Battling the Evil Spirits

About Bishop St. Theophane the Recluse

September 20 (October 3)

Eph. 5:25-33, Lk. 4:1-15

The devil is tempting even the God-Man [Lk. 4:1-13]: who among us can be free from that temptation? Only those who are completely obedient to devil’s will: rather than assailing such souls, he simply directs them, driving them from evil to a greater and greater evil.

But whenever someone appears to be coming to his senses and contemplates a new beginning, new life with God according to His will, then the entire dominion of Satan is on alert: all evil spirits are stirred up to thwart our good intentions. If they cannot stop us at the very beginning, they try to pull us back from sincere repentance and confession; failing that, they sow sinister weeds amongst the fruits of repentance and purification of the heart: unable to implant evil, they try to spoil anything good they find inside us; beaten back inside, they keep pounding us from the outside, and so on and so forth, until our last breath. Even after death they torment us, pursuing the departed soul until it safely passes through the aerial realm where they hover, setting up roadblocks on the way to the Heavens.

“Isn’t it the most hopeless, horrible picture of life?" — No, it is not. The evil spirits have no power over the believer; they only make noise around him. They are wary of his sober prayers which hurt them like sharp arrows, and prudently stay at a distance. But should we falter in any way, should we relax just a little, get in touch with their deceptive imagery, — they immediately come closer and attack us with greater severity. Finding little resistance, they can take over the entire soul, — but if we fight back, they retreat again and watch from afar off, waiting for another opportunity...

Be. therefore, watchful and vigilant, stay on guard and pray, and the enemy will have no power to harm you.

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