Perfect Love
God is love. Perfect love.
Love is a great tool in our spiritual arsenal. If the attack is fear, we know that perfect love casts out fear. If the attack is discouragement, we know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love Him. If the attack is temptation, we know that God is faithful and won't let us be tempted beyond our ability, because He loves us.
Do The Right Thing
Virtue is a huge topic. It could fill volumes of books, and still there would be more to say. My goal here, which is a bit more manageable, is to focus on how virtue helps us fight the spiritual battle.
Let's start with a definition. Virtue is a consistent disposition of character that inclines a person to good acts.
In other words, virtue is when we consistently behave in a positive way that is demonstrated through our behavior. We do the right thing.
Pick Me!
Have you ever seen a magic show for kids? When the magician asks for a volunteer, every hand shoots up saying, Pick me! Pick me! They all want to help. They want to be part of the show, part of the magic. They are ready to serve.
It's the same with the communion of saints. This is the one spiritual tool that is always battle-ready without any effort on our part. Too often, though, we don't pick up that tool, and that's a shame, because the prayers of the holy ones are powerful.
Free at Last
Everyone faces spiritual attacks. For some people, they are minor annoyances, like a fly buzzing around your ear. For others, they are chains that bind us, that enslave us. Healing frees us from those chains. But complete healing is not possible without forgiveness. That means that you will continue to face severe spiritual attacks until you forgive others. And that's why forgiveness is a powerful spiritual weapon.
Walk with Me
I am a spiritual director. Some might wonder what that means. It's more than a friend you can talk to about God, although they are someone you can talk to about God. And it isn't someone who tells you what to do—how to live your life, although they will often make suggestions about your spiritual life. It is a place where we can share our spiritual walk with another person who can help us see what God is doing. They can bring clarity to the struggles we face by shining a light on the spiritual side of things.