SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 133
STARTS THURSDAY 12th AUGUST 2010
THE FRUITS OF “MARIAN HOLINESS OF LIFE”
Weekly message No. 128 (7th August 1986).
8. Overcoming the power of Satan by prayer.
“Dear children! You know that I promised you an oasis of peace, but you don’t know that beside an oasis stands the desert, where Satan is lurking and wanting to tempt each one of you. Dear children, only by prayer are you able to overcome every influence of Satan in your place. I am with you, but I cannot take away your freedom. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
Pray for protection every morning this week: “Holy Michael, Archangel …”
Thursday: Salt of the earth, light for the world.
Matthew 5:13-16.
13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. 14You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Friday: “The woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready”
Revelation 12:6.
6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Revelation 12:17.
17Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
Saturday: Keeping sober and alert about Satan’s tactics.
1 Peter 5:8-9.
8Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.
Saturday: Cf. James 4:7.
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Sunday: Putting on the full armour of God.
Ephesians 6:11-13.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Sunday: Cf. Romans 13:14.
14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Luke 21:34-36.
34“But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; 35for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. 36But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.”
Monday: Cf. Luke 22-40.
40And when he came to the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Ephesians 6:18.
18Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
Tuesday: Cf. Jude 1:20.
20But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 17 (16):8-14.
8Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of thy wings, 9from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me. 10They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 11They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. 12They are like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. 13Arise, O LORD! Confront them, overthrow them! Deliver my life from the wicked by thy sword, 14from men by thy hand, O LORD, from men whose portion in life is of the world. May their belly be filled with what thou hast stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their babes.
Saint Michael’s Prayer for Protection.
“Holy Michael, Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust down to hell Satan, and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.”