Mansions of the Heart by R. Thomas Ashbrook

Author:R. Thomas Ashbrook [Ashbrook, R. Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781506454863
Publisher: Fortress Press
Published: 2019-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

“Schemes of the Enemy” to Try to Destroy Our Growth in God

John and Teresa both teach that God allows increased attacks against us as “diagnostics” of needed healing and growth. Teresa says that self-love is a real danger. The tactic of the enemy is that “little by little he darkens the intellect, cools the will’s ardor, and makes self-love grow until in one way or another he withdraws the soul from the will of God and brings it to his own.”[7]

Discouragement can be one of the greatest strategies of the enemy during the fifth mansion, with attempts to convince the believer that there is no real progress and that any Dark Night experience is, in fact, regression. The enemy can also evoke ridicule from other believers who are not aflame with love for God and do not understand either the passion or the pain associated with the fifth mansion.

The devil even attempts to use our deepening compassion for others against us. During prayer, the enemy will still attempt to distract us with thoughts of tasks to be done and the needs of others, trying to prevent times of true stillness with God. Teresa says, “Great are the wiles of the devil; to make us think we have one virtue—when we don’t—he would circle hell a thousand times . . . it is in the imagination that the devil produces his wiles and deceits.”[8]

But about the times of true union with God in prayer, Teresa says, “And I would dare say that if the prayer is truly that of union with God the devil cannot even enter or do any damage. His Majesty is so joined and united with the essence of the soul that the devil will not dare approach nor will even know about this secret.”[9]

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.