Tricking You into Failing
“The Devil made me do it.”
Famous words that most of us have likely said at some point. We like to blame the Devil and he is a crafty one. There is no doubt about that. However, did he really make you do things?
Our enemy is a formidable one, but the Bible does not tell us that he is the direct cause of all kinds of destruction. Instead, he often uses us to do his dirty work, tricking us into doing things that are wrong.
It Started with Adam and Eve
Adam brought sin into the world. Genesis 3 tells us this story. The serpent came to Eve and tricked her into eating from the tree. God told Adam not to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil but, when the serpent asked her about it, she said that God told them to not eat or “touch it, lest they die.” God did not tell either Adam or Eve this so, when she touched the tree, she did not “die,” and was easily confused in her mind. She probably thought she did not die as she believed God had told her, so it would be perfectly safe for her to eat the fruit of the tree. Satan was able to trigger by using her own words against her.
Genesis 3:1 tells us an important tidbit about our adversary – he is crafty. In fact, it tells us that he is craftier than any other beast that God made. This means that he does not need to bring the calamity himself; he simply needs to trick us into doing so.
Peter Warned Us
One of the most famous verses related to Satan comes from 1 Peter 5:8. Here it tells us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
We are able to understand the methods used by Satan when we understand the behavior of how lions hunt. If a lion were to roar at its prey, it would scare the animals away, making it much more difficult to catch. This would be an unbelievably stupid strategy.
Lions are not dumb, however. The way that they hunt is that the oldest lion, the one who is less likely to catch the antelope or other prey, goes to one side of a group of would-be dinner, while the other lions, the younger ones, go to the opposite side. The older one then begins to roar. The animals are afraid of the roaring lion, so they run the opposite direction, right into the younger lions where they are devoured. Instead of running toward the place where they would most likely be safe, toward the older lion, they run right into the trap.
This is what Satan does as well. He doesn’t need to bring the calamity himself. Instead, he scares us so much that we run right into the thing that we should avoid.
He convinces us to do the things that we know are not right for us. Instead of facing the anxiety or stress of the situation head on, Satan convinces us to use drugs or alcohol, commit adultery, or steal from others. In this way he does not bring the temptation, but sends us right to it.
He Knows You Well
The Bible declares that God knows everything about us. He has a complete, intimate knowledge of every aspect of us. You know who else knows as well? That would be Satan.
He knows exactly what things will lead you to temptation. After all, he has spent your entire life studying and analyzing you. He knows what kinds of things make you tick, and so he utilizes his knowledge to create situations that will get you running right toward the thing that will harm you.
They Are Running Toward Hope
Over the past two weeks, an amazing group of men have joined Hope CDA. Alexis Santiago Rios, Kaleb Duerre, Chris McFadden, Zach Early, and Nick Schiefer made a choice to run in a direction that will help them find the freedom they have desired for years.
They are not caving to the roaring lion. Instead, they are going head on, opting to change their lives in ways that will not only impact them, but their children, families, and future families. Satan will no longer have victory with these men.
Hope and Prayer
On Saturday, a group of Hope CDA participants attended the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at New Covenant Bible Church. Chick-fil-A owner Amgad Zaghloul was the featured speaker.
Hope Good News
Troy Lloyd and Anthony McCombs will be headed to the pilgrimage in Michigan that begins on Thursday. Please pray for them as they seek to grow in their faith… Eric Wilson will officially graduate from Hope CDA on May 7. He will be followed closely behind by Troy Lloyd, who graduates on May 23. Troy’s graduation ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. at Mission of Hope.
Volunteer Opportunity
Do you know how to write grants? If you have expertise in this area, please reach out to Dr. Pannier (952-905-1930). We are looking for a group to help us find grant opportunities and write the grants to receive funding.
Prayers for the Week
We ask you to join in prayer for these things:
- We pray for Chance and all those no longer at Hope CDA. May God continue to guide them and keep them safe, keeping them drug and alcohol free.
- We pray for Alex, who has a court proceeding in Davenport on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. Please pray for a just resolution to his legal situation.
- We pray for Nick, that he be granted the opportunity to see his sons.
- We pray for the incredible number of volunteers who helped to make Hope CDA a success. May God continue to bless them and may they find incredible favor with our God.
Tuesday Night Encouragement at Hope CDA
Are they smarter than an Executive Director? We are going to find out on Tuesday evening as the Hope CDA participants and their coaches square off against Ron Ziegler and Dr. Robert Pannier, the former and current directors of Hope CDA in Bible Trivia. Gary Thompson will host this clash of the titans. Come and join us at 6:00 p.m. for this epic battle.
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