The animal world is full of predators with some impressive deceptive and distraction tactics. Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish in the world. But new research suggests these creatures are also quite clever. They can use the sun’s positioning to their advantage when hunting. On sunny mornings, the sharks strikes with the rising sun directly behind them. In the afternoons, they switch directions to approach prey. This would suggest that the sharks are capable of tracking and putting the sun behind them, thus avoiding glare to be noticed during an attack. If this is the case in the animal kingdom, then as believers we need to be watchful of our only ‘predator’ and his army of demons cast down from heaven as is written in the book of Revelation 12:9; in our all invisible battles. The first sin was committed by mankind through deception of the devil in Genesis 3. This technique used by the enemy has not changed. Due to our rebellious hearts, our sins have separated us from God’s protection. The devil continues to adapt and use the same tactic’s to steal, kill and destroy in so many ways as Yeshua [Jesus Christ] told us in John 10:10. Paul The Apostle reminds us in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that, in order to keep Satan from getting the upper hand of us; for we know what his plans are.
Do you allow setbacks to control your life or you simply react to them? May be you’re reacting to setbacks or afflictions in your spiritual life, finances, health, career, family, relationship, Marriage, education or business instead of remaining focus on Yeshua. To brush of distractions and remain focused in this world of darkness is not an easy task on your own. There is a trick snipers use in the Military when they begin to react to their surroundings. Snipers have to stay virtually invisible, while moving from point to point with loads of gear in extreme weather, while being completely exhausted. The fatigue, the discomfort, the racing thoughts are all distractions that can throw off focus which cloaks of invisibility which will keep them alive. Genesis 37 tells us that, Joseph was not invisible , because he did not ‘keep his mouth shut‘ about his dreams and his words ; his own brothers hated him more and as a result, they sold him into slavery. if the enemy doesn’t know ‘your plans’, he cannot attack or distract you. In the battle field, when snipers are overwhelmed with their surroundings they stop, look around and listen to their surroundings so they able to refocus. This allows then to stop reacting to the external stimuli, be mindful of the environment, and focus on what really matters. Lets look at some of the deceitful deceptions the enemy uses to distract us from our God given purpose.
Unforgiveness, pain of the past and holding grudges are all distractions used by the enemy; This becomes a heavy load ‘like the gear carried by the ‘sniper’ which brings about fatigue and discomfort in a war zone’. You can not be an effective soldier in warfare carrying too much load. The enemy continues to use this secret weapon on believers. Our heart (our spirit and prayer room); the contact point to God is now occupied with sin; when you pray with an unforgiving heart , you end up talking to yourself. You wonder why your prayers are unanswered… You need to be free-spirited to connect to the throne room of GOD; ”an unforgiving heart is like having so many gadgets connected to the same WIFI, how can you get high speed broadband connection to GOD when you pray?” The Lord’s prayer thought by Yeshua in Matthew 6:12 emphasises forgiveness-… ‘and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors’. So not only is this a covenant with Adonai Elohim, but a rule in the heavens for if you don’t forgive you will not be forgiven by GOD. Ha’satan is well aware of this; he was created and dwelt in the heaven before mankind. Brothers and sisters learn to forgive and move into ‘light’ because the enemy cannot trap you in this world full of darkness. The vicious cycle of unforgiveness all around us, has allowed the enemy to trap so many believers like slaves. Lessons about forgiveness was taught by Yeshua in Matthew 18:21-35 where, the kingdom of heaven was compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. It is not easy to forgive – Look at forgiveness as an act of peeling an onion- you need to forgive over and over again and often times with tears in your eyes [pain]. Fast and Pray if you’re struggling to forgive someone or people that have wronged you ; during that process, Yeshua will see your faith and provide you with the grace to completely forgive who ever has wronged you for your freedom.
The enemy can distract you by attacking the weak around you- often times the people closest to you such as family and friends, to derail you from your God given purpose. How many times in your life did everything seem to be going well until you get that phone call or receive that bad news? Don’t fall for this trap, but rather endure with hope, faith and love in Yeshua and keep matching on. The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 that, “Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour ”. Here the enemy is compared to a lion. A lion is proud and fears nothing, it goes where it pleases and looks for the weak to prey upon. Satan does the same thing. He is constantly looking for people who are weak in their spiritual life so he can tear them down. Prayer is the master key; without prayer your’re exposed. So, rejoice always, pray continually in your heart- especially for family, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Stay focused and remember the book of Jacob (James) 1:12 which tells us that , ”Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love Him’‘ . Are you having marital problems? Is your love one on a sick bed? do you feel alone as a result of bereavement? have you lost your job or in financial difficulty? Have you, a family member, partner or friend been diagnosed of any disease? Cheer up ! Philippians 4:13 says, ”I can do all things through Messiah Yeshua who strengthens me.”
Yeshua said in Matthew 6:24 that, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick by one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The enemy uses this same world to recruit and attack kedoshim. Is money controlling you or you have dominion over money? The enemy uses the love for money as a means of distraction for so many believers and as a result, we end up living in sin through the invisible dark spirits of greed, jealousy and hatred on one another. if your are career driven to the extent that it feels like you’re suffocating; you probably blinded by the fact that, it is now affecting your family and closest people around you. Is now time for a wake-up call to re-focus and spend time with the word; read your holy scriptures daily; For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12). Yeshua, also said in the book of Matthew 6:19-21 that, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”Lack of patience for God’s appointed time has driven so many believers to be controlled by money. The enemy uses this to distract us by influencing our thoughts by means of jealousy, greed and selfishness. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that, ”Keep your lifestyle free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. For God Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Fear is a relentless weapon the enemy uses to distract believers and attack them. And it one that must be broken through the power of Yeshua our Commander in Chief. Fear can get a foothold in your life and begin to dominate you. It can demoralise you and ultimately diminish GOD’s glory in your life. It can chew away your life, erode your sense of confidence, rob you of sleep, blind you and steal your praises to God. Don’t spend so much time with negative people, listening to songs of this world and watching immoral television programs or become addicted to social media with demonic influences. These are currently the secret weapons the enemy is using to trap you to himself and continue to live in sin. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) ; The opposite occurs when you spend so much time watching or listening to things of this world- fleshly desires. Once a believer loses their focus on Yeshua, they derail from God’s purpose. Is written in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that , ”For we walk by faith, not by sight”. Do not loose focus on what is happening in your life right now, but rather grab your sword against fear -fill your mouth and heart with praise and worship, because you see God’s might, recognise his LOVE for you, and know that HE will always come through. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us to have hope, ”Because of the mercies of Adonai we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning! Great is HIS faithfulness”. Take a moment Brothers and Sisters, and name what is keeping you up at night- grab a pen and write them down, and ”Cast all your worries on Him, for He cares for you” [1 Peter 5:7]. Remember we are not like others- one of ‘our weapons in the armory of GOD’ is praise and worship to Adonai; they are so powerful in breaking any chain or ‘Jericho walls’ of fears attached to our lives. The Psalmist wrote in the book of Psalms 56:5 that, ”In God—I keep praising His word— in God I trust, I will not fear. What can mere flesh do to me?”
Prayer
Oh Holy Spirit, give me the Grace to set my heart on things that are in Heaven but not on things of this world; Take away all my fleshly desires in Jesus Christ [Yeshua] name I pray – Amen.
Further Reading
2 Corinthians 4:18; Colossians 3:2; Proverbs 4:25,27; Romans 8:5; Romans 8:6; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 6:34; 1 Timothy 4:16; Proverbs 17:24; Psalms 86:11; Isaiah 43:18; Matthew 6:21; Psalms 16:8; Psalms 119:37; Galatians 6:4; Philippians 3:13; Jeremiah 1:8; Romans 12:21; Matthew 7:3
