Ask a Question - or - Return to the Spiritual Warfare Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Always distracted	Bridget	Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Question: Dear Bro Ignatius Mary Thank you for continuing your work on this site. I have a continuing problem. I am constantly distracted and feel attracted to other men and feel that my marriage is always under threat. I have been married for 20 years and have been a practising catholic for the past 8 although I am a cradle catholic and was very devout up until my marriage. I always feel that I am attracted to other people but I do not act on these feelings or ever express them to anybody. I feel that I am constantly praying for these "Stupid" ideas to go away. I pray the Rosary daily and keep one in my pocket or have a rosary bracelet or ring with me always. I also pray that I will not ever do anything stupid and that our Lord will save me from giving in to any of these temptations. I hate living this way. My husband and I are very close and I am too scared to tell him of this. To keep away from certain people I also go home at lunch breaks rather than stay around colleagues that I may be distracted by. I have recently started using medication for anxiety again but I think that my marriage is under attack because my husband and I love the church and each other very much. I have the additional stress of knowing that some our children have lost their faith in God and I feel that I need to pray constantly because I am afraid they will be lost. Thank you for your advice.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Bridget: It sounds like you are doing the right things -- praying when these feelings come, avoiding certain people (avoiding the near occasion of sin), etc., and medication. Counseling may also help you. In seeking this you do not have to tell your husband the details. You can simply say that you need to talk to someone about your anxiety. That is the truth. In addition, if you feel there is an attack upon your marriage, then a spiritual warfare approach is prudent. In our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog there are several prayers that may be good for you to pray. Some of these include the Hedge Prayer of Protection (one for yourself and one for your household), Rebuking Particular Spirits (to rebuke any spirits of lust, adultery, etc.), Prayer for Marriage, and Prayer to Control Thoughts. For your children, there is also a Prayer for our Children and the Hedge Prayer for a Wayward Person. Try these prayers and see if they are helpful to you. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Always distracted

Bridget

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Question:

Dear Bro Ignatius Mary
Thank you for continuing your work on this site.

I have a continuing problem. I am constantly distracted and feel attracted to other men and feel that my marriage is always under threat. I have been married for 20 years and have been a practising catholic for the past 8 although I am a cradle catholic and was very devout up until my marriage.

I always feel that I am attracted to other people but I do not act on these feelings or ever express them to anybody. I feel that I am constantly praying for these "Stupid" ideas to go away. I pray the Rosary daily and keep one in my pocket or have a rosary bracelet or ring with me always. I also pray that I will not ever do anything stupid and that our Lord will save me from giving in to any of these temptations. I hate living this way.

My husband and I are very close and I am too scared to tell him of this. To keep away from certain people I also go home at lunch breaks rather than stay around colleagues that I may be distracted by. I have recently started using medication for anxiety again but I think that my marriage is under attack because my husband and I love the church and each other very much.

I have the additional stress of knowing that some our children have lost their faith in God and I feel that I need to pray constantly because I am afraid they will be lost.

Thank you for your advice.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Bridget:

It sounds like you are doing the right things -- praying when these feelings come, avoiding certain people (avoiding the near occasion of sin), etc., and medication.

Counseling may also help you. In seeking this you do not have to tell your husband the details. You can simply say that you need to talk to someone about your anxiety. That is the truth.

In addition, if you feel there is an attack upon your marriage, then a spiritual warfare approach is prudent.

In our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog there are several prayers that may be good for you to pray. Some of these include the Hedge Prayer of Protection (one for yourself and one for your household), Rebuking Particular Spirits (to rebuke any spirits of lust, adultery, etc.), Prayer for Marriage, and Prayer to Control Thoughts. For your children, there is also a Prayer for our Children and the Hedge Prayer for a Wayward Person.

Try these prayers and see if they are helpful to you.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.