There is a spiritual climate (I know it sounds weird. It’s a word that Christians made up… but it kind of makes sense) over places, situations, and even people. People with spiritual discernment are many times able to sense what these climates are in countries, churches, homes, situations, or people. But it doesn’t take a “special person” to be effected by these spiritual climates as it can affect one whether they discern it or not. Just like we can all feel a difference in the temperature or dew point, the same goes for places where God’s Holy presence is FREE, and where it is oppressed.
Every country I’ve traveled to has had a different spiritual climate. Sometimes as soon as we enter a new country people on my squad will say they immediately felt a heaviness that doesn’t leave until we entered a new country. Sometimes the climate is dark and other times it is light and peaceful. These spiritual climates have personally affected many of my squad and teammates, and even myself.
Japan has been awesome. In every way I’ve absolutely LOVED it and have just been blown away daily by one thing or another. Yet, ever since I’ve arrived something different, something strange has plagued me.
I suddenly started struggling with comparison and accomplishing “enough”. I found myself comparing everything I own, everything I wear, to others around me. Suddenly none of my clothes were as good as anyone else’s. I felt ugly and unfashionable (first time I’ve worried about fashion since America!). Even down to the food I bought for my meals wasn’t as good as the other people on my team. And when it came to ministry, well, all the other teams just seemed to be doing way more awesome things for God and I was not. They were meeting friends, talking about Jesus all the time, witnessing healing, having visions, and I wasn’t. What I had wasn’t as good as whoever was sitting next to me and whatever ministry I was “doing for God” just wasn’t good enough.
I couldn’t put a finger on what this was until the other night when our contact addressed it. He asked our squad if any of us have been feeling or struggling with comparison or accomplishing enough. I felt like the first one with my hand up saying, “dang… yeah, actually, in a big way”. He went on to say that that was the spiritual climate of Japan and what all the people here struggle with. They compare themselves to one another in a major way and nothing they ever do is good enough. They work and work and work themselves to death and whatever they do is never good enough. Also, they compare themselves to each other which brings everything full circle to work more, buy more, compare more- and that is the culture as I have even witnessed.
It totally makes sense! I didn’t even realize just by stepping foot in this country that the Enemy has a hold of it in this way and is now affecting me. Since I can now put a name to the sin, I can finally take captive every thought of “not good enough” or “need this” and make it obedient to Christ. I have enough. I’m good enough. He is enough.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
But seek first his kingdom and righteousness…
Do not give the devil a foothold.
Do not covet…
Come to Me…
Thank you Jesus for everything I have and for everything You are! Help me to me more of a Mary, not a Martha. I don’t want to consume my time and energy trying to serve You. I just want You. And You only want me. I know You are at work here and move through my prayers and presence even when I may not see it. Thank You for getting the glory and not myself.
Pray with me against this struggle in my own life and in the lives of those here in Japan who are enslaved to this cultural lifestyle!
