What specific acts or thoughts have helped you defeat evil in your life or the lives of those you love?
Author: H. Wallace Goddard
Wally Goddard is a retired professor of Family Life having served in Arkansas and Alabama. He developed programs on personal well-being, marriage, and parenting. He is well known for his many creative family programs, including The Marriage Garden, The Parenting Journey, and Blueprint for Happiness. Wally has authored or co-authored several books including Between Parent and Child, The Soft-Spoken Parent, and Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage. He has been recognized by his colleagues with several awards including the Outstanding Family Life Educator Award. Wally and his wife, Nancy, have three adult children, fourteen grandchildren, and have cared for many foster children over the years. Wally describes Nancy as the finest human being he has ever known. View all posts by H. Wallace Goddard
The other day during 12 Steps at the Detention Center one of the kids shared that he’d been clean for 73 days. Everyone giggled because he’d been locked up for 73 days.
I laughed too, but reminded them that he was clean because he’d had help. Then I taught them that the same thing applies to those who stay clean on “the outs”. They too have help. We don’t avoid evil alone. I personally don’t believe it can be done alone. We need help; the help of others and above all, the help of God.
For me the key to defeating evil asking for and trusting in HELP!
Amen. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
-Wally
Since I chose to come to this life of mortality I’m a being of light and as such a being I’m able to tell Satan to leave. I know I’m a being of light because I have chosen to study, read,and sacrifice to build this knowledge. With this knowledge I’m able to ask my Father in Heaven on behalf of family members to have the evil leave their life. The only problem is that they have to want the evil to leave as well.
You’re right! We can command Satan to depart–but only from the areas where our will agrees with others who have stewardship in that area. Good point.
-Wally
I find that visiting Dr. Wally.org can be helpful!
When I begin my day right (prayer and scripture reading) I begin to put on the protection I need.
When I stay busy through the day I have less likelihood of wandering into forbidden paths.
When I start to stray I find scripture mastery songs and other church songs and hymns centre my thoughts. So too does prayer, surfing to a safe website like this one or meridianmagazine.com or lds.org etc.
When I continue to dwell on evil I am led to it. When I break the cycle by removing my self or my thoughts from the direction I was heading I enjoy success.
And if I listen closely, I can often (if not always) feel the stirrings of the Spirit of God warning me, guiding me away from the bad towards the light.
My husband has battled a pornography problem for a number of years. The number one thing I have done (and he of course has done many other things) that has helped him defeat this great evil is that I do not ask him any questions about this problem. I show him trust, and I don’t interrogate. He tells me that me sticking by him has been a true act of love, and that it has given him strength to overcome this and succeed.
Blessings to you for offering such support! Is your husband getting the help of a good friend or counselor?
-Wally
Yes, he has for several years. That has also helped tremendously, and it was the counselor who told me that while I am not part of the problem, I can be part of the solution—and the best way to be part of my husband’s solution was not to interrogate or interview him. It has made all the difference.
My favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and He shall direct thy paths”
Then I remember that we are all our own agents and we do not respond well to perceived force. Having the liberty to be wrong leads us to responsibility for ourselves, which leads us to repentance.