan. A powerful reminder:

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.  2 Timothy 2:25-26

Josh and Serena