The SNARE is Broken: We Have ESCAPED
by Rev. Detra Bishop. PhD

We escaped like a bird from a hunter's trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!  (Psalm 124:7, NLT)

A snare is defined as a device, usually consisting of a noose, for capturing birds or small animals; anything serving to entrap, entangle, or catch unawares; trap; to catch or involve by trickery or wile. Psalm 124 uses a simile to compare the devices used by the devil to entrap us with the instrument hunters use to trap birds. There are many vices and devices that the devil utilizes to trap, confuse, or otherwise perplex us. According to Colossians 3:5-9, the following are a few: shameful desires, sexual sin, impurity, lust, greed, anger, malicious behavior, slander, dirty language, and lying.

I am sure you can think of many others. In fact, the Lord said that there were several things in Proverb 6:16-19 that he would not stand for: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows, and discord among brethren.

How does the enemy use these vices and devices against us? First of all, he creates DOUBT to make us question God's Word and God's goodness. Second, the adversary promotes DISCOURAGEMENT to make us look at our problems rather than at God. Third, he stirs up DIVERSIONS to make the wrong things seem attractive so that we will want them more than the right things. Fourth, satan fakes DEFEAT to make us feel like a failure so we don't even try. Fifth and lastly, that old deceiver and father of lies develops DELAY to make us put off doing something so that it never gets done.

But praises be to God! God sent Jesus Christ down through 42 generations to break the snare and to set us free. In Jesus, FAITH replaces doubt, ENCOURAGEMENT takes the place of discouragement, FOCUS dissolves discouragement, HOPE outshines any type of defeat, and RELEASE is the Lord's secret weapon for fighting delay! What a mighty God we serve.

The snare is broken, and we have escaped! The trap has been sprung, and we are free! Read and study the following passages to gain strength in whatever situation you are facing at this season in your life: Psalm 91, Psalm 25:15, Psalm 27, Psalm 37, 1 Corinthians 10:13, and 2 Timothy 2:22.

THE SNARE IS BROKEN, AND YOU ARE FREE!