Are You Ready for the Battle?

I recently had the privilege of speaking at a Catholic Men’s conference (Men Under Construction). I began my talk with the reality that we are in a battle. Not a battle of flesh and blood, but a moral and spiritual battle that challenges us every day—in the schools, at work, in social groups and even in our families. And whether we  acknowledge it or not, the safety and souls of our children and grandchildren are prime targets in the battle.

As you take look at the world, it is easy to see the confusion, disharmony and
absurdities that are being sold as truth. What is right and what is wrong are reversed. Truth is debated. What was once foundational—our understanding of life, identity, and purpose—is now questioned or dismissed altogether. Such confusion did not just come about on its own. There is a strategy, and a being, promoting the confusion with the goal of destroying all that God has created as true, good and holy, and preventing us from surviving the battle and not reaching our intended destination.

So, let me ask you the same questions I asked the men at the conference: Are you
ready for the battle? Do you have a battle plan? Do you know the battle plan and are you prepared to use it at a moment’s notice? Are you teaching the plan to those you hold near and dear, and are you preparing them to defend themselves?

From the very beginning, doubt has been the enemy’s first move. In the garden, Satan’s strategy was not a frontal attack. Rather, it began with a seemingly naïve question: “Did God really say…?” That single seed of doubt became the confusion that changed history. And today, Satan begins his strategy with the exact same tactic. “Does life really begin at conception? Is pornography really a sin? Is missing Mass on Sunday really that big of a deal?” And just like with Adam and Eve, the doubt opens the doors for entertaining the doubt a little deeper, one level at a time, until we have lost the truth and begin accepting and even promoting the lies.

Without a solid battle plan, a solid understanding of the plan, and commitment to the plan, we are all vulnerable to the trickery that has become prevalent in our culture.

Do you have a battle plan?
As the moral battle rages and escalates, what battle plan do you embrace, rehearse and activate to protect yourself, your soul, your marriage, and the children and grandchildren entrusted to you?

With His Ten Commandments, and in His infinite wisdom and love, God has given us the perfect battle plan. The Ten Commandments are not outdated rules from a distant past. They are the living, enduring battle plan for every generation. Written by the very hand of God on stone, the Commandments provide clarity of thought, are everlasting, dependable, and profoundly relevant in our daily lives.

But in our upside-down moral culture the Commandments are misunderstood as just a list of outdated restrictive rules imposed on us by a demanding God. With such a negative perception, we have largely discarded the truth, wisdom, and love of this most perfect armor of God to defend ourselves and our children.

The first three commandments call us to put and keep God where He belongs—first, front, and center of our life. With God at the center of our lives everything becomes clearer, making it easy to identify and refuse the doubt stopping Satan’s strategy before it has a chance.

With God first, front, and center, instead of being mesmerized by today’s false gods such as money, prestige, entertainment, and pleasure, it becomes much easier to embrace the love and truth of the other seven Commandment. We see clearly how God has a plan for every human life from conception to natural death. We understand and appreciation the sacredness of our sexuality and the privilege of participating with God in His creation of life. We set beyond the simple words “Do not steal” and experience the friendship and joy of generosity. We understand the purpose of truth and integrity, and become repulsed by the damage caused by lies. Instead of begrudging and coveting the blessings others receive, we are genuinely happy for them.

As we learn and choose to live the Commandments, we see in each of them God is helping us learn to protect what is holy and sacred so we can experience the
greatness, friendship, joy, and authentic freedom that He desires for you, and me, and our children, and everyone.

Do you know the battle plan?
During my talk, I asked the men to take a moment and write out the Ten
Commandments from memory. Not to embarrass anyone—but to help the men take an honest assessment of how well they knew the battle plan.

And that raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: Can you write them from memory? Pause for a moment and jot them down.

Well, how did you do? When I started my journey I only remember about half of them, and if you are like most people, there are a few that you struggle recalling too. Furthermore, if we can’t recall them quickly, how can we expect to be prepared to use them well at a moments notice when faced with a decision on the battlefield.

Are you teaching the battle plan?
In my talk, I asked the men to visualize life’s ultimate destination. Then I asked them to write down the names of the people they envision, not being left to fend for themselves, but winning their battle and being with them in Heaven.

No one wants to win the battle alone, and no one wants to see those we love fall victim on the battlefield. We want all those we love to survive, thrive, and be victorious with us. For them to be victorious, we need to give them the same perfect battle plan. We need to spend time with it, rehearse it, practice it in the little skirmishes we encounter: while driving, responding to a social media post, being given too much change by a cashier, choosing what TV programs to watch. As we practice the ten truths of the Commandments in these little skirmishes we become prepared for the bigger battles and demonstrate to others how to win the battle.

But you have to prepare and you need to prepare those you love. —your spouse, your children, your grandchildren—for the battle. To help you and your loved ones prepare, we’ve made it simple. We have free videos, articles, and practical tools. One simple suggestion is to download one of our Ten Commandments images and put in a frame to display at home or at the office. Give a Ten Commandments image as a First Communion gift, as a wedding or housewarming gift, or to send with a student going off to school.

Visit www.ifULoveMe.org/resource-downloads to get started with your battle plan and begin preparing others to win the battle too.