Satan's snares

We all know that Satan exists. It is inevitable. Where there is good, there too there is bad. Opposites attract. That is a basic rule in physics, but it also is a basic rule in religion. Wherever God has placed HIS hand, Satan is going to attack. Wherever Satan has placed HIS stronghold, God is going to persevere. Where there is darkness, so there too shall be light.
Satan, who's name literally means adversary, just loves to make us sin and not do God's will. Sometimes this sin is through omission. When we sin through omission, we don't do anything. Have you ever made up your mind to go to mass or say a rosary and then only to have a billion things fall into your lap? You had the intention of going to mass or saying the rosary, but you didn't. Now most people do not think of this as a sin (some do). Regardless of whether its a sin or not, we did not do God's will. HE wants us to say our prayers and enjoy HIM in Mass. HE wants us to draw closer to HIM. When we listen to Satan and don't keep our focus on good, we don't please God. We may be doing amazing things in the world, but not focusing our energies on God. Satan wins.
Satan attacks us through things that aren't good but not bad either. How many times have you heard a baby cry during Mass?? I'm sure you've heard that plenty of times, unless you go to the really early morning masses. There is nothing wrong in a baby's cry, however, Satan can have it happen at that precise moment in time to distract us from focusing on God. Have you ever had your phone go off during prayer? Its the same thing. The person who calls has done nothing wrong, but Satan uses it to distract us from God.
Satan also does more dastardly things. Padre Pio talks about Satan taking the shape of those we love, in order to tempt us and discourage us from God. Things that would appear perfectly normal and sound, except for them pulling us away from God. Satan used to smear letters Padre Pio was to receive, until God showed him a way around that snare. Satan does annoying things, like having us lock our keys in the car before Mass. That way we have to wait and get our car opened and not attend Mass. That sneaky sneaky snake!!!
Satan also causes us to turn away from God through our actions. These sins are those that we voluntarily commit. They bring hurt to us or others that we love. If we yell at our loved ones in anger, we are turning our backs on God's commandment to love others. We are letting Satan rule our actions, not God. We are not living the Christian ideal. How many times do we sin? How many times do we willingly turn our backs on the Lord? How many? I know that I personally am a sinner. I have turned my back on God countless times in my life. Each and everyone of us are sinners. We all turn our backs on God at some point in our life. It may be rarely or it may be every few minutes. A lot of that has to do with our spiritual maturity, where we are in our journey of faith.
When you are struggling with temptation and sin, there are some great helpers out there. We all have Guardian Angels. They desire nothing more than for us to find God and love God. They are there to help us and guide us on the path of life. The Saints are great helpers in our struggles. They motivate us by their lives and they intercede for us before the Throne of God. Look at their lives. Look at what they have gone through. Look at how much they loved God and HE loved them back. It is the same with all of us. We all are loved by God and HE wants us to all be safe and in HIS loving embrace. It is our decision to find ourselves in that embrace. Look at Mary. Jesus' mother was so pure and loved. She was a poor maiden, chosen to be the Lord's mother. If God can do that to her, why can't HE do amazing things in our own lives? HE can! We just have to turn to HIM. We have to let HIM take control. We have to LISTEN to God!! Do we truly want to turn from Satan and his “glamorous” ways? Do we want to struggle in life? Are we ready to let another lead us down the road of life?