Temptation in our spiritual lives can be a difficult action to overcome for some.  Others seem to embrace the challenge and endure it, overcoming that experience, strengthened for the next bridge to cross.  Others will struggle with the same habit and temptation for their whole life—sometimes failing, sometimes conquering, but battling nonetheless.

There are some spiritual truths worth mentioning:

1) A temptation is morally neutral—it is neither good nor bad.  We either resist it or fall in it.  Herein lies the blessing or the sin.

2) God allows temptations to come our way to strengthen us for future battles and experiences to come.

3)  God doesn’t allow a temptation that can’t be overcome.  St. Paul tells us that God gives us the strength and grace to overcome any temptation, and never a temptation we can’t resist.  He also provides for a way out.  So, the victory in our favor is already built in.

The spiritual question is, “How to I resist a temptation, that is, gain victory over it.  Here are a few suggestions that can strengthen us against an ongoing habit or particular temptation.

1) St. Peter tells us in his letter to RESIST the particular habit or temptation.  The more helpful way to explain it is to rebuke it!  Tell it to get behind you, to go away, or you’re not playing the game.  In other words, use spiritual force to push back against it.

2) Use the Sacred Scriptures and the Holy Rosary as spiritual arrows.  This is a spiritual battle, so, have a battle plan of action.  Use all the spiritual forces at your disposal to blow it out of existence.  The devil can’t handle sincere holiness.

3) If it is an ongoing and tough temptation or habit, seek the advise of others to help pray with you and develop a plan of action to overcome or lessen it.  Your parish priest is always a good start, or another person of faith you trust.

4)   Be sure to go to Mass and Confession regularly.  Confession is an awesome weapon to overcoming evil in our life.  The Holy Eucharist is the ultimate gift to help.

This Lent strive to overcome a temptation or habit.  God bless you in your spiritual work.