For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
As I prepare for my mission trip this coming August, I have been thinking a lot about spiritual warfare. I expect to encounter much of it throughout our 11-month journey in the 10/40 Window. It has gotten me thinking about the spiritual warfare I have personally experienced.
As a five-year-old, I spoke the name of Jesus to an evil spirit. The spirit immediately fled, as my room filled with Jesus’ love and peace (read this blog or watch this video for more details). As a child, I was aware of my authority in Christ— and with the Holy Spirit’s help, I was able to discern and cast out a demon.
There have been many other instances of spiritual warfare since then. My faith journey has been full of peaks and valleys. I have walked in close relationship with God, blessed by His outpourings. I have also gone my own way. I have wandered lost in the desert, and have experienced many dark nights of the soul. I have walked away from the Lord and yet He has wooed me back to Him time and time again.
The following experience is one that has been floating around in my mind for several days, and I felt the need to share it.
When I was 16, I was not actively pursuing a relationship with the Lord, and I began to struggle with depression. High school can be a breeding ground for feelings of insufficiency, fear, doubt, insecurity, and comparison. I wasn’t vigilant about staying rooted in the love and truth of Jesus, so it was easy to succumb to those feelings and forget my identity in Christ— as His beloved daughter.
I don’t have many memories of that period of my life— it’s all kind of hazy. It felt like I was sleepwalking, just going through the motions. I was only trying to get through each day— just existing, not living.
I wasn’t suicidal, and I didn’t have a strong desire to end my life. However, there was a heaviness in my heart and spirit. Apathy, hopelessness, and fear hovered over me. I would often think, “Is this what my life is always going to be like?”
I remember standing in the kitchen one day. My gaze caught on a big knife on the counter, and a thought came to me: “What if I just plunged that knife into my stomach? I should do it.” An image of me crumpled on the kitchen floor flashed through my mind.
I shook my head in an attempt to clear the thought away. I thought, “Where did THAT come from?” Even though I knew I was depressed, that thought seemed strange and like it came out of nowhere. It was like my brain was hijacked.
The depression continued to eat away at me.
Then one Sunday, I went to church with my parents, and the pastor’s sermon was about spiritual attacks, demonic oppression, and the schemes of Satan. The absolute clarity I had in that moment hit me like a freight train. I suddenly KNEW that the depression I had been experiencing was actually a spiritual attack. As I listened intently to the sermon, I decided I wanted to fight back and be free from the spiritual oppression. I wanted to erase Satan’s fingerprints from my spirit, heart, and mind.
When we got home from church, I went to my bedroom, knelt down on the floor, and prayed. I prayed fervently and wept and wept. I asked for the Lord’s help in breaking this demonic hold on my mind and heart, and I rededicated my life to Christ that day. Fear broke, and hope was restored. My burden lifted and my spirit felt light once again. I felt safe, surrounded by God’s love and peace.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29
Even as we follow the Lord faithfully, deceitful spirits are always lurking in the shadows, looking for some way to dissuade us from following Him. They want to distract us from God’s will and keep us from becoming the person God created us to be. They want to drive a wedge between us and God and between us and our faith community. They want to isolate us. They lie to us, manipulate us, and blind us from the truth. These enemy influences demean and preoccupy people with their inadequacies so they won’t focus on God’s love, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus’ finished work on the cross on their behalf.
BUT
We can count on the Holy Spirit to help us discern and detect the presence of enemy spirits. The brilliant light of heaven not only shines like a beacon to guide us, but it also exposes whatever is hiding in the darkness. By this light, we can both discern deceitful spirits and elude their manipulations as we pursue the one true God.
-James Goll
Let us therefore always seek to “walk in the light, as [Jesus] is in the light” (1 John 1:7), and “put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12), so we can identify enemy influences as we encounter them.
And let us replace fear with trust in God’s power and provision.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
Fear is the opposite of faith. Cultivating faith is the only way to counter the fear that arises in times of trouble. Faith is a living thing, and it must be nurtured daily. We must read the Word and saturate our minds with its truth; stay in constant communication with God through prayer; and walk in community with other believers, sharing our struggles and triumphs with one another.
Let us worship God and revel in His presence. If we create space for God in our lives, He will fill it.
As I prepare my heart and spirit for this journey, I declare my authority in Christ over the spiritual forces of evil. With humility, I gladly submit to God. Even submission is a form of spiritual warfare:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James 4:7-8
God has ultimate authority over Satan, and since the Holy Spirit lives within all who believe in Him, believers also have authority over Satan. With God on our side, we will be the victors. Our faith will propel us forward to victory and freedom— and the victory is lasting.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
Romans 16:20
Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
