Spirits?

[Poindexter]

"If you build it they will come."

The thing is just what some folks are saying. Having paraphernalia of the occult is in tune with invitation. Demonic presence is already all around us. They look for a hole in the wall or a crack in the armor that gives permission. In my young life I was oppressed by a demon for 12 years. I had foolishly invited it in by playing with Ouija and going to a seance. I had it prayed off by a man I still fellowship with occasionally to this day. It is way easy to have demonic activity in your life. So follow after God and do go to church and just rest your thoughts on the things of God also. Pray always in the spirit and intercede and make declarations against the movement you have. For it is not there by chance. But you have power over scorpions. Only thing is one needs to first know this and second action it. Satan and the hordes win by intimidation an deceit. The battle is already won and they know it. That is why they believe there is a God and tremble.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Poindexter

[LadyRaven]

Well, I'm not as concerned about my tv and music. I started out Wiccan. I think the biggest step was being saved. The next one was ridding myself of the tarot cards, ritual objects, witchcraft books, and my book of shadows. Personally, I think that's a lot in a very short time. I'm so overwhelmed at the moment with the probate issues and just grieving that I'm not seeing the point in making anymore changes other than maybe trying church again.

I will pray about it. I do understand where you are coming from but I am so very overwhelmed by life in general that making anymore major changes is just too much for me right now.

my brain is still in the widow "Fog". If you've been there you know what I mean.

Yes I do, I also understand that the shows are familiar to you, so they are comforting, because they are something which keeps you connected to your past. Not wicca as such, but the time before your husband died. They say that when you lose a spouse you should make no earthshaking decision you do not have to make for a year. Unless you are broke, dont sell the house. Dont get married, dont change career unless you get downsized, etc. So, I get the idea that you want to hang on to anything that is normal in your life.

And since the spirits aren't following you around, perhaps that is all that is necessary right now. What I pray is that your attitude be ready to make changes if God asks anything else of you.

Being willing to take a step, whatever it is, at the Lord's command is actually more important than actually taking all secular pursuits out of our lives because others tell us to. Sometimes God will ask that of us and sometimes He wont. With my background, I had to get rid of the things I held sacred in my previous life before Christ, of course. And I did. But that was all the Lord asked of me at the time.

In the lives of a few of my friends they were asked to take anything out of their lives which was not directly and intentionally focused on God right away. No secular TV, no secular music (one went so far as to say no Christian music that conflicted with her theology), no secular reading material (and for one, no fictional Christian material), no secular movies, no dating, no nothing besides study and things which supported it.

From the time I was saved until almost ten years later, God did not ask anything like that of me. Then I went through a desert experience, and on the other side of it, God asked me to give up my secular music and secular TV. It wasn't forever, it was for a season. The purpose was to spend time in deep study and also to loosen my entanglements. There is nothing wrong with money, but the love of it is the root of all evil. There is nothing wrong with secular music (though some songs have definitely got to go), but you could hold it too closely. There is nothing wrong with reading secular material (though some of it is bad), but does it change your world view or does it take up too much time?

At first I was miserable. I listen to just about every type of secular music (Except rap) and very little Christian. Most of it, even CCM grates on my nerves usually. So, in a sense, except for instrumental hymns and scripture memory tapes put to music, I had NO music for about two years. I hated it. Then suddenly I calmed down and was content.

Then the Lord gave me permission to listen to any music and read any book and watch any material I wished so long as I was not offended. I like fantasy and such, including paranormal, but I know it is fiction and I'm fine with it. But, it is in it's place and I am watching through eyes which are always evaluating along side the side of me that is just being entertained.

I am thankful that I can listen to secular music again because there is very little Christian music that is artistic and complex as operatic Gothic doom metal or Neoclassical ambient ethereal darkwave. But when I get an album, I tend to download it to my computer, make a play list out of it, then delete the songs that offend me and then burn it to a blank CD.

Anyway, my point is that you and anyone else should be willing to do what God asks. I think that automatically forbidding anything not forbidden in scripture directly is a legalistic act and I will condemn that. I do not believe that God asks all of us in all cases in all times to listen to nothing but sacred music. There is no demon beat, there is no music that is automatically evil. The same goes with what we watch and read. BUT... at the same time... you should always be willing to give them up if the LORD asks you to personally.

[kross]

If you have ever suffered with depression, you find that it is sometimes a comfortable place to be. You find that you want to stay angry and depressed because it reflects how you feel and it is perfectly normal.

When you have been in the presence of certain spirits, they make you feel comfortable to be around them. It is normal for you. When they have been with you and you with them, you do not really feel lie getting rid of them.

You may actually need to evaluate and pray. Demonic forces are very good at keeping you captive simply by making you think you are OK with them.

I've known people who had to throw off all that they had when they were lost and i have nown some who have kept what they had and been able to change it's meaning for them.

There is a lot of "celtic" Christian music out there, and there are other things that can take the place ofsome of the worldly things. Somethings need to be left behind, period.

It is a journey to determine which is which and what is what. Just keep being concerned and seeking HIS face. HE will take care of the rest, that is a promise.

[Guest pamina58]

When there is any sort of disruption in the home we must start over with a spiritual cleansing. Plead the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on your home. Ask for a hedge to be built around it so that only God's will can occur inside. Speak the word out loud. Do this whenever there seems to be a disruption and peace will return.

[Ningning]

Wonderful insight, Lady Raven, thank you for sharing this.

I just realized that's the way God deals with us, not brash but gentle. He's a loving Father who sees us with merciful eyes.

Having gone thru my "desert" years in my young life, the things you just shared about music, TV and reading materials were just so real with me. That is how God is dealing with me, too.

God bless you more,

Ning

[LadyRaven]

If you have ever suffered with depression, you find that it is sometimes a comfortable place to be. You find that you want to stay angry and depressed because it reflects how you feel and it is perfectly normal.

Yes, but...This is a recent blow, intense grief, which has to be allowed to go naturally through the process of healing. It's not like this is five years later, where we could tell her that she's deliberately stayed in grieving. It is also just after having converted, thus having to make large changes in her life in relationship to that. She has no church home and no Christian friends. This is a very very hard time.

Which to me says that such intense pain so early means that she will grow strong much faster than some of us did in the beginning. Which means she is being prepared for something which requires her to be mature early.

So...Something hard, but good, is in the future for this sister.

When you have been in the presence of certain spirits, they make you feel comfortable to be around them. It is normal for you. When they have been with you and you with them, you do not really feel lie getting rid of them.

This might be a factor.

There is another, one that a decision to go to church might help cure.

Angelique was part of a sisterhood, and she is now alone. Hopefully she will find some sisters, in RL, now, who can love and support her as she was loved and supported in her wiccanism.

You may actually need to evaluate and pray. Demonic forces are very good at keeping you captive simply by making you think you are OK with them.

I've known people who had to throw off all that they had when they were lost and i have nown some who have kept what they had and been able to change it's meaning for them.

It's all a matter of being subject to Christ and what He wants. I did give up all my occult things of all sorts. Now I dont look at things the same way and can 'reclaim' anything I choose. But I had to lay a firm Christian foundation and study what I had from before from a Christian perspective. (And, some things can never be taken back and reclaimed. Scrying mirrors might make really cool candle displays, but scrying itself can never be reclaimed)

And, a note about the spirits. Not all spirits are demons, some are angels. They are just as active in the world as demons are. In the end, if Angelique continues to see spirits, she will need to go to the word, pray and learn how to actually tell the difference so that she will know what to do and when.

There is a lot of "celtic" Christian music out there, and there are other things that can take the place ofsome of the worldly things. Somethings need to be left behind, period.

Not all secular Celtic music is pagan and very little Celtic Christian music is of the same quality as the secular. Though, there is more good stuff out there than there used to be.

If you like Clannad and Lorenna McKennet, I would recommend Moire Brennan. Iona is pretty good too, very steeped in history. Both have female vocals of high quality. Moire Brennan was not pop music, Iona has a few more contemporary songs.

It is a journey to determine which is which and what is what. Just keep being concerned and seeking HIS face. HE will take care of the rest, that is a promise.

Yes, this is true. The willingness is the key. If you are unwilling, you will be much slower to learn what God expects of you and His lessons may not be as palatable as they would be if you just asked and waited.

[Guest]

.... I have prayed....

[7thseal]

After I burned everything, the activity stopped.

I've been gone for awhile and when I came here and read this, tears of joy appeared. I praise you Lord, for your strength and love is above all else. Although away for a time, at work the Holy Spirit brought you to mind and I began praying remembering your battle. angelique, you're going to have one powerful testimony as the Lord continues to fight on your behalf and lifts you up, and He's going to use it to glorify Himself.

I have decided to go to church some.

The Lord loves us and knows just how fragile we are and will guide us gently in small steps onto the path of righteousness, you're heading on that path and I praise God with all my heart.

[Floatingaxe]

After I burned everything, the activity stopped.

I've been gone for awhile and when I came here and read this, tears of joy appeared. I praise you Lord, for your strength and love is above all else. Although away for a time, at work the Holy Spirit brought you to mind and I began praying remembering your battle. angelique, you're going to have one powerful testimony as the Lord continues to fight on your behalf and lifts you up, and He's going to use it to glorify Himself.

I have decided to go to church some.

The Lord loves us and knows just how fragile we are and will guide us gently in small steps onto the path of righteousness, you're heading on that path and I praise God with all my heart.

I second these sentiments! God bless you, angelique! You are making great strides in Jesus Christ! He is ever busy bringing you through to completion as is His promise to you. He is faithful!

[Guest]