Lent is a time for reflection. It is a time to look into ourselves and look at what God had done for us. We reflect on how we have been living our lives. As we go on examining our lives and realizing how we have failed, we make decisions to do something about them. Realizing how we have "missed the mark", we realign our ways in order to walk on the journey towards God, our true destiny. Unfortunately, the process is not that easy. An enemy will make sure we stay out of course. In the first place, that same enemy was responsible for derailing us. Specially this Lenten season, the enemy will be very very very active. When we have committed ourselves to re-examine ourselves, the enemy will will also commit itself to befuddle and confuse us.
We always blame the devil for seducing us. We always fault the devil for our sins. We point to the devil for our miseries caused by sins. We wish to God to keep the devil away. We just want the devil to be out of our lives so that we can go on living our lives as smoothly as possible. Is that possible? Definitely. yes! The devil is dependent on our consent. The devil does not and can not force us. If and when we succumb to the devils temptations, it is because we have decided to want what the devil wants for us. It is because we have decided to agree with its proposal. It is because we have taken for granted our relationship with God which is part of the ultimate reason of the devil in tempting us.
The devil will never stop tempting us to be away from God. The devil will never choose a place where it will strike. The devil will not respect anybody it wants to tempt. The devil's goal is not to immediately make us sinful with one big sin. It will be contented, at first, with letting us commit even the smallest of sins as long as it becomes a habit. (Note that Pondo ng Pinoy also uses the same principle to bring everyone back to goodness!) It would prefer to hook us forever than just for a time. In his book "Screwtape Letters", C.S. Lewis, revealed to his readers the inner workings of the devil. In all the letters, Screwtape, the senior-trainer demon, would always remind Wormwood, his nephew and junior-trainee tempter, that "the safest path to hell is the gradual one."
But we are not always enslaved by the temptations of the devil. Temptations are temptations. They are potentials. Potential sins or potential goodness. It can actually come from the devil or the good spirit. The good spirit also "tempts" us to be away from the devil. It inspires us follow God's command. The devil (the bad spirit), on the other hand, lures us away from God. It is cunning and very shrewd. It is ready to use the "good" in order to lead us to sin. It is also willing to make us do good as long as it is less than what we can do. Mediocrity and lukewarmness are the devil's most effective weapon. If we are unaware of its tactics and techniques, we can just find ourselves victimized one day. That is why it is very important to know its ways. That is why it is important to stop and reflect at times in order to check how we have been victorious or failing in our battle against its advances.
Instead of being afraid of temptations, we must be confident against it. Our attitude plays a very crucial role in dealing with it. If we will always concede that we will fall, then the devil had controlled us. But if we see it as an opportunity to prove to God our allegiance to him, then we have a fight, we have a chance. If we see temptations as opportunities to turn the tables against it, then we have won half of the battle. Mockery is the devil's nightmare. It can not endure being jeered or scorned. If we see every temptation as a chance to out do it and slam back his advances it, then we have conquered it, at least for that situation. For as we know, it will always re-appear at a time we least expect it. Vigilance is our friend and its worst enemy.
Therefore, instead of being guilty of violating the God we believe in, let us be busy doing what the devil does not want us to do. If it does not want us to pray, that should be the time to pray. If it does not want us to make sacrifices, that is the time to think of one. If it does not want us to help others, that is the time to be generous. The tempter is now the loser. The hunter is now the hunted. The attacker is now the defender. Let us take the offensive. Just like Jesus who was ministered to by the angels when He was in the desert, we too would always have our angels to guide and protect us. Of course, with our cooperation!
Happy devil hunting!
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