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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Outlook (06/02/11)
The long drawn out thunder was a cover for their voices. Only one person in the small group Bible study heard the disharmony in the night’s sounds. A look of sheer terror played across her face, but no one seemed to notice. I noticed. I felt the energy currents of her fear reaching out to me from the other side of the couch.

What’s wrong with her, I wondered. Tears were breaking from her eyes just as the rain started falling outside. Surely the other group members would notice her distress.

What’s wrong, I ask quietly, discreetly. I find the answer in her eyes, when I look into the window of her soul. I just know. Her gift and curse is mine: discerning spirits. We’ve been there before together, but this time I didn’t share her awareness. She whispers to me bits and pieces from her perspective.

“Wait. Can I interrupt?” The other group members stop their conversation mid-sentence to give us their full attention. Now what? Do I tell them my daughter just heard demonic voices in the peal of thunder, as they were travelling in a large group over the house, clearly on their way somewhere with a purpose? Will they think we are crazy, maybe a little dramatic?

I had to speak for her at first; she was too scared. “Jess and I have the gift of discerning spirits. She felt spiritually attacked …” Her voice took over mine, and she told what just happened. “I heard numerous voices speaking all at once when it thundered earlier. The voices were excited. They were moving overhead, past the house, and then they noticed me noticing them! They stopped to stare at me, right through me. Then they flew off in a hurry to get somewhere…” Jess couldn’t finish sharing what she heard and felt.

We stumbled into prayer, the Holy Spirit interceding on our behalf. What happened next was unexpected and a blessing. Two people shared their own personal experiences with spiritual warfare, and what God showed them in those experiences. One in particular is a close friend of mine who has battled her weight for some time. She shared that she was running in her first 5K race, and was physically pushed down to the ground. No one was behind her and there had been nothing to trip over. She lay there face down feeling sorry for herself, ready to give up. But she clearly heard God’s voice say “Get up, Trena. Keep going. Keep running the race.” She knew that God allowed the enemy to push her down to see if she would give up as she had so many times in the past, or get back up and run. Trena got up and finished that race, and hasn’t stopped since.

We drove home from small group that night, remnants of storm clouds in the sky, and still feeling disturbed by the experience. We talked about the possible reasons for the demon’s excitement and where they may have gone in such a hurry. Only God knew. Whatever the reason, we were reminded of the constant spiritual battles raging around us, and to be ready for battle in full armor. Fighting our spiritual battles with prayer changes the perspective away from fear to hear what God is trying to tell us; He is in control.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jessica Turner-Stotz
06/10/11
Very well written!! There are so many wonderful sentances throughout (ex. remnants of storm clouds). Loved the strength of the message--it's hard to have that constant outook that God is in control no matter what--we as humans are always trying to take the reigns away from Him to our own detriment and to the devil's delight. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece--one of the strongest in this catagory I believe! Keep writing :)
Mildred Sheldon
06/10/11
I enjoyed your story very much. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are truly wonderful, but only those who trust God completely can understand the depth of your story.
diana kay
06/11/11
this was powerful writing and i felt the fear and the tension. I would of liked to know the age of the people at the bible study particularly the MCs daughter. She seemed to be a youngster.I would have liked there to be more in the story about the security of God being more powerful than the evil spirits.thanks for gripping writing
Janice Fitzpatrick
06/12/11
This is a piece that grabbed my attention as it is one that needs to be discussed more. We so need to prepare ourselves and get suited up for battle against the enemy, as yes we are not fighting against flesh and blood but against principalities and the darkness. But we don't have to be afraid, as the scriptures says, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." "Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world."
Well done, very deep and moving!!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
06/14/11
This is a powerful piece that grabbed me right away and gave me chills. Nice job.