Hello friends! Ever since I read a book from Jon Gordon about starting a new year with a word of the year, I’ve been doing this since 2016. Since my new year follows the academic calendar, I spend the summer praying about the new word and a bible verse to anchor my word.
My first word was in 2016-2017 and my word was “COURAGEOUS” and the Bible verse was:
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
In 2016, it was my first time stepping out on my own to led a community group in my church and God wouldn’t even give me a co-leader though I asked for one. I was also disciplined when I try to get one without God’s permission (that is a story for another time). After that year was over, I understood why this word was selected, and also how much this word and bible verse were so relevant and accurate for that academic year. I found out very quickly that the enemy (aka Satan and his demons) do not like prayers, especially corporate ones. I experienced many scary spiritual and physical attacks that convinced me that we are truly fighting against unseen forces as Apostle Paul described for us, including methods on how to overcome them in Ephesians 6.
Bible Gateway passage: Ephesians 6 – New American Standard Biblebiblegateway.com
This summer as I was praying and seeking the Lord Jesus Christ about my new word; my new word given is “REST” and my bible verse is:
Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV)
For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
I don’t try to predict what the word or the Bible verse will mean because I notice that I’m quite off. Instead, I use my word and verse to edify and reassure myself throughout the year for my assignments. It’s only after the year is over that I realize why this word and verse were chosen.
Since the new academic year has not started yet, pray about doing this for yourself. Ask God to show you the word and bible verse to anchor your word. Then keep your eyes and ears open. Holy Spirit will show you as you pray and seek.
This summer I saw the movie “Oppenheimer” with my kids and I saw from the previews that they are coming out with a new movie in the fall called “The Exorcist”. It looks like a revamp of the older movie from 1970s. Please don’t watch this movie. Because horror movies like these blows up demons and their powers. Trust me when you are experiencing a scary spiritual attack, the last thing you need is fears heightened by a film like that.
During my first year of leading prayer group, when I experienced scary spiritual encounters or even an unusual, intense physical attack on my body; my own family members did not know what was happening to me. I didn’t share anything with them since they are not believers and they could not assist me. Instead, I listened to what the Holy Spirit told me to do and reached out to a few sisters-in-Christ whom he told me to reach out to, and asked them to pray for me through the attack. One worst attack took the entire weekend but once it was done, it left and it was over. There was no spectacular craziness like the movie, The Exorcist. I’m sure if I had not followed the lead of the Holy Spirit, then it would have been a spectacular show for the enemy – putting me and my family members in great fear too. Demons seem to love the attention to demonstrate their strength in bullying and harassment. In the event that you get spiritually attacked or perhaps your family member or friends need your help during their attacks; it’s best that you don’t have any scary images in your mind about demons. It’ll be harder for you to fight them then.
Interestingly, as I was thinking about warning you to not watch this new movie revamp, I came across this news that the director of the original movie just died last week.
William Friedkin, ‘The Exorcist’ Director, Dies at 87variety.com
I read a story a while ago so I don’t remember the details but it was during the time when mentally disturbed people were gathered in asylums, forgotten and treated very harshly. A local godly woman felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to minister to the mental patients and so she received permission to go in and read the Bible to them. She went in daily and simply read out loud her Bible. She didn’t preach, she simply read the Bible. Little by little, the patients came closer to listen and soon many of them received back their sound mind and sanity! I wish I had saved this devotional and story. It was a very powerful testimony about the power of God’s word in the Holy Bible. But you have to read it, not just hold it up like in the movies.
My point in sharing this story is that there is great power in the words of the Bible. Therefore, whenever I am scared or feeling unsettled; I always reach for my Bible. Read the Bible for 15-30 minutes. You will be amazed how peaceful you become after a short time of reading the Bible. If you are not able to read, then listen to the many audio Bibles and Bible apps that are available now for free. I like listening to good sermons or Christian podcasts when I am driving in my car.
I wish someone told me how to fight these spiritual attacks when I was following Jesus as young person. No one told me what to do and so for my own safety and sanity, I decided to live my life like an atheist. It worked well enough, until I had the “burning bush” moment like Moses about 13 years ago.
Reading/listening to the Bible or good bible-based sermons chases away spiritual attacks such as paranoia, abnormal and severe anxieties, fears, deep depression, suicidal ideations, etc. Or even real physical things that go bump-in-the-night, scary images and even physical attacks of your body. And please do not fight these paranormal attacks alone. You will only drag your suffering and pain. There is no need to suffer needlessly like that. You can suffer for Jesus in other ways like getting persecuted for preaching the Bible. Please reach out to prayer warriors, and even submit prayer requests to your church and online prayer ministries. Many churches and ministries have prayer request submission forms online. I have no shame about asking for prayers when I see myself or a family member being attacked. However, I am very strategic about how I engage in these spiritual battles. Through trial and error, now I know how to fight until victory is won.
Another benefit to winning your battles when the enemy attacks is that the enemy will think twice before attacking you and your family members. Because they will know they will get a big fight back! Also if someone reaches out to you for help, please don’t make them feel bad. Simply pray for them and watch what God does. Don’t ever take credit for any victories since it was not you but Almighty God who came by your side to win the battle.
A ministry friend a while ago told me about Shawn Bolz and so when I came across his podcast recently I decided to check it out. He talks a lot about popular culture and news, and gives a biblical perspective about them. Give a listen to this podcast because in this podcast, he shared a story when someone asked him to chase out an evil spirit that was dominating his building and so employees were quitting in fear. It was an exorcism event that demonstrated how powerful praying is to expel demons. Nothing at all like the preview scenes for the movie, The Exorcist.
This podcast was very interesting too. God is moving mightily in Hollywood right now. That’s really wonderful news to hear. If you need uplifting news, please listen to this podcast.
God bless you and I hope you enjoy the new podcaster that I discovered.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shawn-bolz-show/id1620903955
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shawn-bolz-show/id1620903955
Journal of Faith 