Into The Deep #52: The Spiritual Combat - Ch. 28-32
Episode #52. Tactics of the Devil. Darkness of running from sin to sin. Life without God is not any fun. Opportunities to sin. Living out the consequences of where we’ve been. Livin’ la viva chapter 29. Presumption. Bad thing. Agreeing to the value proposition of virtue rather than striving to increase it. It isn’t supposed to be easy. There will be sacrifice. Be prepared and take action. Being sufficiently recollected to respond rather than react to temptation. A fruit of prayer. The opportunities in suffering. Seeking out God’s will. Wanting to say ‘yes.’ Lord, give me whatever you got! Ridding of self love. Always render thanks. Never give up.
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On reliance on God
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THE holy Fathers say with one voice: The first thing to keep in mind is never in any respect to rely on yourself. The warfare that now lies before you is extraordinarily hard, and your own human powers are altogether insufficient to carry it on. If you rely on them you will immediately be felled to the ground and have no desire to continue the battle. Only God can give you the victory you wish.
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On action now…
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However weighed down and entangled in earthly fetters you may be, it can never be too late. Not without reason is it written that Abraham was seventy-five when he set forth, and the labourer who comes in the eleventh hour gets the same wages as the one who comes in the first.
Nor can it be too early. A forest fire cannot be put out too soon; would you see your soul ravaged and charred?
In baptism you received the command to wage the invisible warfare against the enemies of your soul; take it up now. Long enough have you dallied; sunk in indifference and laziness you have let much valuable time go to waste. Therefore you must begin again from the beginning: for you have let the purity you received in baptism be sullied in dire fashion.
Arise, then; but do so at once, without delay. Do not defer your purpose till “tonight” or “tomorrow” or “later, when I have finished what I have to do just now.” The interval may be fatal.
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May God grant you many years