Focus on the victory

Battle vs Victory.

The enemy wants the soul to focus on the battle and war. He wants you to “hear the booms and fear the bullets”. In every war there are battles lost. The enemy wants the soul to become despondent by focusing fully upon each battle lost.

Jesus looks at this differently. He focuses on the fact that the war has already been won. He defeated every enemy on His Cross, including Satan and death. Even in sin, He has conquered.

Several years ago during a men’s Emmaus retreat, I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The weekend had been going great but I had felt a drag on my joy from the beginning. We always tell the team leaders to go to Confession in the days before retreat. But, this retreat I didn’t make it beforehand due to many worldly conflicts. Thank God, He presented an opportunity during the weekend for me to see a priest.

“When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul.” Divine Mercy in my soul #1602

I knelt before the priest, closed my eyes to speak to the Father and Jesus, “Father forgive me…”. I confessed my sins and expresses the guilt in my heart at the repetition of a certain sin. This sin was my thorn, though I had asked more than three times for it to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:8). It was a drag on my soul and my joy. The enemy had been telling me that coming again and again with this sin frustrated Jesus.

The priest replied, “praise God that He hasn’t taken that sin away.” What?!? Praise God for a chronic sin? Sounds ludicrous. I told Him that I don’t want to offend God with repeating this sin. He replied, “you are glorifying God’s Divine Mercy and drawing upon His great love because of your sorrow and repentance. Because you are here asking His Mercy.”

““My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

In that guidance, Jesus reminded me “when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself entirely in My mercy, with great trust” Divine Mercy in my soul #1602. And then, “Do not lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready to forgive you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify My mercy.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1488

God doesn’t like the sins we bring to Him, He doesn’t like that we sin. But, He doesn’t want us to be so focused on those “losses” and wounds that we lose heart and surrender our hope. Jesus has won the war – complete and total victory. He wants the soul to focus on His victory.

When we look past the small battles into His Great Victory, we become victorious. We draw closer and more dependent upon Him and we give Him great glory. And, steal victory from the enemy’s grasp which infuriates Satan.

God spoke to my heart that night, “Believe in Me despite not knowing or understanding all My attributes – just trust that I AM greater than anything you can do or the enemy can attack with.”

Every time I go to confession, Jesus softly whispers into my soul, “My son, you are not defined by failures. I have defined you, you are My beloved.”

“So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

These words from the song “I’m Your Beloved” ring in my soul every time I hear them.

“Lord, who am I
Compared to Your glory?
Lord, who am I
Compared to Your majesty?

I am your beloved,
Your creation,
And You love me as I am.
You have called me, chosen
For Your kingdom.
Unashamed to call me your own-
I am your beloved.”