In a village in India we met a woman who wore men's clothing (shirt and slacks). When I saw her, I thought "How did she get away with that here?" Especially in the villages woman wear traditional clothing. She was tall, slim and in her early 20's. She walked around with a mona lisa smile as though she were full of a very pleasant secret. I recognized something familiar when I looked at her- but I couldn't place it.
She came to the church that afternoon. We were told to pray for her because she would begin to dance wildly and sing devilish songs.The translator said she was demon possesed. I heard a question in my heart, a strange question. I asked it outloud. "Do you want to be free?" The translator looked at me like I was mad. "Ask her." He translated my question and she shook her head no. He began talking more forcefully and she shook her head yes. "She wants to be free, pray for her." Our translator concluded.
As we prayed she began thrashing around wildly and fell on the ground as though she were dead. We continued to pray for her and I heard a scripture in my heart. John 3:19 "…men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." And then I saw writing on the pocket of her shirt; it said 100% Wicked. She did not want to be free. She clung to darkness and it clung to her. A teammate saw in the Spirit a snake wrapping itself around her. What she thought bought her power was killing her. On the ride back to the village we were staying in, I thought of the woman and why she looked so familiar- it was a look in her eyes. Suddenly I understood. I saw in my mind a child stamping their foot saying " I don't want to!" I saw dozens of celebrities saying "I do it my way; no one tells me how to live my life."
It is something we admire and encourage in the USA- an independent mind, haughty spirit, a rebellious heart. They are trailblazers, boat-rockers, rebel-rousers, pioneers, free spirits, open minded. This spirit does not yield to authority, especially not the authority of God. The way this woman expressed this spirit was different because the culture of India is different than the culture of the US, but the spirit was one and the same. "I will be like the Most High." This is what Lucifer said and it got him branded for what he is, an enemy of God.
"I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul."
"I did it my way."
"God helps those who help themselves."
"Do you."
"If it makes you happy, do it."
"Just do it."
This woman did not recieve the freedom Christ gives because she didn't want to. Do you?
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
