You might be in a trap!

 

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Sometimes God may set us apart to anoint us, prepare us or mark us.

I have heard a lot of preachers explain this season of being alone, where your friends get fewer or they suddenly get distant for no particular reason. They often relate it to king David's story when he he'd been anointed as king, but he kept going back to be with his father's sheep in the field, to be prepared to shepherd God's people. Others relate it to Jesus story when he went to the desert to fast and be tempted before his ministry kicked off fully. 

Preachers clearly explain that God may set us apart for a season or two, take away our friends, or distance them, to help us get to know him more, to spend more time with him before he releases us into his calling. Yet, it also stands out according to me, that sometimes that separation is not of God, but the devil's.

The devil might separate us from people, godly people especially, so that he may "feast on us".

Luke 8:29 

For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power.

Usually, in many Christian circles, you can easily tell when a friend is sliding away; when they start to distance themselves. Those times when you get problems and you find yourself keeping away from godly people in the disguise of, "Well, they won't understand." or "They might judge me." True; sadly there might be some who will judge you, but also there are some who are eager and willing to help, to support and to share wise counsel.

James 5:16 

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

I surely know how hard it can be to be vulnerable and share your struggles with people, especially Christians who sadly have a bad reputation of being judgmental (although this might be based on a biased opinion) as opposed to being helpful, but sharing your struggles might be worth the risk.

We were not created to walk this journey of life alone, we were created to hold each other's hand, to forgive each other and help each other.

Remember king David, walking on the rooftop alone while the other men were at battle, he went ahead to plot plan after plan, got Uriah from battle to get him to sleep with his wife after he (king David) had slept with her, tried to get him drunk, then eventually killed him. 

I admire this about King David: he almost always sought God's counsel, he wrote a Psalm about everything, he consulted the Lord or at least the prophets, but during this time, we don't see him consulting anyone. He kept on digging his "pit" deeper and deeper.

The difference between you being set apart by God and being set aside by the devil lies in whether the distance between you and God is increasing or reducing.

When you're in seasons of being alone, are you spending that alone-time with God or with distractions: excessive social media, movies, TV,  books, movie series or soap operas? Is your alone-time a trap or a stepping stone? Is it God or the devil masquerading?

May this Wednesday be an amazing one for you and your loved ones.

I bless the Lord for the growing readership of this blog. May God bless you!