sin / guilt - though at times
consternation ensues when
your enemy lights the fireworks
by his accusations / lies and
you jump down the rabbit hole
once more as he delights in
your 'guilt pangs / confusion'
searching for 'absolute certitude' to
your infinite doubts buried in the
mired maze of your delicate conscience
no...it's also about your entire life...
it's about spiritual warfare...the
daily battle for peace / joy / love
in the Lord...the real question that
you need to ask is this - is it
going to be 'me or Thee'? for
that is ultimately where the
Battle rages most fiercely...it
is the prized territory that your
enemy most covets...he who knows
you better that you know yourself
for his address is that rabbit hole maze
that he has lured you into more times
than you care to remember...he knows
your weaknesses / patterns / tendencies
that spring doubt / fear / anxiety into
action avalanching downhill into the
darkness of
'no man's land' of self-absorption...
introspection...self-pity...hopelessness...
sheer terror...yet even then know that
all is not lost for the Warrior King
is on your side...in fact...He is with you
even when you feel 'trapped'...His
Love for you is Infinite...beyond
every imagination / limit you may
think separates your now terrified life from
His Pure / Holy Presence within you...
the Beauty in your heavy cross is that
you Know your need for His Grace...
your utter Dependence upon Him...
the Truth is that you do not have to
do...say...think...pray...act...'perfectly' /
in a 'particular pattern' in order to
arrive at the 'promised land' of peace /
joy / love...no...that is a lie...a trap...
straight from the pit of hell...no...
the Reality is that All is a Gift...
undeserved...Pure Mercy to you...
for He First Loved you even before
your first breath...He Called you into
existence by name...through Baptism
bestowed upon you a New Identity as
a Child of God because He Loves you
as you are...for Jesus shed His Blood that
your sins be forgiven...guilt washed away
that you are Free to Love Him...free to
love one another...live in His Presence
day by day...by Grace Alone...He has
Gifted you with His Holy Spirit - Power
from on High to live in Victory not
defeat...simply because He loves you
even when you struggle to believe...
trust...hope...love...over and over...
so...listen now...for you must be alert
because 'your enemy prowls about like a
roaring lion seeking someone to devour'
and your must learn to 'resist him steadfast
in your faith' and this is the way forward
to Gain the Victory...day by day...battle
by battle...remembering that your may
be by yourself but you are never alone...
He is with you...Loves you...especially
when you don't 'do things perfectly' which
is always since you will only be 'perfect'
in Heaven when you are One with Him...
these are your 'marching orders'...the way
forward to 'Gain the Victory' - not just in
avoiding 'sin' but in 'Knowing His Love
for you and Loving as He Loves in
Freedom and Joy'... and...remember too
that there is no sin involved in these...
knowing that He will make up for
anything done 'imperfectly'...
-Thank Him for your cross for 'All things
work for good for those who love Him and
are called according to His Purpose'...even
you don't see it now...you shall some day
-Unite your cross to His for those you love
therefore do not 'waste' your suffering...use
it for 'good'... Satan doesn't like that...
-All is Grace so you don't have to just
'try harder' and 'figure everything out yourself'
-Do not trust your 'feelings' for Satan can
manipulate them to attack you in order to
'murder' you psychologically...emotionally...
'spiritually' even 'physically'...whatever way
he can to hurt you because he is the Enemy of
the Lord and therefore of you because you
Love Jesus
-Doubts are 'false accusations'...'lies'...temptations
to be resisted / not paid attention to
-Any questioning about...doing / saying / thinking /
in the 'exact / proper / perfect way' is from Satan
not the Lord
-Since you are a Child of God / a Disciple of Jesus /
and the Holy Spirit rests upon you...you have Jesus'
Authority therefore whenever you are tempted to
question...doubt...wonder if...ask 'did I'...or 'feel'
condemned / rejected / guilty / anxious / afraid or
'just want to make sure that'...then you need to
-Renounce / Rebuke / Reject in the Name of Jesus
whatever demon is hassling you...eg. the 'accusing /
lying spirit'...'spirit of scrupulosity' 'fear / doubt /guilt
and tell them to 'go to the foot of the Cross there to let
Jesus deal with you'
-Ask Him to... help you rely on Him not yourself...
not trust your feelings because they are meant to
give your intellect 'data' to evaluate in order to make
a decision by your 'will'... they are not 'tyrants' to be
'obeyed without question'...know that He Loves you
Perfectly even though you are imperfect...
-Satan wants you to even questions your faith...trust...
love...beliefs...God's Word...forgiveness...ALL are
temptations to be resisted and He will help you do that
-He Knows your Heart so don't worry about 'doing it
just right'
-When you pray...spend some time with Him telling
Him what you are feeling / thinking / having a hard
time with whatever is on your mind
-Obey your Confessor in all things pertaining to doubts
-Read Sacred Scripture asking for faith / trust to accept
His Truth and to Rely upon His Word for He is speaking
to you through it
-Remember...'Be Perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect'
is the Lord's job not yours...'I can do all things through Christ
who Strengthens me'...'In my anguish I cried out to the Lord,
He answered and delivered me from all my fears;. The Lord
is with me, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me. The
Lord is with me as my helper. I will look in triumph upon my
enemies.' 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'.
-'Thee not me'...Thank you Jesus
Reflection / Discussion:
-What is scrupulosity?
-What is 'Spiritual Warfare'?
-What is 'taking authority in the Name of Jesus' mean?
-Has 'going down the rabbit hole of darkness' happened to you? How?
-How can you take advantage of your Confessor to help you deal with
a 'tender conscience'?
-How can 'Redemptive Suffering' help in carrying your cross?
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