C
contemplative
Guest
I’m a little more sensitive to temptation at this moment and was wondering what others do to resist temptation.
Do you feel that B-B-B-B-bad bone within? So what do you do when tempted to sin?
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T
TOP
Guest
I slow down , take a few breaths and recite the Our Father… usaully over and over mentally. Also I think about the times the Lord has been close in my life. Tim
S
scapularkid8
Guest
WEAR A BROWN SCAPULAR!!! Since I have begun to wear my Scapular, it has been soooo much easier to not sin. There’s even a part of the enrollment ritual where the priest says “… we beseech Her to crush the head of the ancient serpent so that you may enter into possession of your eternal heritage through Christ Our Lord…” Every time I want to sin that image pops into my head of Mary stepping on the snake’s head and handing me a Scapular. This works for me…maybe it’ll help you? 
F
Flopfoot
Guest
Actually, I don’t feel a bad bone. Either I don’t get tempted much (unlikely), get tempted and just refuse it unconsciously (perhaps a little more likely), or else get tempted and just go ahead with the sin without consciously realising that I’m sinning (ulp).
Actually, I guess there are a couple of examples I could think of. When I’m driving and notice I’m going over the speed limit… sometimes I slow down, sometimes I don’t. But I’m getting better I think - each time I make myself slow down it gets easier for next time. That’s one thing that I guess helps - give it everything you’ve got, to refuse the temptation just one time, and next time it will be easier to refuse.
Another thing, a long time ago I was tempted to a grave sin. I took some time (half hour) to pray about it. Basically with grave matters it is a won fight as soon as you start praying because it means you are acknowleding that you have choices, to sin or not to sin an also, you are acknowledging that what God thinks is important to you. From then on it just takes some time, to talk things over with God and work out a better way to deal with the situation than giving in to the sin.
Actually, I guess there are a couple of examples I could think of. When I’m driving and notice I’m going over the speed limit… sometimes I slow down, sometimes I don’t. But I’m getting better I think - each time I make myself slow down it gets easier for next time. That’s one thing that I guess helps - give it everything you’ve got, to refuse the temptation just one time, and next time it will be easier to refuse.
Another thing, a long time ago I was tempted to a grave sin. I took some time (half hour) to pray about it. Basically with grave matters it is a won fight as soon as you start praying because it means you are acknowleding that you have choices, to sin or not to sin an also, you are acknowledging that what God thinks is important to you. From then on it just takes some time, to talk things over with God and work out a better way to deal with the situation than giving in to the sin.
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AlanFromWichita
Guest
I found that I was unable to control my thoughts by brute force, therefore I had to change the way I think about my thoughts.
Now when I get into temptation, I try to remain completely calm and not let my “emotion center” go to work with a bunch of scripts. One of the things I have had to do for my own journey was to learn how to allow negative thoughts to come and go without my adding energy to them by fearing them.
One of the ways of doing this is to stop judging my own motives. That took a long time, but one way that I have been haunted throughout my illness is through presumption of my own motives. Satan probably knew that eventually it was a losing battle to convince me that I was incapable of doing anything productive like other people, as I had no doubt in my own capabilities. What was a much more difficult war to wage was to keep me in constant anxiety over whether my motives were pure at any given time.
What I did was, I had to discover, define, and then apply my own idea of what “faith” is. I have enough faith now that I no longer question whether I am doing something (whether somewhat “mischievous” or something mainstream) for good motives. I still have a ways to go on when I don’t get something done – my form of temptation involves procrastination – but at least in the active things I do I am pretty much over it. It seems that whenever I question myself or “why did I do that” I no longer think, “well maybe I’m not just an ignorant fool,” (I am maybe but not pathologically) or, “boy was I just trying to show off?”
What I found is that whatever spirits are within me are bound to show themselves as I face verbal intercourse with other people, and through body language when in person. I am so transparent in terms of telegraphing when I have “negative energy” consciously on my mind that I have learned to cancel the negative energy because I can’t hide it. This is working really well.
One of the more unconventionaly ways to cancel the negative energy was by outsmarting it by overdoing it. For example, when tempted to do something subtle and sinister such as harboring anger toward another Catholic I might not know too well, when I get the temptation I exaggerate it and make a fool of it. I also do this openly so that I may “draw out” the bbbad bone from others. For example, on another thread we were discussing a particular orthodox bishop. I wrote, using negative language, “I suppose hanging him by his thumbs is out of the question.” Funny thing is that kind of stuff seems to shut down threads.
Really, though, I didn’t used to make such comments but I used to be troubled with thinking much less radical ideas. The idea is that we all want to see punishment, but nobody wants to see him tortured. If I equate through juxtaposition a more horrible sin than the one I’m actually tempted to commit, then the actual sin runs in fear and the exaggerated one is either a nudge toward humor (which I believe helps people learn across boundaries) or a way to “get the cards out on the table” and challenge myself or others as to just what exact sort of evil should be done.
It’s like a one-upmanship battle. During the past five years as I am still recovering from a severe period of bipolar illness, I was plagued with horrible thoughts at the most inappropriate times. Some of them happened during Mass. They involved other people, and the most bizarre things imagineable – most of which I couldn’t even speak of because they were so powerful. What I had to do is quit judging those thoughts, quit fearing, keep my eyes focused on my work (coming in at the right time to play music) and eventually relegate those thoughts to the heap of trivia.
Another thing I’ve found is that subtle temptations are much more likely to catch me than blatant ones. It seems like this is the teaching of Christ about when one demon gets chased out it find a half dozen or so “friends” and they all come back. To me, that sounds like every time I have a breakthrough where there is yet another thing I don’t fear (often my fear is an angry or inappropriate reaction to something) then something more subtle and seemingly petty comes up, and I end up getting riled – not for long but for sure – and then discovering that once I get over a big issue, several smaller ones suddenly become the big ones, and so it isn’t enough to “do away” with evil because it will come back from more directions, and better disguised. I had to actually “cancel it out” using some techniques I outlined above.
Some would not like the thoughts that I have learned to allow myself to think. I have even engaged – at first with much reservation – at watching things on TV for example that have offensive content for me. Now it’s to the point where I can focus among distractions pretty well if I want to.
This is not a very good explanation, but it’s my first shot at putting some of these ideas and feelings into words.
Gosh more to say but I have to go for a bit…
Alan
Now when I get into temptation, I try to remain completely calm and not let my “emotion center” go to work with a bunch of scripts. One of the things I have had to do for my own journey was to learn how to allow negative thoughts to come and go without my adding energy to them by fearing them.
One of the ways of doing this is to stop judging my own motives. That took a long time, but one way that I have been haunted throughout my illness is through presumption of my own motives. Satan probably knew that eventually it was a losing battle to convince me that I was incapable of doing anything productive like other people, as I had no doubt in my own capabilities. What was a much more difficult war to wage was to keep me in constant anxiety over whether my motives were pure at any given time.
What I did was, I had to discover, define, and then apply my own idea of what “faith” is. I have enough faith now that I no longer question whether I am doing something (whether somewhat “mischievous” or something mainstream) for good motives. I still have a ways to go on when I don’t get something done – my form of temptation involves procrastination – but at least in the active things I do I am pretty much over it. It seems that whenever I question myself or “why did I do that” I no longer think, “well maybe I’m not just an ignorant fool,” (I am maybe but not pathologically) or, “boy was I just trying to show off?”
What I found is that whatever spirits are within me are bound to show themselves as I face verbal intercourse with other people, and through body language when in person. I am so transparent in terms of telegraphing when I have “negative energy” consciously on my mind that I have learned to cancel the negative energy because I can’t hide it. This is working really well.
One of the more unconventionaly ways to cancel the negative energy was by outsmarting it by overdoing it. For example, when tempted to do something subtle and sinister such as harboring anger toward another Catholic I might not know too well, when I get the temptation I exaggerate it and make a fool of it. I also do this openly so that I may “draw out” the bbbad bone from others. For example, on another thread we were discussing a particular orthodox bishop. I wrote, using negative language, “I suppose hanging him by his thumbs is out of the question.” Funny thing is that kind of stuff seems to shut down threads.
Really, though, I didn’t used to make such comments but I used to be troubled with thinking much less radical ideas. The idea is that we all want to see punishment, but nobody wants to see him tortured. If I equate through juxtaposition a more horrible sin than the one I’m actually tempted to commit, then the actual sin runs in fear and the exaggerated one is either a nudge toward humor (which I believe helps people learn across boundaries) or a way to “get the cards out on the table” and challenge myself or others as to just what exact sort of evil should be done.It’s like a one-upmanship battle. During the past five years as I am still recovering from a severe period of bipolar illness, I was plagued with horrible thoughts at the most inappropriate times. Some of them happened during Mass. They involved other people, and the most bizarre things imagineable – most of which I couldn’t even speak of because they were so powerful. What I had to do is quit judging those thoughts, quit fearing, keep my eyes focused on my work (coming in at the right time to play music) and eventually relegate those thoughts to the heap of trivia.
Another thing I’ve found is that subtle temptations are much more likely to catch me than blatant ones. It seems like this is the teaching of Christ about when one demon gets chased out it find a half dozen or so “friends” and they all come back. To me, that sounds like every time I have a breakthrough where there is yet another thing I don’t fear (often my fear is an angry or inappropriate reaction to something) then something more subtle and seemingly petty comes up, and I end up getting riled – not for long but for sure – and then discovering that once I get over a big issue, several smaller ones suddenly become the big ones, and so it isn’t enough to “do away” with evil because it will come back from more directions, and better disguised. I had to actually “cancel it out” using some techniques I outlined above.
Some would not like the thoughts that I have learned to allow myself to think. I have even engaged – at first with much reservation – at watching things on TV for example that have offensive content for me. Now it’s to the point where I can focus among distractions pretty well if I want to.
This is not a very good explanation, but it’s my first shot at putting some of these ideas and feelings into words.
Gosh more to say but I have to go for a bit…
Alan
L
LilyM
Guest
I’m glad with that poll you can choose more than one option. I don’t really have just one set thing that I do.
I may just slowly repeat the name of Jesus a few (or a few dozen) times calling on him for help, if it’s serious and urgent. His name is quite a powerful prayer in itself. I may call on Our Lady and/or the angels and saints -especially St Jude!)
I may just slowly repeat the name of Jesus a few (or a few dozen) times calling on him for help, if it’s serious and urgent. His name is quite a powerful prayer in itself. I may call on Our Lady and/or the angels and saints -especially St Jude!)
C
contemplative
Guest
Thank you to all for sharing.
I also found this…
**10 Rules to Resist Temptation
******Sept 18, 2004
Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, 66, [then] the archbishop of Genoa has published 10 rules on how to resist Satan’s temptations. Cardinal Tettamanzi dedicated his lenten letter to combating the fascination of a devil who is charming, shrewd and very real.
(5 March 2001) Those who follow his 10-step programme are promised the ability to rebuff offers of forbidden fruit, unlike Adam and Eve.
First rule: “Do not forget that the devil exists.”
Rule two: “Do not forget that the devil is a tempter.”
Rule three: “Do not forget that the devil is very intelligent and astute.”
Cardinal Tettamanzi urges permanent watchfulness. “Be vigilant in the eyes and the heart. Be strong in spirit and virtue.”
Another five rules recommend tireless prayer, adoring God, listening to His words, remembering Christ’s victory over temptation and man’s sharing in that victory.
Obeying the tenth rule, though, should seal the devil’s defeat: “Be humble and love mortification.”
I also found this…
**10 Rules to Resist Temptation
******Sept 18, 2004
Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, 66, [then] the archbishop of Genoa has published 10 rules on how to resist Satan’s temptations. Cardinal Tettamanzi dedicated his lenten letter to combating the fascination of a devil who is charming, shrewd and very real.
(5 March 2001) Those who follow his 10-step programme are promised the ability to rebuff offers of forbidden fruit, unlike Adam and Eve.
First rule: “Do not forget that the devil exists.”
Rule two: “Do not forget that the devil is a tempter.”
Rule three: “Do not forget that the devil is very intelligent and astute.”
Cardinal Tettamanzi urges permanent watchfulness. “Be vigilant in the eyes and the heart. Be strong in spirit and virtue.”
Another five rules recommend tireless prayer, adoring God, listening to His words, remembering Christ’s victory over temptation and man’s sharing in that victory.
Obeying the tenth rule, though, should seal the devil’s defeat: “Be humble and love mortification.”
M
Michael038
Guest
Say the Divine Mercy chaplet twice per day, and a St. Michael chaplet once along with twenty decades of the rosary. Oh and attend daily Mass whenever possible. wear a scapular, and a St. Benedict Crucifix.
T
Toni
Guest
Sometimes I don’t even catch it till I am already cooking in the stew. Sometimes I see it coming and yell out to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I run to the chapel and pray hail Mary’s like a mad woman. Generally though I act to quickly and usually fall in and once the oven gets hot I start yelling.:banghead: And of course talk to myself all night about it.
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