Since the beginning of time Satan’s plan is to get man to do what God has commanded him/her not to do. In other words, get him to disobey God. Why? Well for one, so that God cannot bless the person who disobeys. Instead of God’s blessing he would come under judgement. In essence, instead of receiving devine blessing, he receives judgement and the punishment deserved. A prime example is Adam and Eve in Genesis.
The enemy lays cleverly designed traps all along with believers life in hopes he takes the bait. Notice that the strategy of the enemy is not to go after the believer to hunt him down, but to lure the believer into the trap. And just as in trapping the enemy uses specific bait that you actually provide for him. It comes from the things that are specifically from your week areas and from the things that you desire. They may not necessarily be bad things but the enemy can very well take advantage and offer you a decoy. He knows you better than you know yourself and he’s had thousands of years of practice. Just as in natural hunting the hunter puts bait out that he knows you like. And like a deer hunter puts on deer cent and camelfloge when he goes out in the woods, Satan will smell and look like the real thing. And like the hunter will sit quietly in a path that you have gone down before in hopes that you will go down it again.
His technics? He first draws your attention. He suggested to Eve, look at this fruit? “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Gen 3:6. Notice how after he got her attention, he knew that her desire and passion would draw her in. James 1:14 says, “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
Another tactic is to get your guard down. He does this mostly by making the bait seem innocent and harmless. You reason and that reasoning leads to your downfall. You’re miscalculated the danger. And that exactly where he wants you. A 70s song lyric comes to mind, “how could it be so wrong when it feels so right?”
The next tactic is to take you in baby steps. Steps so small you don’t even realize you’re taking them. It’s all so subtle. I recall a time when I was on vacation down in Florida at the ocean. I just wanted to float on my raft and soak up the sun. So I went out just beyond the breaker and let my raft float on the gentile ocean water. I don’t recall how long I was out there when I heard a plop-plop, then another plop-plop. I looked up and to my amazement there were several dolphins flipping in the water in close proximity to my raft. Even though dolphins aren’t a danger to man, because they were so big I got very scared and when I looked towards the shore I saw my friends and a life guard with them motioning me to come back. I could barely see them because I had drifted so far from the shore. This is how the enemy works. You won’t realize how far away you are from safety you’ve gotten, and if you don’t turn back immediately, you’ll be caught by him and unable to free yourself.
Remember, ” Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.
We cannot afford to get complacent. The enemy does not give up. He will be constantly setting traps for , hoping you’ll take the bait. So then, “be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,” Ephesians 5:15.
Live wisely. Stay prayed up. Spend time mediating on the word of God and you won’t be trapped.