Get Ready To Do Battle

I don’t know a single person who likes to fight. I have personally known some people by their very nature, just seem to be very argumentative. I often wonder why these people are that way or how they became that way in the first place. I don’t think people are born that way rather something (or someone) causes them to feel a need to disagree with others no matter what. The important thing (and sometimes the hardest) for me is to not judge them for being that way.

Everyone has had an argument with someone, or even a fight, maybe not physically, but verbally. Fighting is not enjoyable at all. If there is ANYTHING positive that can come out of fighting, it is that something gets resolved…hopefully. Otherwise there is no point to it at all. So, depending on how you look at it, and depending on the circumstances, fighting can actually serve a purpose. So should we actually look for an opportunity to pick a fight with someone? No, of course not. But under the right circumstances, fighting is justified.


Then there’s the fact that sometimes we have to fight for something we believe in, or we have to fight for someone we love, or we have to fight addictions, or sometimes, we have to fight for a cause.

Another way to look at fighting is in terms of doing battle. We all know that battles are the things that over time win wars, right? I guess in terms of military use, this would apply but not so much in a relationship where having to fight battle after battle, simply ends up creating enemies.

As you can see, there are many aspects when it comes to fighting, or battles. However, there is one kind of battle that is probably the hardest of all to fight, and that is the spiritual battle, the battle for our souls. I have concluded that it comes down to one thing…

…SIN IS A BATTLE. 

Why do I refer to sin as a battle? It’s because, sometimes there are certain things about ourselves that we continually have to battle when it comes to our hearts and our minds (which by the way, is where all sin originates). For example, do you find yourself constantly judging others around you, either the ones you know or don’t even know? Do you find that more and more you tend to skip going to Mass on Sunday, or worse, have stopped going altogether and then convincing yourself that it’s OK? Do you question the teachings of the Catholic Church and justify the things YOU believe, simply because “it’s just easier that way?” Are you constantly taking the Lord’s name carelessly or uselessly? Do you break any oaths or any vows on a regular basis? The questions go on and on.

It seems like sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we seem to do the same things over and over and over again to the point where it becomes a continuous battle in our daily lives. As distressing as that sounds, there’s one important thing to remember, and that is that, to God it doesn’t matter how often we do the same thing wrong. What matters is that we also not only repent for those sins (obviously, through confession) and also that we make an honest effort to change those things. We need to look at our lives and see the things that are wrong or sinful, and the things that we know offend God, and honestly TRY to overcome them. Imagine how pleasing that is to Him. After all, He knows we aren’t perfect and we never will be no matter how hard we try. But we still make the effort, we still try to overcome, we still strive to be like Him and follow His commands. Is it easy? No. Is it impossible? No. Is it worth it? 100%, YES.

Here are a couple of suggestions that may help you win your own battle.

• Start each day with a resolve to be the best person you can be and to be the person who god wants you to be. Ask him to help you throughout the day for strength to overcome the battles in your life. 
• Do a daily examination of conscience. Spend a few minutes asking yourself if you are doing the things necessary to win your own battles. 
• Pray to St. Michael the Archangel. He is our guardian against the downfall of our enemies. He is there to protect us and to help us fight our battles. 
• Go to confession more often. This is the sacrament that is designed for this very part of our lives. To seek our Lord’s forgiveness for the things we do EVERY SINGLE DAY that lead us away from Him. 
• Put on the Armor of God. Read Ephesians 6: 10 – 17. (yes, you need to look it up) 

The truth is that when you are doing battle, sometimes you’re going to win, and sometimes you’re going to lose. But most of all, DO NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT!