10/05/2017
My husband and I were talking about spiritual warfare and how it is so important to be in tune with our surroundings. Our parents (who were ministers) were very aware of these types of battles. They knew when something was amiss and they didn't dismiss it but went into (spiritual) combat mode. Prayer and oftentimes intercession. Intercession is warfare-the battleground is not of this earth but is being fought in the spirit realm. Sounds spooky to some but it is very real! Ephesians 6 is very clear about warfare and also in Daniel 10 we see the battle that was warred in the spirit through prayer end through fasting. But Asbel and I were talking about how easy it is to dismiss something that is going on in our lives that is actually very spiritual. But that we cannot afford to ignore it but must be sensitive to the signs and that prayer is the main piece of ammunition to use. I could tell you story after story of what I saw growing up and how prayer along with fasting revealed the truth in situations that needed to be revealed, and I saw many people delivered and set free. I also saw cancers that were diagnosed disappear. There were a lot of spiritual attacks and activity going on but our parents were sensitive enough to not just dismiss it. Instead they took it to the One who IS bigger than whatever spirit and situation comes our way.
I implore more women to get into their prayer closets (war rooms) and to pray until something breaks. Ask Jesus to open your eyes (spiritually) and to draw you closer to Him. I'm at a place where I don't have time to play games or to pretend to be a Christian, and to go through the motions or to build a platform called Stephenie and say look at me. I'm so over all of that and want no part of it! I've been under attack spiritually this year and I know the enemy would love to bring me down and to squash this passion and calling that Jesus Christ put in me to help women. But I am aware enough to know that like 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that the enemy is lurking about seeking someone he can distract and bring down..."Be sober, well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour." This is real it is not just another Sci-Fi movie that people sit around watching and eating popcorn. You will never win the battle by sitting around doing nothing. You will never win the battle if you are more concerned with the appearance than what is behind the mask. You will never win the battle if you are more consumed with self than you are with giving "everything" to Christ. We cannot win battles or discern correctly when we are filling up on TV junk or filling up on social media talking points that are full of hate and seducing voices. People are dying and need Christ! That should be enough to shake us and put a burden on us to realize that we live in a dark world and that we are called to be the light of the world. But how can we be the light of the world if we are not in tune with what is going on. People in our families are spiritually dead but we think they are okay because they look okay on the outside or we just say it's a phase they are going through. People on the job or in a ministry seem okay but are they okay. People we see at the grocery store or while we are getting a coffee seem okay but are they okay. Open our eyes Jesus! Pour into us YOUR burden and Heartbeat for souls! We cannot let up but must continue to pray and to go deeper in Christ.
We must pray our way through the battleground and realize that Jesus Christ is much bigger than the darkness and spirits that come and try to dismantle us. Fight the good fight! Be in tune with your surroundings (including your home, inner circle, ministry, career) and discern! I pray for discernment nearly every day for the day I stop discerning is the day that the enemy will gain some ground.
Stephenie HaneyMontes
