“When I see a burden is beyond my strength, I do not consider it or analyze it or probe into it, but I run like a child to the heart of Jesus and say only one work to Him, “You can do all things.” And then I keep silent, because I know that Jesus Himself will intervene in the matter”. Divine Mercy in my soul # 1033
St. Athanasius attributed anti-demonic power to the words of Holy Scripture, saying, “the Lord Himself is in the words of the scriptures,” which therefore had the power to drive away demons.
We don’t need to fully understand the “force” of the words for them to repel demons. For instance, the words, “Son of God, have mercy on me” from Matthew 9:27 ask God for mercy upon the soul but may in fact draw down a shield upon the soul when spoken at first sign of temptation.
A soul should refute an evil thought immediately after it occurs to one, before it settles firmly in one’s thinking. If the soul does this, the sin is easily and swiftly handled. But, if the thought is permitted to persist, it leads the soul from merely thinking the thought to temptation and into actually performing the sin. By immediately rebuking and repelling the evil thought, the soul is protected from the sin.
Everyone is subject to involuntary ‘first movements’, which we can either control or allow it to develop into a morally culpable passion. Demons can incite to greater sin the soul that fails to stop the first movement. Origen called attention to thoughts that come from demons and incite us to evil deeds. We cannot help but receive these thoughts, but we can choose to resist or act upon them.
A good example which Origen noted is Satan’s suggestion of betrayal to Judas – the devil ‘cast’ the idea ‘into his heart’ (John 13:2). This is a demonically inspired thought the person could have resisted. Rather then rejecting it immediately, Judas allowed the thought to linger becoming a full-fledged passion the disposition of the soul which led to an evil act of betrayal.
When a temptation or evil thought comes to mind, the soul must draw first blood. The soul must take the offensive and rebuke the evil thought immediately. The soul can do this with a great weapon with which it is already armed. The Words and thought me of God in Holy Scripture.
“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
“I do not sit with false men, nor do I consort with dissemblers; I hate the company of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.” Psalm 26:4-5
“Amid terrible torments, I fix my eyes on You, my God, and though a storm is gathering over my head, I know the sun is not extinguished.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1040
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
Tha k you for this prayer. I have so many repetitious thoughts that I ignore thinking it will go since it doesn’t effect me. I will rebuke the distractions for acting like the past and all things that that do.
Please pray for me too. Thank you
Joan 🙏