“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed…Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” (Psalm 31:1,4)

Trapped! Ensnared! Captured! What the enemy is unable to do by open assault he often can easily accomplish by subtlety.

The first thing the Bible says about the devil is the last thing people are willing to believe. The devil is subtle. We often look for him in violence, harsh attacks, ugly open sinful activities. But he comes smoothly, pleasantly, sweetly, often religiously with high-sounding tones enticing and alluring.

Traps are baited with that which its intended victim desires. Therefore when we become discontent with that which God has legitimately given and provided for us, we become prime targets for the enemy’s net. Reaching out for that which is not legitimately and freely given us by God, we soon find ourselves hopelessly entangled in a web that defies any escape. What should we then do?

Shall we weep, gripe, rail, grumble, curse, blame others? Shall we sit and feel sorry for ourselves? Shall we thrash hopelessly about and entangle ourselves yet further? Shall we give up in hopeless despair and resign ourselves to defeat and uselessness? None of that! Not those who have put their trust in the Lord.

We should cry to the Lord. We must admit that we have been deceived, admit that we are to blame for our deception; that it would not have been possible but for our wicked discontent or our unsanctified ambition. We must admit that we are unable to free ourselves and that we deserve to be in the mess we are in. And then we should ask our heavenly Father to pull His beloved child out of the pit into which he has fallen. He will do it.