A very common misnomer about LDS women is that we try to be (or at least to look) perfect. I think the truth is that we love to hear other women talk about their struggles and imperfections. Then we realize we are actually all so similar in that we all have struggles and we don't have to try to pretend to be perfect. We connect with one another when we share "real" feelings and lift one another up as we learn. I have been "attending" a wonderful online meeting each week with other LDS women from all over the country. They are such a strength and great example to me. I am learning so much, especially about myself.
One principle that I have learned is that Satan tempts men, but he TORMENTS women. He maybe tries to tempt us with the typical things and has very little success. But what he has become very skilled at is really getting to us, telling us lies, having us believe them and continually reminding and showing us where we have gone wrong and what we lack. He loves for us to blame ourselves, tell ourselves that we can't change, and make us feel powerless. I am learning to recognize Satan's lies that he is so good at telling women. When I realize that what I am thinking is actually a lie Satan is telling me, I can basically say "I see you, Satan", combat his lie with Truth, and tell him to get lost. Now I can be so much more powerful, realizing it's not people I'm fighting, but Satan. We all have our own battles, women usually much different from men, but we can fight them in the same way. with the Savior.
One lie Satan tells me constantly is that I have no business writing this blog. I really don't have any writing skills, have nothing important to say, what can I say to others when I don't have things all figured out myself, and no one will read it anyway. This may not be far from the truth, but I realize that it's Satan who is tormenting me with these self-doubts, trying to make sure I don't write. My Instructor in this Online Training says that Satan does not want us to pick up our pen. That scary to him because it helps us work out our "mess". So even if no one reads this, I am benefiting myself and I am showing Satan I am powerful against him.
My online training suggests that in order to be victorious in our battles with Satan, we need to create spiritual rituals to draw us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, which include asking yourself and writing answers to these questions:
1) What am I fighting for?
2) Why do I fight?
3) Why don't I just give up?
I love the visualization of having actual battles with Satan and being victorious because of whose team I am on. These questions motivate me and remind me why I'm fighting Satan so that I can recognize and combat his tormenting.
