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TODAY’S WORD…

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Be calm and vigilant,

because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion,

looking for someone to eat.

Stand up to him, strong in faith.

– 1 Peter 5:8-9

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REFLECTION…

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We are urged to be sober and clear-headed

– it puts us on guard against the evil one.

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There is always need to be watchful

against the assaults of the devil – the liar, the detractor –

who will pounce on us if we lower our guard.

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We should use what we have – our possessions, our achievements –

in a balanced and self-controlled manner,

so as to avoid being ensnared by them,

thereby forgetting our eternal destiny – the glory which we have been promised.

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If we are “strong in faith”

we will resist the attacks of the devil.

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We adhere to our Christian principles

– if we truly love God above all, above ourselves,

and above everything else.

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QUOTE…

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“He (the devil) moves round each one of us,

like an enemy who has us surrounded

and is checking the walls

to see if there is some weak, unsecured part, where he can get in.”

– St. Cyprian

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A PRAYER FOR STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS…

…by St. Ephrem of Syria

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Thank you, Almighty Father,

for sending Jesus to break Satan’s stranglehold over us.

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Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, You have power over life and death.

You know even things that are uncertain and obscure,

and my very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from You.

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Cleanse me from my secret faults

– I have done wrong and You saw it.

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You know how weak I am, both in soul and in body.

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Give me strength, O Lord, in my weakness

and sustain me in my sufferings.

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Grant me a prudent judgement, dear Lord,

and let me always be mindful of Your blessings.

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Let me retain, until the end, Your loving and protecting grace.

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Amen.

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