Ready for Life Ministries

Ready for Life Ministries Spiritual Exercise #S1-06

Going Deeper: Identifying Enemy Footholds and Strongholds That Are Impediments to Perfect Love

The design of this exercise is to help you become more aware of the different activities and habits that hold you back from loving God perfectly.

Please examine your conscience by answering all the questions below relating to the Ten Commandments and the Seven Deadly Sins.

First Three Commandments & Sloth

• What do I find more important than talking to and spending time with God?

• Do I find myself spending much of my time in any of the following activities: consuming social media, shopping, using electronic devices (not for work), excessive sleeping, watching TV, or playing video games?

• How much time do I spend in prayer and talking to God each day?

• Am I praying without ceasing yet?

• Do I use Jesus’ name in vain?

• Do I skip Sunday worship  or Holy Days of Obligation from time to time?  Do I habitually skip them?

Fourth Commandment

• Do I habitually criticize my parents in any way, especially in their method of parenting or ability to parent?

• How can I better serve my parents and grandparents if they’re still alive?

• Can I be more patient with or tolerant of my parents or grandparents?

• Do I set a good example as a practicing Christian for my children?

• Do I do anything that often annoys or frustrates my children?

Fifth Commandment & Anger and Gluttony

• Do I have negative, harmful thoughts of anyone?

• Do I harbor hatred, resentment, unforgiveness, vengeance, or unjust anger?

• Do I habitually harm others through physical, verbal, or emotional means?

• Do I gossip regularly?

• Do others find me manipulative?

• Am I in support of abortions, assisted suicides, and/or mercy killing?

• Do I habitually over-eat?

• Do I habitually abuse alcohol or other drugs?

Sixth and Ninth Commandments & Lust

• Do I habitually disrespect the physical and sexual dignity of others and/or of myself?

• As a married person, am I attracted to others outside my marriage?

• Do I habitually give into lust?

• Do I habitually dress immodestly?

• Seventh and Tenth Commandments & Envy and Greed

• Do I habitually take or waste time or resources of another?

• Do I habitually borrow without permission?

• Do I habitually compare myself to others and want what is theirs?

• Do I desire materials and wealth excessively?

Eighth Commandment

• Do I habitually gossip, tell lies, or embellish stories at the expense of others?

• Do I habitually tell white lies or exaggerate?

• Does my “yes” always mean “yes” and my “no” always mean no”?

Sloth

• Am I neglecting any of my duties or responsibilities?

• Am I disorganized or do I allow for things to clutter?

• What are some complaints that others have of me regarding the things that I fail to do?

• Do I habitually procrastinate?

• Do I exercise enough regularly and do I take care of my body well?

Spiritual Exercise #1: Identifying Major Obstacles to Greater Interior Freedom and Spiritual Vision

Spiritual Exercise #2: Determining Levels of Motivation to Help Achieve Perfect Love

Spiritual Exercise #3: Gospel Meditation of the Rich Young Man

Spiritual Exercise #4: Gospel Meditation of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Death

Spiritual Exercise #5: Meditation of Encountering God at His Throne

Spiritual Exercise #6: Going Deeper: Identifying Enemy Footholds and Strongholds That Are Impediments to Perfect Love