Isolation is a trap of the enemy.

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” Hebrews 10:25, ESV.

A sheep herder knows the importance of keeping the sheep together in one flock. If one got away, a cunning wolf could grab it and kill it. The devil is roaming around looking for someone to devour. He is devouring those who have disconnected themselves from God’s people and walked away.

Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you’re better off alone and isolated from believers. The devil is a liar and is like a hungry lion waiting to devour you. The Bible tells us to not be ignorant of his devices. A device is a snare or trap he sets in front of us secretly. One main device he has used for ages is disconnection from other believers due to offense. I’ve heard many people say they believe in God, but not organized religion. For whatever reason, they’ve given up on church altogether and have chosen not to participate. Some view it as a man-made institution that God is not involved in. The truth is, we can’t judge an entire organization based on the actions of a mere few. That’s like saying, “I don’t believe in organized military.” Someone would look at me like I’m crazy, because although there has been abuses of power, mistreatment of soldiers, and corruption in leadership, the organization itself is a great service to our country. The military serves a vital purpose and so does God’s church.

Heed the warning of the Holy Ghost: Don’t isolate yourself from believers in a time like this. I know your sister or brother in Christ may disappoint you or fail you, but forgive them and love them anyway. Don’t fight with each other. Fight the real enemy who is behind it all. Pray for one another. Pray for spiritual leaders who are on the front-line everyday in spiritual battle. Stay together and closely united as one, especially now. You don’t have to like your sister or brother in order to love them by having their back. Again, don’t isolate yourself from believers in a time like this, or you will surely fall into the enemy’s trap of sin.

Prayer: Yes, Lord. I hear You. I forgive every church leader or person who has ever hurt me or disappointed me by their words or actions. I forgive them Lord and I ask You to help me move forward in love. Don’t let me fall into the trap of the enemy due to pride. I humble myself to Your will and I choose to unite with Your people. The devil can’t have me. Only You. In Jesus’ name.

(Read 2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 3:14)

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14 thoughts on “Isolation is a trap of the enemy.”

  1. Father I thank you for your word and I forgive everyone that has ever hurt or disappointed me in Jesus name. Father I ask that you strengthen me to unite with others like only you can. Thank you Lord for all you’ve done and will continue to do in my life, amen.

  2. 1) Love Your Neighbor As Yourself (Mark 12:31). At the very least your political opponent, whether it’s the President, someone in the other party, your opinionated relative, or the blogger who has it all wrong–that person is your neighbor. And we are to love our neighbors, not with a sort of grudging foot-dragging love, but “as yourself.” In other words, you are to treat them with the same respect you would want to be treated. How does this play out in the public square? Well I think it means we argue principles without making it personal. It means we give them the benefit of the doubt. 1 Corinthians 13 says that one of the definitions of love is that it “believes all things and hopes all things.” In other words, we can oppose someone politically without thinking they are part of some evil, Machiavellian scheme to make our lives miserable.

    2) Love Your Enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). I think viewing a political opponent as an “enemy” might be too strong, but let’s just assume that for a moment, on the issues about which you care, he or she is your enemy. For instance, I think it could be honestly said that most liberals are adversaries of the pro-life position that I hold. So how does Jesus’ words to love them apply? Well, I’m suppose to love them with the fullest definition of love. I can oppose what they stand for without ridiculing the person or mocking them or their families. I love my political adversaries by speaking only what I know to be true about them. I means I see any good and redeeming values in them and pray for them.

    3) Honor the King (1 Peter 2:17). Peter wrote these words to a church about to endure four decades of brutal persecution at the hands of Roman oppressors. And yet Peter writes, “Show proper respect to everyone, Fear God, Honor the King.” If this seems difficult to do under leaders who might oppose biblical values, imagine how difficult it was for Christian citizens of Rome. But it’s made easier with the middle words of that phrase, “Fear God.” Romans 13 reminds us that nobody is in power except those God anoints and puts in power. So, you can show proper respect to a political adversary because you acknowledge the sovereignty of God and you affirm that even your enemy was created in God’s image. And therefore you can honor a political leader because in doing so you’re honoring the God who put him or her there. I think the words, “respect” and “honor” give us a good grid for how we should make political arguments. We can forcefully oppose unjust, unwise, or unbiblical policies without resorting to name-calling, mockery, and slander. In doing this, I think Christians set themselves apart. Think of men like Nehemiah, Daniel, and Joseph who served wicked monarchs and still always showed proper respect to the office.

    4) Pray for Your Leaders (1 Timothy 2:2). There are not many specifics in the New Testament about Christian political activism. I might point to Jesus’s words in Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus prayer in John 17 and Paul’s appeal in Romans 10 for the necessity of Christians to shape culture at all levels (including political and governmental). But the one very specific instruction regarding Christians and their leaders is the command to pray for them. We Christians (myself the most guilty) seem to have it backward. We treat activism as a necessity and prayer for our leaders as an option. We should do both. We should pray and watch, pray and build, pray and act. But we must never diminish prayer. We must pray for our President, our Congress, our Governors, our statehouses, our mayors, our local leaders. Public service is a difficult calling.

    5) Speak with Grace (Colossians 4:6). Paul writes to the church at Colosse, “Let your conversation be always full of grace.” This verse really convicts me, because I now that my speech is not always marked by grace. Especially in election season. Especially when I’m all wound up with an opinion or idea about someone with whom I disagree. But followers of Jesus should be marked by grace. This means that what we post, what we say, what we discuss should run through the prism of grace. How is graceful speech different than ordinary speech? It flows from a heart humbled by God’s forgiveness. It considers the human behind the argument. It tries not to divide, but to unite. It grounds every argument in the gospel story. Graceful speech doesn’t post angry, half-truth, slanderous opinions on Facebook. Graceful speech doesn’t support distorted 30 second TV ads. Graceful speech is open to new arguments, admits wrongs, and doesn’t assume that it’s right all the time.
    Question
    How would you like to be treated
    Just think about how it
    Makes you feel if you don’t have a black stony heart!
    Summary: This is not a complete or exhaustive list, just a few ideas about living out the gospel during political season and beyond. Christians can be both civil and engaged, full of grace and yet firm in support of truth. I really like this I had to share this on this morning I really hope this bless some sister on today be blessed my sisters in Christ!

  3. Thank you Father God for your words I forgive them all and walking and the will of the highest King and the name of Jesus Amen Thank you

  4. Thank you DOTK ! May the Lord richly bless this beautiful ministry ♡ love to y’all.
    Signed ~ the sin sick seeker of His amazing Grace; in complete awareness of the need for me to die because He lives.

    HE LIVES, HE LIVES – CHRIST JESUS LIVES TODAY!!!!

  5. Yes. I must say its vital that we fellowship in the house the lord and out of church. Ots brings unity and strength. Allows us to meet other people where they are in there life . I know in my life without my sisters and brothers in christ i wouldn’t be here or loved by them . Jesus is love. Everthing we do exemplifies his undying love for us all. Thsts keeps us and the precious holy spirit ground us deeper in him. We are nothing without Our Awesome Savior. Praise the lord.. Good word for today. Definitely will meditate on this all day… God bless all the DOTK

  6. Again so spot on! How many hurting Christians are there who has left the church because of hurt? I have been hurt many times in different places, but for the Grace of God have not left any of those times, for me it was challenges to grow stronger, chances to understand that NOBODY has arrived and knows everything! We all still have issues to work through, only Jesus was and still is perfect. Until He comes to fetch us, we still will have issues, only when we move IN Him, are we protected and can the enemy not touch us. This means exactly what Ps 91 says, Blessed are those who abide in the secretplace of the Most High. How do we get there? Love Him with our WHOLE heart, soul , mind and strength. Don’t give the enemy a foothold in your heart. Guard your heart with all you have, don’t be deceived, offence causes strife and where strife is, there are all kinds of evil. Repent, forgive all and yourself. Learn to love yourself, remember we were made in His image, and keep on seeking and loving Jesusand our Father God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. God bless you richly when you receive this.

  7. I love dotk and also sotk but is there anyway they would never have the same devotionals for the same day .. ??? It just seems so unoriginal 🙁

  8. AMEN and AMEN❗ THANK YOU SWEET JESUS👑👑👑💪💌💪🎁🎉🎉🎉DOTK🌺🌻🌹🌷🌸💐🍃🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙌💥🙋🙆👠👠👒👗Ty💌😘🍒🍇🍉🍓🍌🍐🍍🍅

  9. If a bear is alone, it become an easy prey, i must be friendly to make friends…. but there is a Friend that sticks closer…… am glad He is always there…. i can never be lonely even when iam alone……

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