Great Lent is a time for taking inventory within our souls and cleaning house – purifying our hearts, minds, and thoughts – as we prepare to celebrate the overwhelmingly joyful feast of Pascha. This Lenten Springtime can be a beautiful time of renewal when we are made further aware of the presence of God in our lives and his power to transform us into his image. This opportunity for renewal is why the hymns of the Triodion say "Let us joyfully begin the season of the Fast."

So if it is so joyful, why is it so difficult? We can’t forget what happens to us during the Fast and the arena that we are stepping into in these first weeks. That's why we have to remember the complete message of the Triodion: "Let us joyfully begin the season of the Fast, preparing ourselves for spiritual combats..." It’s a war out there! The battle is always there, we just usually we choose to ignore it. The struggle seems more intense at this time because we place ourselves on the front lines, so the enemy redoubles his efforts to halt our advance. That’s why we have to prepare for the combat, and there are a couple of important things that we have to do.

Number one: protect yourself! As St. Paul said, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:11 – 17) By the way, he doesn’t say to put it on every day – he says put it on once, don’t ever take it off!

But that armor isn’t going to help us if we don’t know how to use it! Remember when David was going out to meet Goliath and Saul put all of his fancy armor on him? It must have been pretty awkward, because he said “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them” and he took them off.  St. Paul continues his message to the Ephesians with an important pointer we can’t neglect “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Being centered in prayers gives us the peace and inner strength to bear the armor, and endurance to last in battle.

The next most important element to keep in mind before you go into battle is to know your enemy. You have to know his tricks and how he plays upon our weaknesses. A wonderful threat analysis and battlefield map are given in the classic "Unseen Warfare."  A more humorous but just as poignantly Orthodox insight can be found in C.S. Lewis’ "Screwtape Letters." Remember, we can't ascend "The Ladder" if we can’t avoid the snares of the enemy.

Please remember, God doesn’t send us into battle alone, but with the host of angels to surround us and protect us. Yes, he does allow us to struggle and take a few wounds, but it is only for our benefit and ultimate strengthening.  So Καλό αγόνα!  May God grant us all a beautiful and profitable struggle.