Guard Your Mind and Heart
IF YOU WERE HERE
July 29, 2020
CLAY IN THE POTTER’S HANDS
July 30, 2020PITIK-BULAG: Guard Your Mind and Heart
The COVID-19 virus is indeed challenging us and our faith in God. As we find ourselves totally helpless and clueless on how to control the dreaded virus, many of us are getting physically tired, emotionally depressed, and spiritually challenged. With so many unprocessed thoughts and feelings entering our minds, plus all those bad news we see in the social media, especially the fake news, we ended up slowly being affected by these barrage of thoughts and information. When evening comes, we are almost exhausted, tired, and confused. Some of us begin to have sleepless nights. And we ask ourselves, “How do we survive this crisis?” In the end, we need to let go of things beyond our control (like when will it end? Where is the cure? How come God is not doing anything about it? What will I do if I get the virus?), and CONCENTRATE ON THINGS UNDER OUR CONTROL – like how to take care of myself, physically, emotionally and spiritually?
We need to remind ourselves that there is a spiritual battle going on here. The COVID-19 crisis is being taken advantage of by the devil to destroy us. OUR MIND IS THE DEVIL’S FAVORITE PLAYGROUND. When our minds are confused and anxious, our hearts follow. The decisions we make every day are important. What lingers in our mind affects our general attitude and outlook in life. It shapes how we manage the day and how we confront the challenges of COVID-19. Thus, Saint Ignatius of Loyola would insist on the importance of the DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS in order to thresh out the varieties of thoughts and information entering our minds. He even proposed that EXAMINATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS or EXAMEN must be done twice a day to help us see the movement of good spirit and bad spirit in our daily activities.
Consider the following points for your prayer and reflection.
1. OUR MIND IS LIKE A NET.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind…” (Matthew 13:47).
From morning till evening, our mind is consciously and unconsciously gathering information and thoughts. It is like a sponge that absorbs anything coming from our five senses. If we are not vigilant about it, it may bring harm to our state of mind and heart. Thus, we are invited to BE MORE VIGILANT IN CHOOSING THOUGHTS AND INFORMATION.
2. IDENTIFY AND THROW NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
“When it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.” (Matthew 13:48).
With our awareness of the evil spirit planting negative thoughts in our mind, and the Holy Spirit gently consoling us with encouraging holy thoughts, it is important for us to know them. Anything that brings confusion, anxiety and fear in our hearts should be thrown away from our minds. It is coming from the evil spirit. Anything that brings joy, peace, and direction in our mind is coming from the good spirit. We need to keep it.
3. VIGILANCE IS THE KEY TO A HEALTHY MIND.
Since the barrage of thoughts and information will always overload our minds, it is highly important for us to be more vigilant in guarding our minds. Beware of the deceits and lies of the bad spirits, hiding as something holy and good, yet cunning and dangerous, ready to devour and destroy our spirit.
4. AN ASSURANCE OF DIVINE ASSISTANCE.
“The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous.” (Matthew 13:49).
The Lord assures us of the divine assistance. Our own effort alone will never be enough to detect the deceits of the evil spirits. We need to beg God to give us the grace of discernment, as well as angels to help us. We need to pray for the deliverance from the fangs of the evil spirit. Thus, pray, pray, and pray means a lot for us, especially in the mids of this pandemic.
Our mental health is important today. Don’t just concentrate on boosting your immune system. Boost your capacity spiritual immune system to protect yourself from emotional attacks coming from all fronts, including evil. God is good, He will always listen to us .. especially if we are asking something that will preserve the state of our minds and hearts.
Everything that enters your five senses affect your heart, so be vigilant. Always protect your heart.
– Pitik-Bulag
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July 30, 2020 – Thursday
