Mindful Monday: On Outsmarting Evil

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!

All of you have a restful sleep tonight.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.