Before I can conclude with Day 9 of my Novena The Divine Mercy I have to make a confession. It's been about a week since I made my last entry for that with Day 8.

I didn't feel right with God to conclude my Novena, because I had drifted a bit from him. For one I had not been going to Church like I should have been going. I felt like I had a strong connection with the Lord, and didn't feel the strong need to actually go to Mass like I should have. The Devil, being more predictable than the rain, was generating quite a bit of negative energy - which was growing over a slow period of time. Slowly enough that I was not taking the steps needed to negate these negative effects. I began snapping and becoming short with people. I became more preoccupied and more irritable.

I know this about the Devil too. I started attending Mass this week again, and can feel the difference already. I feel much more at peace. A lot of that negative energy has dissipated. I plan to pay more attention to that in the future.

I also, on this past Sunday, told a lie. I justified this to myself as something that I needed to do in order to get something done. I could have waited to gain permission to do what it was I wanted to do, but I became determined to have my own way, and wanted it done at that moment, so it was ok to tell the lie, and that the person would have given me permission, so it would be an ok thing to do. Of course, I went ahead and did it - told the lie - and got my way - got what I wanted done. It was a minor thing - what would be called a "white lie". The person did give me permission. I confessed what I did to the person. They agreed with me (not good) and said "that I did what I needed to do".

The problem is a problem with my character, and that it was an ok thing for me to tell a lie at all - an ethical problem. The Lord let me know pretty quickly that he was not too happy with it too.

I did repent of this wrong doing - a couple times - and I'm doing it again here. Please forgive me Dear Lord. I really do try to do right. I could not continue with my Novena until I was right again with the Lord. I think I am ok now. (At least I hope so.)