The Spirit of Lust Flees From St. Anthony

In The Life of Antony by St. Athanasius, it is recounted that the devil tempted Antony with every kind of sinful thought—and even appeared as a woman to seduce him—but Antony did not yield to sin. Finally, the demon took the form of a black boy, declaring, “Many I deceived, many I cast down; but now attacking you and your labours as I had many others, I proved weak.” When Antony asked who was speaking, the demon answered that he was the spirit of lust, boasting that he led many into sin. Antony responded boldly, calling him despicable, black-hearted, and weak as a child, and invoked a Psalm: “The Lord is my helper, and I will look down on my enemies.” At once, the black figure fled, cowering before these words and afraid even to approach Antony again. #lust #devil #psalms #spiritualwarfare