oh wow, did I need this post today. Unclean spirits… that’s as good a term for negative thoughts as any. Thanks…

Thanks for your candor. I feel like I could have written these exact words this week (but not as eloquently). Im glad its not just me. What encouragement!

Wonderful, insightful posting (as usual, may I add!). I know that everyday we do have to struggle and we all fight “inner demons” or our nature.
I still love your blog so much.
By the way, have you heard of Matthew Kelly, Australian Catholic writer/speaker? He doesn’t like to use the term, we are called to holiness — though he knows and believes that and lives to encourage others — but to reach the younger generations, he’ll say something like we need to be the best version of ourselves. That’s kind of like the “transformation” you are talking about, yes, a life of holiness, a life of becoming the best we can be.
Keep on keeping on. Love you!
Renata

All of you have a restful sleep tonight.

unclean spirits = us; not USA, just simply us, as in human beings.
thank you for the true words. wish more of us practiced @ the art of being still. the world be infinitely more healthy.
thanks to your message, i have decided to redediciate myself to being still, even in the storms.

GREAT blog today, Therese! I have conditioned myself, that when my mind utters a “scary” thought – “what if I die on a rain-slickened highway?”; “My mystery shop won’t turn out well;” “I’m scared.” – I immediately invoke the phrase our Lord used – “Get thee behind me, Satan!” – and it WORKS!! It’s that “interruption” of the brain waves that turns my thoughts into more positive mode. Believe it or not, it works EVERY time. Of course, I still have doubts and fears, but this mantra has gotten me through a LOT of scary situations. Rely on the Lord, for He is your stronghold and your Savior. “If he takes you to it, He’ll take you through it.” “Be still and know that I am God.” It isn’t hard to find verification of the Lord’s power when/if you need it.
May God bless you real good.

I am feeling so much better since I have read this. I was feeling so anxious until I read it! I try to do the same things everyday, but as you say, life tries to get in youre way. I am going to try and stop everyday! And make it my mantra from now on and just listen to what god is telling me to do! Thank you soo much for saving my life today!! Sherry

So sorry T. Thank you so much for opening my eyes today. Sometimes I forget I’m not walking alone. I apologized because of this: He pulls us up, the world pulls us down, not the other way around.At least, that is always how I’ve envisioned it, being pulled pulled up into the arms of the Lord, away from the Vice and Pain in the World below. Maybe I’ve been mistaken. Doesn’t matter, what does is the comfort in my heart. Thank you for reminding me. Melinda

Thank you so much for this blog and your honesty. I don’t feel so alone. On an intellectual level I know I couldn’t be the only one who battles inner demons every day but I’ve never met anyone who has or discusses them.
All of your incites and tips are a gift and a blessing.

After reading this blog, I thought for awhile, reflecting on certain changes that have happened in my life recently. I used to go to church, I used to do bible studies, but not any longer. I left the church, I told them to revoke my membership. I felt this was appropriate because I no longer believe in god. Maybe I never did, truly, because this was not a choice on my part, but simply an honest acknowledgement of something already present within me, something I didn’t want to admit to myself, but which I can no longer deny. This acknowledgement has brought me more peace than all the years of searching for god could. I also realized that we humans don’t need a supernatural agent of evil to blame for the existence of evil in the world. There’s more than enough evil inside us. Focus on the evil inside, rather than worrying about ‘outside’ forces of evil. Any outside forces of evil can only influence you if you let them, so the real battle isn’t with external forces of evil trying to influence you, but against the evil within, which can only be overcome by one’s own self.

I neglected to read this yesterday and today it was still there – so I read it – BOY IS GOD WATCHING OVER ME!!!

Thank You Therese as always your words have an effect on my daily living. I as well as probably even human being has is the demon inside fighting for you to do what they want. Today for me was a great day but there were times when I let the evil tempt me to submission and then I prayed and asked for forgiveness and more strength to fight it off. I pray quite a bit in a day to our Lord, in fact sometimes I talk to him more than my own family. Sometimes it seems when one is ill with mental illness family members try to ruin it when you are doing well. Today I so far that is overcame that little voice telling me to fight back and argue with my husband when I told him that I am getting stronger and stronger everyday. Well needless to say I conquered that evil and did not get into it instead I walked away and prayed. Sometimes I do wonder if the evil outside of ourselves are more toxic than the ones we struggle with inside ourselves everyday.
Thanks again and God Bless

Thank you for this article. This may not be the place for this but please pray for me. I am struggling mightily with an issue and need help. I pray often and the Lord led me here. I cannot help but think it was purposeful. Thank you and GOD bless you all.

Dear Theresa… I can definately relate to your article… it is the little sugar demons that we trip over in life… and yes prayer does definately make the difference… My Pastor Stephen Powers at the Mandarin Assembly of God here in Jacksonville, Florida reminds us almost every time we congregate the importance of marinating in the Holy Spirit… ‘giving Praise, Thanks and Glory and Prayer to our El Shaddai (Most High)through Jesus Christ. Thank God that He does open our eyes to our weaknesses by humbling us and breaking down the walls of pride. Because I believe that is the 1st step in reckognizing this spiritual battle which we all do go through. Even though our intentions may not be bad, we still must see our mistakes and weaknesses, because if we do not, we will not be able to repent(change). If we do not learn God’s Laws and Words, we will not learn discernment and allow Jesus to fix what is damaged in us and deliver us from the demons that do influence us. Have a blessed day and love you in Christ Jesus!

What a refreshing blog. When I was a child my mother would discipline me by sending me into my room to make me think about why I was in trouble. She would tell me that I could come out when I could explain to her what I had done wrong. This forced me to look at what I had done. Most of the time I would try and justify my behavior and get sent back into my room to think it over. I thank my mother for the lessons of self reflection. She also informed me that God would forgive me if I only ask. This became a foundation for me throughout my life and it has been a great gift. I think time should be put aside everyday to self reflect and ask ourselves how God must see us daily. Dialogue with God. The only way to resist temptation, sin, evil, in our daily lives is spoken so eloquently by Paul in First Corinthians 6:18, “Flee immorality”. Not slowly walk away, FLEE. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that scripture. Evil wants every single one of us a statistic of failure. It can lure you in by so many ways, but oh the price you pay when you realize you’ve been duped. We fell out of the garden and we need to be reminded a lot of why we fell, we just couldn’t resist temptation, we made a choice not to listen to God. God has given us a second chance if only we are willing to listen through His word.

God does work in mysterious ways cause i got into a physical fight with my neighbor and was so hateful that i wanted revenge on this woman who had made racial remarks and called my baby stupid. But it funny that i read this message cause i don’t want to do something so bad and hateful all i want is to think happily and be happy. So i asked God to please take bad thoughts out of my head and feel me with love and happiness. So now i leave it in gods hands and put all my faith that he will help me and this woman to be at peace.

Dear Theresa, I wanted to say thank you.I sometimes feel the same, just last night i was listening to sermonaudio.com great site with thousands of free sermons..but i was hereing that along with Christ we also share in His sufferings, and it was put in a way that i saw it so clearly, if i want to be more like Him i must suffer what he suffered as well, but the glory of his Grace always comes after, and we are stronger for it, like the scripture that says ..for when i am week, i am strong. I am so glad that you listed the fruit’s of the Spirit as well, it gives’ us hope in what is to come if we continue on this path with our Savior, i make those little mistakes myself, and when im doing them i know there wrong but i quickly justify some how, only to reap what i have sown soon after..im so happy i came across you’r blog..you are the kind of Lady i would love to sit and have tea with, may God Bless you dearly.