How to combat evil thoughts, dreams, and attractions

[Upgrade25]

My mind will broadcast impure dreams, like a horrifying dream last night that I took my decade rosary, holy water, and made the sign of the cross while shouting, “Be Gone, Satan!”

Then it will cast impure thoughts in the day, of normal people. I look away and say a prayer.

Then it will evilly attract me to other people of both sexes, though I am certain that I am not struggling with SSA.

I need advice on how to combat the evils. It’s enough to doubt and have overeating, arrogance, anger, rudeness problems. How do I combat it? I will mention it to Father in the confessional next time I go, but I need advice now.

 

[exnihilo]

Thoughts enter our mind both good and bad. This itself is not sinful. The sin comes in entertaining the thoughts. Ideally you would dismiss the bad thoughts. This to me means acknowledging the thought is there and then actively deciding to let it go.

I used to struggle more with unwelcomed thoughts. I used to mistakenly think that I was responsible for every thought that entered my mind. Thus I was sinning by just having a bad thought enter my mind. When you live like this you actually give the thought more power. While you do need to tend your thoughts you can also develop your skills for ignoring the negative thoughts. But the first step to doing that may not be ignoring the thought but learning to actively dismiss it.

You don’t want to give the thought too much or too little power. The Devil is tricky and he finds success at extremes.

 

[Bookcat]

Dreams are dreams.

One does not seek them or consent to them (and thus not sinful)- but if they happen one simply upon waking calmly turn your mind to some good thing and go about your day. Calmly. Without stressing or worrying…calmly turn to the Lord or even some other good thought.

 

[Bookcat]

I will re-post a post I posted before about general aspects:

All sorts of thoughts can happen to us out of the blue…(not sought etc)

Be they impure etc

The fact that a thought happened to one- does not mean per se there was* any *sin.

And for mortal sin one needs not only grave matter, full knowledge and deliberate (complete) consent…

Just cause a thought happened to you does not mean there was any sin. Let alone mortal sin.

Just* calmly t*urn to something good…

---

Now…

For the next few moments --try real hard NOT to think of an Apple.

then scroll down.

What did you think of?

An apple.

Even though your will was against it -you did not want to think of an apple.

Now back to unwanted thoughts…

The more you fear and try hard not to have them…the more they will likely come and bother you.

The best thing to do with such thoughts is not to fight them directly --not fear that they will come—simply do not consent and simply and calmly turn to something else…(or it may be best to keep doing the good thing one is doing…like they come out of the blue when your at work …keep working…keep praying …etc)

Ignore such unwanted thoughts and do not fear them…just calmly turn to something good.

 

[clem456]

Life is a struggle.
Maybe God is teaching you how to struggle.

Try having gratitude for the struggles you are going through.
Thank God for everything he allows you. You would not have these temptations and dreams if God did not allow it. Absolutely nothing happens without God allowing it and knowing about it.

Why is God allowing this? How will it serve his glory? This struggle will serve his glory. It simply will, whether you come along kicking and screaming, or come along with thankful and patient acceptance.
All this will work to God’s glory, according to his purpose and his design.

Trust him, and be patient. The more you grow in virtue the less tortuous these will become. You are 14, you are not fully formed in virtue.
I’m 55. I’ve personally been through this struggle, over a lifetime. Preoccupation with lust, all day long, how to satisfy it, then how to avoid it, then dreaming about it at night, tortured by dreams, regrets, etc…By the grace of God, my life no longer revolves around that struggle.

In the end, you cannot avoid the cross. Living so as to avoid it will not work. It’s not about avoidance, it’s about giving your life to Christ, -your whole life-, not just the good parts of it. Developing virtue, good habits, reforming your very heart. It takes time and patience and a lot of struggle. There is no easy way out.

But the promise is:
Life gets better when you embrace it. You will find joy and peace.
And contemplate the life of St Augustine, who in the same person was found
1 debauched slavery to lust,
2 and the highest sanctity…
all in the same life.
God’s glory will shine through this struggle you have.

 

[lax16]

My mind will broadcast impure dreams, like a horrifying dream last night that I took my decade rosary, holy water, and made the sign of the cross while shouting, “Be Gone, Satan!”

Then it will cast impure thoughts in the day, of normal people. I look away and say a prayer.

Then it will evilly attract me to other people of both sexes, though I am certain that I am not struggling with SSA.

I need advice on how to combat the evils. It’s enough to doubt and have overeating, arrogance, anger, rudeness problems. How do I combat it? I will mention it to Father in the confessional next time I go, but I need advice now.

St. Padre Pio suffered from this as well. I suggest reading about his life and praying a novena to him for his intercession.

 

[tweedlealice]

My mind will broadcast impure dreams, like a horrifying dream last night that I took my decade rosary, holy water, and made the sign of the cross while shouting, “Be Gone, Satan!”

Then it will cast impure thoughts in the day, of normal people. I look away and say a prayer.

Then it will evilly attract me to other people of both sexes, though I am certain that I am not struggling with SSA.

I need advice on how to combat the evils. It’s enough to doubt and have overeating, arrogance, anger, rudeness problems. How do I combat it? I will mention it to Father in the confessional next time I go, but I need advice now.

Dear Child of God,
God is not the author of fear but of a sound mind.
Do not watch TV or read books of evil content. Do not get involved in the occult. As a teen , there are chemicals in your body throwing your thoughts and behavior off… Proved scientifically by a PET SCAN.
Keep your rosary in your pocket. BLESS YOUR Windows AND Doors before you settle in the night.
Remove all music and comic books from your room that may hold negative content.play Christian music.
Say your prayers. collect scripture verses to strengthen your spirit. Then, sleep peacefully."MY PEACE, I LEAVE YOU. MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. " REST IN HIS EVERLASTING ARMS.
St. Anthony, the wonder worker of miracles in life and death, pray for this sweet child of God. Let him feel God’s power and love Continue these prayers to Jesus, so he may be freed from these negative thoughts.St Bernadette, let him feel your prayers and love.
in Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
:getholy::shamrock2::irish3:

 

[Upgrade25]

Dear Child of God,
God is not the author of fear but of a sound mind.
Do not watch TV or read books of evil content. Do not get involved in the occult. As a teen , there are chemicals in your body throwing your thoughts and behavior off… Proved scientifically by a PET SCAN.
Keep your rosary in your pocket. BLESS YOUR Windows AND Doors before you settle in the night.
Remove all music and comic books from your room that may hold negative content.play Christian music.
Say your prayers. collect scripture verses to strengthen your spirit. Then, sleep peacefully."MY PEACE, I LEAVE YOU. MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. " REST IN HIS EVERLASTING ARMS.
St. Anthony, the wonder worker of miracles in life and death, pray for this sweet child of God. Let him feel God’s power and love Continue these prayers to Jesus, so he may be freed from these negative thoughts.St Bernadette, let him feel your prayers and love.
in Christ’s love
Tweedlealice
:getholy::shamrock2::irish3:

Thanks! How do I bless my windows and doors?

 

[tweedlealice]

My mind will broadcast impure dreams, like a horrifying dream last night that I took my decade rosary, holy water, and made the sign of the cross while shouting, “Be Gone, Satan!”

Then it will cast impure thoughts in the day, of normal people. I look away and say a prayer.

Then it will evilly attract me to other people of both sexes, though I am certain that I am not struggling with SSA.

I need advice on how to combat the evils. It’s enough to doubt and have overeating, arrogance, anger, rudeness problems. How do I combat it? I will mention it to Father in the confessional next time I go, but I need advice now.

Hi,
I ju a t read the note about God allowing your struggles. Paddre Pio would be an interesting read for you. He had struggles. You are so young to have to learn srtruggles. Do thank God for them. God is with you through it all…in Isaiah. I will never forget you my children. I have carved you in the palm of your hands. I will not leave you orphaned. I will not leave you lonely. I will never forget my own.
in Christ’s love
Tweedlealice

 

[Upgrade25]

Hi,
I ju a t read the note about God allowing your struggles. Paddre Pio would be an interesting read for you. He had struggles. You are so young to have to learn srtruggles. Do thank God for them. God is with you through it all…in Isaiah. I will never forget you my children. I have carved you in the palm of your hands. I will not leave you orphaned. I will not leave you lonely. I will never forget my own.
in Christ’s love
Tweedlealice

Thank you . That means a lot to hear.

 

[HelenRose]

My mind will broadcast impure dreams, like a horrifying dream last night that I took my decade rosary, holy water, and made the sign of the cross while shouting, “Be Gone, Satan!”

Then it will cast impure thoughts in the day, of normal people. I look away and say a prayer.

Then it will evilly attract me to other people of both sexes, though I am certain that I am not struggling with SSA.

I need advice on how to combat the evils. It’s enough to doubt and have overeating, arrogance, anger, rudeness problems. How do I combat it? I will mention it to Father in the confessional next time I go, but I need advice now.

I tell me self with laughter. “Boy that was a stupid thought. I won’t even wonder where it came from.”

When I was a girl my brother taught me how to drive. He gave me the best piece of advice. He said that I must not of look at the oncoming cars because if I do I will drive right into them. I need to be aware that they are there but I must concentrate and the road in front of me and the direction I want to go.

I have carried that thought to many areas of my life. You need to be aware that you have a bad thought but don’t dwell on it. Look instead at Christ and His Blessed Mother. The thought is there but will soon pass by like the oncoming traffic. Look at the direction you want to go and let the other thoughts pass you by.