Why is it that when I am trying to improve my life that I keep getting spiritually attacked?

We are much more in tune with the things that going wrong today than the things that go right! It is the victim complex.

We are all guilty of it. Question yourself honestly. Are bad guys living good lives? Osama Bin Laden is somebody who does horrible things but life is not going his way; he probably has sand in the crack of his a*s where he has been hiding in the desert for all these years and the poor guy can't even get a break from running his international terrorist organisation and go on a package holiday as the American army is on his trail. Yet he must be on speaking terms with Satan.

I'm going through the same anxieties as you - nothing seems to be going my way at the moment; it is very frustrating but often it comes down to planning, I personally found.... e.g attending a meeting. When I'm in charge everything goes right, people call back with my insistence, payments are met on time, mistakes occur very rarely. Satan has nothing to do with it! If you look at the problem in that light, if you shift the responsibility onto somebody or something else, you will never solve these problems becaue they will continue to grow worse in your frustrations.

My father is different to me, he doesnt believe in God or in Satan for that matter and though he works in a very stressful but highly paid profession very little seems to go that wrong, at least in as far as the every day mishaps, which you were talking about, are kept in check with a tight leash. Why?

The truth is he is very organised, vigilant, planning things well in advanced and makes sure things get done. He is very practical and down to earth. This is how he survives as a cardiac surgeon. Anybody can be the same way. You just need to look at things with the right perspective and keep your mind flexible, organised and alert.

That is just what satan wants you to do-not even bother. When going through attacks the best thing that has worked for me is reading God's Word and praying, it helps build your faith, which in turn gives you the strength to face any trial. I'm not sure if you're a new Christian or not, but if you are, I recommend that you get a good study Bible. The best that I have seen is the Life Application Study Bible, you can get it in almost any version.

Just remember that God will never put more on you than you can bear.

I beg you to read your question very closely for your answers are in there and you are the one who can find them. I suggest you also write more, write it here or in private. Getting your thoughts down for you to look at is worth more then all our answers. eg I see you have created laws for him. Truly the oppressors have given us enough laws. I would revisit the ones you have placed on him. Yes yelling and drinking are appalling behavior but.... there is another way and you my dear friend must think if they are reasonable from his perspective. Often all they do is cause more pressure on an already pressurized situation. You have to find the cause of problems and allow the individual to have their choice. If you remove choice then there can be no respect. You know what I like? I really like the questions "why, what where when how who which?". eg Why are you yelling at me about this, for this is a little thing, what else contributes to your frustration? edit: Don't get taken away by other peoples life experience, they are not you or living your life. It is your life, your experience, you have the choice, your experiences are your lessons to learn from and grow. Ask what is the reason I created a life with this man? If you can't even have a reasonable discussion with him then ask him WHY? question question.... get to the root of the problem. Maybe you are simply not really in love, that could be the root. But if you know the root is good then maybe you need to cut it back to that and start again. A relationship should help build each other up not tear each other down. No one has all the answers that is why we have experiences.

First, you must read "The Screwtape Letters", by C.S. Lewis.

Second, those who say that spiritual attacks are the norm, and they make you who you are, have a pretty deplorable picture of God's love and power.

Lastly ... I'll say this gently ... "spiritual goals" are an illusion. Christ Jesus did not die on the cross so that we could "actualize" some great Joel Osteen form of self achievement. He died so that we could be returned to fellowship with HIM. Don't you see? Take Satan out of the picture for a moment (or for your lifetime). There you are, trying to achieve your spiritual goals, and always falling short. Think of the ocean: the tide never settles on the beach. But you continue to try. Look around. Is Jesus saying to you ... "Sister, I'm not really interested in your spiritual goals, why are you? I'm interested in you - are you interested in Me, or your goals?"

Now I'll speak to you like a little sister. Ready? First, smile for me ... here goes ... sister, you are saved - DUH! - what do you care about "goals" for in your relationship with Jesus? Sure, you have responsibilities here on earth, but don't mix them up into some holy quest that Jesus gave you to do. He did the holy quest. He bought you, He sought you, he fought you 'til He taught you. There are no goals - there is just you and Him. You seem frustrated now - perhaps He would be interested in that frustration - DUH! - talk to Him about it. You'll find that giving Him back your attention will make the frustration go away.

Sure you have goals. Goals are good and part of everyday "natural life". Its good to be motivated. But, like Martha and Mary, it is better to be loved. Walk in the fact that you are loved. There are no other spiritual goals than this. No goals, no achievements, move beyond this to reclaim that you are loved. It is the start, and the finish; the first, and the last.

Peace.

Even if you don't beleive in spirituality, it is common wisdom to accept that we have to accept problems with calmness but try to avoid problems, like you can leave your home much earlier to attend a meeting so even if something comes up, you will still be able to attend the meeting, or you simply need to prioritize yourself by focusing on the meeting as more important or deciding if the other thing that comes up is more important. Either way you shouldn't get stressed because that is a part of life, just enjoy life, because that is a part of life, just because other people get stressed over such things, that doesn't mean you have to.

Well I would agree that it's definitely Satan trying to distract you because that's what he wants. He doesn't want us to be close to God, or have a close relationship with God as we should. He will do whatever he can to keep that from happening, but you as a Christian and not only that, but a child of God have the authority to tell Satan to back off, to get behind you, and that he is under your feet. One time I had to go through something horrible in my marriage. I went away for a week, and any time Satan would start to put thoughts in my mind, I would automatically take control of them and tell him to leave me alone. Hope this helps any.

I hear you. Read Psalm 73: For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.

The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but don't believe the lies that Satan masquerades to us! Psalm 73:16-19 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

YOU CAN DO IT! You're not alone in this battle! Your brothers and sisters are fighting the same way all over the globe. We will make it!

Well starting off, yes I had this problem, but everyday when I realized this was going on in my life too, I started to better prepare myself not just spritually but also physically too, what I mean is every night before going to bed I just prayed to god for the next day to be a good one, and what I did to make it happen was just prepare myself for example when it comes to my job since I work as a Network Administrator, I have meetings almost every week, so what I do is find out when it is and start to prepare for it a week or even 4 days before that meeting begins, and try to take everything a day at a time, don't force yourself or even let your mind wonder who will attack me?! don't even think about that just focus on what your objective is and push on to accomplish, in time you'll see that everything will fall into place, and don't just do that for work related problems, try it on personal ones too, just focus on one thing at a time, and don't worry about what others have, if you focus on yourself, and push to get what you want then trust me you'll get it, just don't give up on yourself, and you'll see that everything will be ok.

I think it as just as simple as when you are not trying to live right Satan doesn't attack you because he feels you are not a threat to him and his goal. The only advice I have to offer you is stay diligent and in prayer. Also, it may be God testing you. My pastor once told me to remember God will have a rainbow for you at the end of the storm. The more horrid the storm the more you will appreciate the beauty of the rainbow...Also instead of asking why is this happening ask what can I learn from this.

Loved the story of Job , God and the Devil torturing the poor guy just to settle a bet. The part where he gets to ask advice of his friends and criticize their comments is extremely good. Things will always come up and if you are feeling persecuted maybe you are just displaying the martyr syndrome, I do not think God and Satan are double teaming you, but then again I would not put it past them, as you noticed by mentioning Job they have done it before to others