Be Aware, Be Very Aware

Satan is alive and well on planet earth. That is the title of a book written by Hal Lindsey. And it’s an absolute truth. If you are a Christian, you should know this. I’ve had my battles with the enemy.

In case you don’t know, I am from Alaska. I grew up there, and for a very brief time, dragged my Californian husband up there to live for three years. After three years we moved back to California because as my husband said, “It’s cold up there.” While we lived there, I had a job that entailed me traveling to little villages surrounding the town where I’m from.

There was one particular village that I had to go to that I think was controlled by the enemy. It was a village my pastor talked about growing up. You see our old pastor came up to Alaska to plant churches. And that’s what he did. He would start in a village, build a church there, and once it got on it’s feet, he would move on to another village. He started in this one particular village, but got nowhere. He moved on. Eventually, he got to the town where I am from. I grew up under his preaching. When I got to high school he decided to go back to that village and try and start a church there. I believe he got nowhere again.

I had heard tales about this village. People there were very closed to the gospel. Well this village was going to have a conference and they invited me and several of my co-workers to fly up there and stay for the weekend.

As we got within miles of the village, a heaviness overtook me. All of a sudden, I felt anxious and hopeless. It was a panicked feeling. As we flew through the air, closer and closer to the village, the panicked feeling got stronger and stronger. I couldn’t pray. My mind was muddled and I just couldn’t pray in my head. This feeling was overwhelming me.

We landed okay and we got off the plane. Those panicky feelings stuck with me like dark clouds surrounding me. I couldn’t shake them. Again, I tried to pray. My mind remained muddled. I couldn’t form a prayer in my head. It was like I was completely confused. I kept thinking, I need to pray, but I couldn’t. In my head, I would start a prayer and it was like the words just floated out of my ears. I truly couldn’t pray. The feeling of hopelessness stuck with me like a thick glue to my heart and brain. I continued to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. What was wrong with me? The whole weekend I felt this way. I had a feeling that I wanted to leave this village so badly. If I never came back again, it would be too soon.

The conference ended and I couldn’t wait to get back on the plane and fly away. I wanted to go home so badly. As our plane lifted, we were speeding through the air away, far away from the village. Within miles AWAY from the village, something snapped within me. The feelings of hopelessness lifted. My mind was clear again. The feelings of panic and being overwhelmed also went away. I could pray. A lightness filled me. I felt whole again.

Years later, I was studying the book of Daniel in Bible study. In Daniel 10:12-13 an angel comes to Daniel but says he is late in coming because the Prince of Persia delayed him. Then Michael came to help him. Something clicked when I read that passage. There are demon gate keepers of towns. Either God has that place or the enemy does. I thought of this village. There was definitely a demonic influence over that town. As a Christian, I could feel it physically and spiritually. If I could have seen the demons, I think I would have been blown away by the multitudes of them.

I was caught off guard going into that village. I didn’t expect that demonic presence. If I knew, I would have had people praying for me. That would have been my protection. But I didn’t.

I’m not saying that the enemy is stronger than God. Certainly not! God defeated the enemy at the cross! God gave us tools for this spiritual battle we fight.

…”because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

We aren’t alone. I was caught off guard. We are living in the last days. I think the battle is heating up. We just need to be aware as Christians, so we aren’t caught off guard like I was. Be aware and fight the good fight.