The following event happened on Saturday night, just after my family had participated in the majestic Tridentine Holy Mass. This is what took place just before: A Very Special "Thank You" From Jesus
My daughter had been invited to a sleepover birthday party that night, and I drove Alyssa to her friend's home after Holy Mass. I accompanied her to the door of the beautiful home, which was well lit inside and illuminated even more by the sounds of euphoric middle school girls. After wishing her friend a happy birthday and kissing Alyssa goodbye, I departed.
As soon as the children had closed the front door of the house and I turned to depart, the devil launched an all out assault. He was not allowed to attack me physically, but he came at me hard, had given the assault careful consideration, and his strategy was to take me by surprise.
"If only YOU had followed me, you could have had ALL THIS, too!" he said. "You gave ALL THIS up! You could have had a big, beautiful home. ALL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN YOURS, AND MORE."
It was a horrible, horrible moment.
What made it so horrible? In that moment I understood clearly how the devil cons mankind into valuing material things over our relationship with God, and over the eternal salvation of our souls!
I realized what would have happened to me if I had chosen to worship the devil, the flesh, and the world in order to obtain a large, beautiful house, status in the eyes of men, and many material possessions. What that would have meant for my soul was truly unthinkable.
It was so unthinkable that just a mere glimpse of this possibility, which is a reality for so many precious, immortal souls, caused me such tremendous sorrow I started to cry.
"Jesus," I said out loud as I pulled out of the driveway, "I chose You instead. I made the right choice, and I will always choose You instead."
The devil retreated.
Then, Jesus began speaking. He had been there all along. He said, "For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26).
My sweet and gentle Jesus, I give myself entirely to You, and promise to love and honor You, all the days of my life.
I just love working with You (smile).
The four part Spiritual Warfare Series presenting information you NEED TO KNOW to fight the battles against the devil, AND WIN: "Tired of Being on the Spiritual Defensive Against the Devil? Launch a Spiritual Offensive Instead"
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First two images of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taken during Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Slovak Catholic Church, Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A., in the Archdiocese of Detroit.