“The enemy [devil] is trying to lure you away from me,” the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.
He was warning me because I just couldn’t see it. The devil was very slyly, subtly, tantalizingly trying to lure me away from God and what God wanted me doing with little distractions.
Now let me be ultra clear. The devil does not always come at us with really big and obvious temptations like getting drunk, doing drugs, overeating, adultery, losing our temper, stealing, lying, cheating, bitterness, refusing to forgive people, hatred, prejudice, being mean to people, being impatient, rude, rebellious, etc.
Sometimes the devil uses little seemingly insignificant things to slowly by slowly get us to take one foot away from God. Then another. Then one more. Until without even realizing we were being lured, and without even realizing we were taking little steps away from God, we are way off course. Distracted. Not focused on the Lord Jesus Christ anymore. Distant from God. Not loving Jesus first.
Let me give you an example. You’re busy doing something for God. The phone rings. You know God doesn’t want you distracted. You answer the phone. You get back to work. The doorbell rings. God wants you to not answer the door. You go answer the door. You remember you left something in the car. You go get it. You go back to God’s will for 5 minutes. Then you feel really tempted to call a friend just for a quick call. You figure a quick call really isn’t a big deal. Soon enough, you don’t even bother going back to what you were doing for God. Or you go back but you’re so distracted and discombobulated that you are bringing God the little that remains of your energy and ability to go forward in His will.
Another example. The devil lures you away with this, that, and the other. But he doesn’t just lure you away from what you were doing for God. He lures you away from God Himself and your relationship with Him. To the point where you pretty much forget about God most of the time, you stop praying or barely pray, you don’t read the Bible anymore, church is out the window, and spending time alone with God praising and worshiping Him is the last thing you can imagine doing. Jesus who is supposed to be your first love and highest priority is anything but.
In both examples, note it wasn’t some enormous temptation by which you did one big wrong thing and needed to repent. But you were very slowly lured away in such a way that you didn’t even realize you were step by step walking away from God and His will for your life.
Please be careful. And if it’s too late and you’ve already been lured away from God and His plan for your life, please, I beg you, humble yourself before God almighty and return with all your heart. Be totally devoted to Him now and forevermore, AMEN!
Need to repent? Need the strength to not be lured away? Whatever you need, oh, cry out to God! AMEN!
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:13-15 NKJV
“then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,” 2 Peter 2:9 NKJV
“And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13 NKJV