DISCERNING GOOD FROM EVIL SPIRITS

When a soul is most desirous to know and do God's will, it becomes easy for him to know if the evil thing that comes from his heart is from him or from the two spirits and their mover, the devil. this knowledge is the greatest help in resisting them. For ignorance is the reason behind all errors; while knowledge promotes the truth. 

Your conscience with the help of a good counselor will help you discern. He who often confesses develops a good conscience. He who does not confess develops an erroneous conscience. 

After a good confession, you can be certain that all evil thoughts that come to mind come from the three evil spirits; they are not your own. And, therefore, much easier to resist. And resist we must. But if we do not confess or if we make a bad confession, our continuous consent to these three evil spirits eventually makes us, ourselves, the source of evil.

The Cloud of Unknowing

(01-05-02)