Satans temptations

[thirddec]

Does satans tricks know no bounds. The most recent temptation I seem to be having is related to praying for things. Not silly things but for people suffering family break ups; personal losses ; crises of faith etc and when I try to do that I get how can you pray for trifles like that when there is abortion ; wars ; famines etc so then you think well what should I pray for. In the end last night as I offered up the Rosary I had to leave It to Mary in her wisdom to give my prayers to the cause she frlt most appropriate.

Even now I dont know whats going on with this new set of thoughts.

Any ideas and helps appreciated

 

[Barbkw]

Not silly things but for people suffering family break ups; personal losses ; crises of faith etc and when I try to do that I get how can you pray for trifles like that when there is abortion ; wars ; famines

Abortion, wars, famines are often times caused by family breakups, personal losses, and crises of faith in God and people. Small failures that enlarge and encompass many - failures to connect.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Does satans tricks know no bounds. The most recent temptation I seem to be having is related to praying for things. Not silly things but for people suffering family break ups; personal losses ; crises of faith etc and when I try to do that I get how can you pray for trifles like that when there is abortion ; wars ; famines etc so then you think well what should I pray for. In the end last night as I offered up the Rosary I had to leave It to Mary in her wisdom to give my prayers to the cause she frlt most appropriate.

Even now I dont know whats going on with this new set of thoughts.

Any ideas and helps appreciated

If the God who created you even knows the number of hairs on your head, as is written in Scripture, how can anything be too small to pray for? We should bring everything, and I mean everything to the Lord. There is nothing too big or too small for God. Satan does not want us to have that kind of dependence on the Lord.

In any case, God already knows. He knows what you are praying for, and what you want to pray for. No point in trying to hide it. Pray for it.

 

[jonathanjlinn]

Depends on the context. Do his tricks know no bounds? Generally it seems he has to pair his temptations with some sort of logical basis or else we won’t listen. The trick is to see where the temptation is heading. St. Ignatius talks lots about how to discern “spirits” i.e. thoughts or revelations. The idea is that the devil cloaks himself as an angel of light and will many times show himself as something good and may even tempt you with a slight spiritual truth, or at least something that feels contemplative and good. After planting a thought he will then use it accomplish his own means. I.e. Our sinful human nature will make us infatuated with the thought and will lead us to act on newer thoughts with goals of leading us away from God. Example that I felt tempted with a year or so ago.

1. You must be pure of heart (true)
2. You must be accepting of all actions to be pure of heart (lie)
3. You must partake in these actions to be accepting of them (lie)
   thus
4. You want to be good right?
5. You have to accept sin as acceptable to be pure; because if not, you are judging, and only God can do that.
6. You must sin to show that you accept sin and are not judgemental so that you will be pure and thus good.

• the actions being things like drugs or getting drunk. Both are sin, and although we must always love the sinner, we should always hate the sin.

Advice: Don’t stop praying for what you were praying for. When in doubt pray for what you should pray for. Praying for those who suffer is always commendable, especially through the Rosary (Which the devil hates more than most prayers). If the idea goes away without you acting on it odds have it that it was a lie. The reason being that when a temptation fails the devil will need to try a new one, and rather quickly because he knows his time is limited. God’s will is constant, but our ability to hear it changes. Remember that the saints always talked about the importance of small acts of love and charity. In your case I could see that the devil wants you to forget about the personal problems of the friends in exchange for larger problems that you will see no improvements on in the short run. This could make you think your prayers are going unanswered which could lead to a lack of faith. Besides, praying for those who you know, or even better, those who you know that you do not necessarily 'like" shows love for neighbor and love for enemy respectively.

 

[odile53]

When the intrusive thoughts come about the “really big” problems, add 'em to your list! Then go on and pray for what your original intentions were. I’m betting that would drive Satan a little batty!

There is no limit as to the number of intentions you could be praying for simultaneously. Prayer isn’t like your checking account balance. An intention isn’t like a check that you write against that balance. It’s more like a flame: You can light another candle off the flame of one candle, and the second candle doesn’t diminish the flame of the first candle.

When we’re moved by compassion and love towards all of humanity, I believe that is called a spirit of magnaminity. That is a great gift from the Holy Spirit. So keep praying for the more personal intentions, and add the more global ones to your prayer intentions. You can add all that you like, as you think of them. God will get the message.

Satan is just harassing you to get you to think otherwise and give up prayer in frustration. Don’t give him the satisfaction!

 

[thirddec]

cheers ; very helpfull even answered another question I was having ; how many intentions should I apply just 1 or any i’m aware off

 

[ishii]

cheers ; very helpfull even answered another question I was having ; how many intentions should I apply just 1 or any i’m aware off

I have a booklet that I use for making a holy hour - it says that the more favors I ask of the Lord the better. I, too, get caught up in the human tendency to think there is some “limit” to what we can petition the Lord for. The more favors we ask, the more petitions we have, the better. I wish I could find the booklet to quote it (it explains it better than I can).

Ishii

 

[marica_mandic]

Does satans tricks know no bounds. The most recent temptation I seem to be having is related to praying for things. Not silly things but for people suffering family break ups; personal losses ; crises of faith etc and when I try to do that I get how can you pray for trifles like that when there is abortion ; wars ; famines etc so then you think well what should I pray for. In the end last night as I offered up the Rosary I had to leave It to Mary in her wisdom to give my prayers to the cause she frlt most appropriate.

Even now I dont know whats going on with this new set of thoughts.

Any ideas and helps appreciated

I know that devil have much agains family.
He want to destroy family.
Devil wants that people have faith also.

 

[crystal_waters]

Does satans tricks know no bounds. The most recent temptation I seem to be having is related to praying for things. Not silly things but for people suffering family break ups; personal losses ; crises of faith etc and when I try to do that I get how can you pray for trifles like that when there is abortion ; wars ; famines etc so then you think well what should I pray for. In the end last night as I offered up the Rosary I had to leave It to Mary in her wisdom to give my prayers to the cause she frlt most appropriate.

Even now I dont know whats going on with this new set of thoughts.

Any ideas and helps appreciated

praying for any intention is not silly…praying for wars or abortion is not silly…your prayer might change some womans mind so that she keeps the baby…or your prayer might save some familys life who are living in a warzone…when in heaven you will be surprised to learn just how much even the tiniest prayer has done

 

[Humility101]

praying for any intention is not silly…praying for wars or abortion is not silly…your prayer might change some womans mind so that she keeps the baby…or your prayer might save some familys life who are living in a warzone…when in heaven you will be surprised to learn just how much even the tiniest prayer has done

I like to think that also. It warms my heart to know that even the tiniest prayer might help someone make the correct choice in life, or even save their soul. I appreciate all responses on this thread because they have helped me as well. I have struggled with the number of prayer intentions as well. It is grand to know that there are NO Limits to prayer intentions. Works rather well for me when reciting the Rosary prayers.

May God bless you all.
~Rae

 

[thirddec]

praying for any intention is not silly…praying for wars or abortion is not silly…your prayer might change some womans mind so that she keeps the baby…or your prayer might save some familys life who are living in a warzone…when in heaven you will be surprised to learn just how much even the tiniest prayer has done

you missunderstand I was saying they were not silly but I was being pushed to think there were bigger more important issues.