Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: DREAM (01/02/20)
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TITLE: This Unpleasant Sleepness | Previous Challenge Entry
By Barbara Culler
01/09/20 -
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Even the apostle Paul warned the early church that evil in the unseen world was an actual issue.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
In my life, I’ve encountered that spiritual struggle in many forms: hope lost, depression, afflictions, oppression and even in dreams. Generally, I don’t recall dreams, yet have come against certain recurring nightmares that lead me to believe that it is actually spiritual warfare.
When it happens, I’m lying on my back and internal goosebumps surge throughout my body as I float up and hover. Simultaneously, a powerful wind causes the skin on my face to ripple as though made of rubber. It’s not a pleasant feeling and intuitively I know that this is not of God. I cry out: Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Then I wake up.
My last experience occurred during a highly stressful time on the job. The dreams always involve the same sensations of chills and wind, but this time added the horror of detached arms pulling me down through the electrical outlet behind the bed. I was scared, yet called on Jesus to save me and I was awakened.
As Christians, we are equipped with tools to protect ourselves from Satan’s attacks. Paul continues to tell us what we must do to utilize that power:
”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 10-11, 13-17 NIV
I don’t know why I get those particular night visions. Perhaps my dreams are merely the product of an overactive brain, or the workings of what happened during my day. Or they really are battles of evilness. Seldom do I consider what is transpiring in the otherworld as I go to bed, yet even in sleep, I know that there is power and protection in the name of Jesus.
It’s a reality that spiritual forces in the heavenly realms exists that are not the product of a writer’s imagination.They will attempt to discourage or even kill Christians, however, we have the authority through Jesus Christ to fight them off. Even when they appear in dreams.
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