RESISTANCE

James 1:13

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one…

The devil knows when to hit me, when to tempt me so I may sin against God and against the people I love. He knows he cannot hit me in the morning. When I wake up, I am strong in mind, body and spirit – prayer time, meditation time through the Rosary, write my daily devotions, hearty breakfast, kiss my wife and off I go to the office.

But he knows he can hit me in the evening. After a long day in the office, I would be at my lowest ebb. Very tired from work, hungry, my brain is simply not functioning anymore, and to think that I still have to finish another presentation before I retire at night (that is if I still have then energy to finish it), “I am really ripe for the devil’s picking”. He would tempt me to be a glutton at dinner (“hey, I need the energy”), tempt me to watch TV and ignore my kid’s plea to help them in their homework (“sorry, my brain is out there, somewhere”).

But I can always ignore Satan. How about another prayer time in the evening, asking God to give me more strength – to resist evil and to look after the needs of my spirit and my loved ones. It is not hard to do, if I can put my heart into it.

Almighty Father, You are my strength, and to You I would forever be faithful; You will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear. But I firmly believe that when I am tempted, You will also provide a way out so that I can stand up under it, and simply say no to Satan.

Oh Lord, to struggle courageously against temptation is one of the most meritorious acts we can perform; and once we have triumphed with Your grace, may we receive the crown of life that You have promised to those who fully and truly love You.

“You are my strength, Oh Lord, my everything
Fill my heart with Your spirit and love
So I may only heed Your will and Your being
And forever be at Your mercy, the only One I have.

Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.