Lent is imitating Jesus as He fasted forty days in the desert. Here Jesus defeated Satan by overcoming his temptations. During this Lent, we too should be overcoming Satan's temptations. Furthermore, by repentance and healing, we can be totally freed from any demonic manipulation or influences in our lives. Then we can attack Satan and drive him out of those around us (see Lk 11:14). We can disarm and despoil him (Lk 11:22). Finally, we can destroy Satan's strongholds in our society and world (2 Cor 10:4).
Every day of Lent should mark another catastrophe for Satan. Systems he has painstakingly developed for generations and centuries will be destroyed within a few hours. Satan will be furious as he sees thousands of his demons vanquished by weak human beings empowered by the very Spirit of God.
Understandably, Satan dreads Lent. It brings back memories of the "bad old days" when he was definitively defeated by Jesus Christ. Lent is not only a time for "refreshing" Satan's memory, but also an opportunity to give him new memories of defeat at the praying hands of Jesus' disciples. This Lent, "quickly crush Satan" under your feet (Rm 16:20).
| PRAYER: | Father, give me a good, old-fashioned, Satan-stomping Lent. |
| PROMISE: | "Jesus was casting out a devil which was mute, and when the devil was cast out the dumb man spoke." –Lk 11:14 |
| PRAISE: | When Robert remembers how Jesus set him free from his addiction, he cannot help but tell others (Acts 4:20). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College