Enemy of My Soul

Last week we considered “The Things of My Soul.”  This week we encounter the “Enemy of My Soul.”  This enemy seeks residence in the darker recesses of thought, feeling, and action.  Parasitic in its approach, it feeds on our less-than-worthy character traits – our sins of omission and commission, our unnecessary worries, our preoccupations with self, and a dozen other elements of personality that define our baser selves. The remedy as noted in this week’s homily suggests that we subdue and then impose a bill of divorcement, a personal eviction notice that will “give place no more for the enemy of my soul.”

Enemy of My Soul

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.  Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 4:26-31

Awake, my soul and rejoice my heart

As I subdue the enemy of my soul

O Lord, may thy power impart

Strength to make me whole

I know the enemy of my soul

He is my natural man

Unrepentant, sinful and cold

Hopeless, shiftless, and sifted as sand

Make me shake at the appearance of sin

Stirred by the strength of my convictions

May I conquer my demons within

And never yield to mine afflictions

Thou art the rock of my salvation

The hope of a divine liberation

From sin to an exalted station

Fulfilling the measure of my creation

Yea, I’ll cry unto the Lord for redemption
                                       Acclaim and honor and praise his role                                       

As Author and Finisher of my salvation

And Victor over the enemy of my soul

Larry Doyle Crenshaw