Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Traps



Lately I’ve been interacting with a loved-one and those encounters have been churning up all kinds of ugly in me – stuff I thought I had dealt with long ago.  Resentment.  Impatience.  Disrespect. 

It was years ago that I admitted to these these sins and asked for forgiveness.  I felt sure that they were in my past.  So why am I dealing with all of it again?  Have I been I fooling myself about being forgiven? 

The answer is NO.  God promises if I admit my sin, He forgives and cleans me completely of all guilt and shame.

No, those old sins are not available for debate – they’re long gone. 

But… the enemy certainly takes advantage of every opportunity to snare me.  It’s creepy how well he knows me and how cunningly he plants the traps I fall into.  He knows what triggers my sense of entitlement, my right to be treated well and appreciated, my tendency to climb up on the judgment seat. 

If I am not paying attention I will fall head-first into his carefully laid snares.  I’m starting to see how predictable he really is!  And how stupid I can be for not recognizing the same old traps.

I like how Eugene Peterson puts it:

Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.  1 Peter 5:8

Unforgiven sin?  No.  Carefully laid booby traps designed for me?  Oh yes.

"God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you're perfectly safe. His arms fend off all harm.   Ps 91:3-4
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