LENT WEEK 2: DAY 9

Apocalypse 12:11; 1John 4:4; 1John 5:4-5; Luke 10:18-19; Colossians 2:15;
Life is much easier when you know who is your enemy or your friend. It helps you draw the line between things and people and to set limits and barriers to them. For the past three days, we have looked at the various enemies of our soul and we have identified each one of them in their various capacities. Today, we want to look at how to win victory or better still claim victory over them. We are confident of the victory because we know our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered (Apocalypse 5:5) and has won the battle for us on the cross of Calvary declaring that, it is accomplished (John 19:30). This is the assurance that gives us the courage to enter the battle against every enemy of our soul and be sure to conquer them. St Paul tells us of the victory of our God over the forces of darkness, assuring us that Jesus made a public spectacle of them and held them captive in his victory (Colossians 2:15). He also assures us of his victory over death and tells us to give thanks to God who through Jesus gives us victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57), over the flesh (Romans 7:25), over the world (John 16:33) and over wicked and evil people who have no faith (2 Thessalonians 3:2-3). We therefore have to be confident knowing our Master has defeated these enemies and we who now face them do not face them alone but receive support from the same master. The Lord trains us for battle prepares us for war and makes us pursue the enemy and win victory over them (Psalm 18:33-43). The enemy might be strong and fight fiercely but because the Lord is with us, we shall not be shaken (Psalm 16:8). This is the assurance we have as we step into the battle. But this assurance can only take full course when we allow ourselves to be trained by God and prepared by him for the coming battles. Assured of the Lord’s presence, we have to take up the weapons of warfare which are not carnal but mighty in God (2 Corinthians 10:4), because our enemy is not always flesh and blood but principalities and their dark powers that govern the world (Ephesians 6:12). These weapons are God’s weapons and are mighty in him and not out of him. This supposes that anyone who must use them must use them in God and must also belong to God. Failure to do so will produce the effects of the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-16). There are moments when we use the weapons of warfare and nothing happens, such moments should remind us that we have gone away from the presence of the owner of the weapons. Notice how Archangel Michael and his Angels won the victory over the devil by invoking the Blood of the Lamb (Apocalypse 12:11) and how he also won the battle over the Body of Moses by invoking the name of the Lord (Jude 1:9). We too must use these weapons of warfare against the evil one and defeat him in all our battles. The Lord Jesus has given us the power to trample over demons and overcome the power of the enemy without being harmed (Luke 10:19). Be bold and do not be afraid, march forward and face the enemy headlong. The key to this victory is found in being a child of God rooted in him, for every child of God has been given power and victory over the world (1 John 5:4-5). You therefore have to be strong and root yourself in Christ so that him in you may be greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4) and give you dominion over every evil. This requires a constant work of mortification and prayer, beating flesh constantly and putting ourselves under check (1 Corinthians 9:24) so that nothing will separate us from Christ who is the source of our victory.

May our Good Lord fortify us and give us victory over evil always.

In Corda Matris.

Resolutions

I resolve to keep my eyes fixed on Christ.
I resolve to control my bodily desires as much as I can.
I resolve to join Christ in the battle against evil.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank you for giving me victory over the forces of evil and the powers of darkness in this world. Thank you for giving me the grace to share in your power and to join in the fight against evil. Help me to be strong and stand firm and to fight and resist the seductions of the evil one. May your graces always be with me and give me victory always.

Amen.