Episode 49 -- Spiritual Combat c30 -- Devil’s Delusions Aimed at those making Progress

How can the devil bring us back into slavery once we have escaped?

The devil wants our spiritual ruin. He does not give up easily. Once he sees that someone is making progress in following God, he tries to make the person believe a lie. He tries to persuade us that we are far more advanced than we are. He wants to lead us astray by a secret spiritual pride. In this  episode we will read about this third tactic, how he attacks those in a state of grace.

Last episode we finished discussing the devil’s second tactic. Once he sees that grace is moving the person towards God, the devil tries to short circuit the process. Good desires are important. Good resolutions are essential. But Fr Scupoli insists that they are not sufficient for getting out of sin. Remember, last chapter was focused on those in a state of sin. The devil wants those in that state to stay at the level of good desires without doing anything to bring them to completion. When are good desires and good resolutions helpful?

1. When they have as their foundation distrust of our own ability and trust in God.

2. When they are prudently formed in light of potential obstacles.

3. When we form them in light of God’s will and not just our own benefit.

When these three foundations are in place, good desires and resolutions will lead us out of sin into God’s friendship. We will begin to run the race set before us. What will the devil think of next? In this episode, we will go on to the devil’s third tactic to lead us astray.