Living FRESH Daily

We are almost two weeks into a new year and those New Year’s resolutions have already been challenged. But that is okay. That is life and things happen, good things, wonderful things, and unfortunately, some not so wonderful things. Why do our plans change? Because the devil is real and is always on the prowl.

Fortunately, God is ALWAYS with us so we have the power to tell the devil to flea at any time. James 4:7 instructs us to submit ourselves to God. Resist the devil and he must flee from you. And the cool thing about that power and charge is that the devil must flea in the name of Jesus!

Using this power is great, but there are other things that we can do to focus ourselves toward serving Christ daily and reflecting His love. Let me share a little about Teresa of Avila. Teresa was born in March 1515. She was a Spanish nun and one of the great religious women of the Roman Catholic Church. She authored many writings about how to improve the intimate relationship with God. She developed a love for deep, intentional prayer. She understood that people lived in a state between a worldly spirit and a divine spirit. And that empowered her to learn more about prayer.

Teresa of Avila had a very intimate prayer life with God. If you have ever wondered if prayers get to Heaven, her story is profound and answers any doubt. Her prayers and spiritual life were so intense that people thought she was mystic because she defeated demons by tossing holy water on them.

As a young girl Teresa knew about God but when her mother died, her foundational faith was shaken to its core. Her rebellious spirit led her father to send her to a convent school. She learned the convent life and became extremely focused spiritually, living in commune with God.

However, when Teresa was eighteen, she decided to join a convent in Avila, against her father’s will. The new convent was very relaxed and unfortunately, more social than spiritual. Even though Teresa was extraordinarily successful socially, her spirit was now severely compromised. For 20 years, Teresa said she lived a lukewarm, religious life. And that deeply troubled her soul. Trying to get back to her strong spiritual roots was difficult. She lost her spiritual inspiration and she began to suffer illnesses, to the point that her friends began preparing for her funeral.

But God had different plans! After coming out of a coma, Teresa began to read seriously and studied the confessions of Saint Augustine. His readings resonated with her struggle with worldliness. As she studied, she became more aware of visions and supernatural experiences, drawing her closer to God. She realized that those who draw closer to God will face opposition from dark, spiritual forces. In I Peter 5:8-9 commands us to be sober-minded and watchful because the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour. We are to resist the devil and stand firm in our faith. Shortly thereafter, she experienced her second conversion and she intimately reconnected with God’s presence. At that point, the devil went into overdrive, stressing her to a point where she would visibly cast the devil away in the mighty name of Jesus. The closer she got to God, the harder the devil tried. But being rooted in God’s teachings, she was able to defeat the devil, even if she had to do that daily.

Her method of intense praying led her (and others) to successfully learn how to face worldly struggles. She helped assist in the reformation of the Catholic Church by founding multiple convents. What was one of her most popular prayers, one that she prayed daily? I am glad you asked! The prayer below guided her day as she continued to draw closer to God.

Teresa of Avila believed that a true union with God allowed her to help others and lead them to Him. Her story teaches us that prayer is POWERFUL and spiritual combat against principalities of the dark are real. Refocus your calling and stand fresh every morning with the prayer of Teresa of Avila.

“He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”  Psalm 23:3

Breath of Life by Holy Spirt Music

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