Quotes & my thoughts from "What We Are to do When Wounded" The Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul.

"When you realize that you have been wounded by sin, whether through weakness or malice, do not lose your courage or become panic-stricken. Turn to God with a great and humble confidence saying : 'See, O Master, what I am able to do, When I rely on my own strength. I commit nothing but sins.'"

 This is so important. I know in my own life and in others this is such a great temptation. When we commit a sin (especially one that we fall to often) we feel the need to punish ourselves. We feel  how undeserving we are of mercy and so hide ourselves from God in fear. We believe the lie that it would offend Him more to approach Him or that we'll never do any better. But to do this would be to let the devil win; this would be letting him take away our Hope. By tempting you into the sin, the devil wants nothing more than to keep you from God. He extends his victory from the sin itself by putting awful thoughts in his victim's head; thoughts of hopelessness, despair and panic. Do not give into these thoughts, but instead go to Him with complete confidence in His mercy. He wants you to be with Him! When you sin, He does not want to cast you off or be angered because you dare approach Him in such a sinful state. Have confidence. Trust in His tender and infinite mercy. I remember times where it felt like such a battle to pray but I'd say 'Lord, everything in me is saying that You do not want me to approach You. But I trust in You. I trust in Your word. You have commanded us to come to you when we sin. I trust in Your mercy because I know it is the Truth despite my feelings.' We will only fall into sin more and more if we don't approach Him because we need Him! But if we continue to come back to God, begging for mercy "This will dismay your enemy because it is pleasing to God."