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A pitfall is a deep unsuspecting hole that usually traps traveler’s along a route. It can also be seen as a hidden danger or difficulty in something. When you answer the call of God and begin a journey to fulfillment, you are ushered into the path of life to travel. Along this route, however, there are traps that are set up by your enemy, the devil, to take you unawares.
It is important to enlighten you on these pitfalls so that you can avoid them. Five of these common pitfalls are;
1. Women, girls, sex, and females:
The Bible exhorts us to hide the word of God in our hearts because it shall deliver us from the strange woman who flatters with her lips.
[Proverbs 23:26-28 KJV] “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. [27] For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. [28] She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men”.
The Bible is emphatic that a whore is a deep ditch, and a strange woman is a narrow pit. The pathetic danger of this ditch is that those who fall into it get dirty and smeared, and those who fall into this narrow pit cannot come out by themselves, they must be helped out.
When you have a father like David or Solomon who may marry many women and have concubines, the only secret to be delivered from strange women and men is to heed to their counsel.
[Proverbs 7:1-5 KJV] “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. [2] Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. [3] Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. [4] Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: [5] That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
The rest of Proverbs 7 describes the strange woman and her modus operandi (mode of operation). She is loud, she dresses like a harlot, she hardly stays home, at the least opportunity and any reason at all she would be out in the streets especially at night. She is always seen in the company of boys. She would isolate herself in a packed room to be noticed, and she is ready to offer sex to anyone else even if she is already dating or married. She is often subtle at heart and sounds very religious and unsuspecting. A typical sign of a strange woman is that she cheats when her lover travels out of town; beware! She goes out to look for love when the good man travels.
Women, may God give you the grace to be true and virtuous! May the Lord deliver you from a strange woman. May you not fall into this narrow pit. May you not fall for her flattery and smooth words. May the Lord give you the wisdom to avoid the temptation to be strange. When a man, young or old, approaches you for love, may you courageously tell him you are attached if you are.
Beware of illicit sex, it has killed many mighty men. The house of a strange woman is a graveyard for many mighty men.
[Proverbs 7:24-27 KJV] “Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. [25] Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. [26] For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. [27] Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death”.
Many mighty men fell because of women; David fell because of Bathsheba, Samson fell because of Delilah, Judah fell because of Tamar, the sons of Shechem perished because of Dinah.
2. Quest for pride and fame and success:
The Bible tells us that pride comes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
[Proverbs 16:18 KJV] “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”.
We all know how Lucifer became Satan. He dreamt of exalting his throne above the Most High. Many young people have been destroyed because of pride and a haughty spirit.
Beware! Don’t fight for your rights and lose your birthright. Many wives have lost their birthright because they fought for their rights. Sometimes, it is better to keep your birthright at the expense of your rights. Pride is a killer, let us be careful. Listen when a person of authority in your life speaks to you; apologise when you are wrong, treat all men with respect, but don’t let anyone take you for granted. Let us beware of pride, it has destroyed many, and many have fallen from heights as a result.
The Lord resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. May you receive grace, Amen!
3. The love of money:
The Bible tells us in clear language that the love of money is the root of all evil. This is the biggest pitfall for all men. Beware of covetousness. Don’t be trapped. A woman who loves money is dangerous.
4. The words of your mouth:
The Apostle James explains this point very well;
[James 3:2 KJV] “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body”.
Indeed, by your words, you shall either be justified or ensnared. Your words are forerunners into your future, the words we speak affect our lives.
I pray that the Lord will give us the wisdom to escape the pitfalls on the route of life.
Be blessed; I love you!
Noah Simpe Bediako
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