Familiar Spirits
We may need to battle numerous spirits in our lives as survivors of abuse and neglect. While we should not become carried away with the idea of demons wrecking havoc in our lives, it is wise to be aware that they exist, and that as survivors, we may need to do battle with some of them. The following list may help you recognize some of the more common spirits that seem to take advantage of victimization:
- Fear and mistrust
- Anger and malice
- Murder and destruction
- Death, morbidity, and suicide
- Division or strife
- Infirmity or sickness
- Control, aggression or passivity
- Lust or pornography
- Greed or power
- Idolatry or rebellion
- Perversion or macabre
- Religiosity or false worship
- Blame or criticism
- Entrapment or seduction
- Silence or mutism
- Jealousy or entitlement
- Mockery or sarcasm
- Confusion or double-mindedness
- Pride or perfectionism
- Self-control or self-denial
- Unforgiveness or bitterness
- Grief, sorrow, or depression
Here's a pratical excercise:
- Ask God to show you whether any of these spirits or others are at work in your life. In what ways are the lies you believed as a result of your childhood (or present) abuse an informal invitation?
- Use this three step process to battle whatever spirits God shows you are at work in your life.
a. Define the lie's content and identify the spirit responsible for maintaining the lie.
b. Seperate yourself from the spirits's influence by repenting of your complicity and binding its power in Jesus' name.
c. Refute the lie with statements of truth from scriptures (Ephesians 4:25).
- Resolve to make the following prayer a part of your daily prayer routine:
Satan, I command you to leave my presence, along with all of your demons, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I claim the power of the blood of Jesus which he shed for me. I bring that blood between me and all of the forces of darkness. Amen.
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