The Bible clearly states that we have an enemy. Revelation 12:9 tells us that the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, is the one who deceives the whole world. John 10:10 tells us the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Moreover, Ephesians 6:12 tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against evil spiritual forces in the heavens.
Even with the knowledge that we have a spiritual enemy, we often fight the wrong enemy. For many years, I (Rick) thought that my wife, Amy, was the enemy. The real enemy, Satan, had deceived me into believing that Amy was the real problem and he did his best to try to confirm that belief. Satan used two main tactics in this battle. The first tactic involved demonic oppression (need for deliverance), and the second tactic involved wounds and hurts that I had experienced throughout my life (need for inner healing).
For years, whenever Amy and I would have a verbal argument, it was like there was a third party in the argument fanning the flames. Even small disagreements would escalate far beyond what seemed to be “normal.” I would completely shut down after the argument and would not talk to Amy for days. It felt like there was a voice telling me I was justified in my action, that I was the victim, and that Amy was my enemy.
I would also hear what Amy was saying to me from a filter of wounds and hurts. Amy would say something about the laundry, and I would hear “I’m a horrible husband and a failure.” I had several wounds from childhood that led me to believe lies about my identity, and then Satan used different experiences throughout my life to confirm those lies. I would then hear those lies instead of being able to clearly hear Amy when she was trying to address something that I needed to work on.
Thankfully, God has had me on a journey of inner healing and deliverance (more about that in another post), and now that I have received the full freedom that is available through the finished work of Jesus Christ, I can clearly see who the real enemy is. The good news is that Jesus has already defeated that enemy (1 John 3:8).
Like any other married couple, Amy and I still have our disagreements, but that third person is no longer there fanning the flames, and I no longer hear Amy through a filter of wounds and hurts. I see Satan as my real enemy and I can better see the tactics that he tries to use against me to divide us.
As Amy and I continue going deeper into sharing all God has shown us, our hope is that you will also receive greater revelation about healing, deliverance, and having discernment about spiritual battles. We look forward to sharing our personal testimonies, and more about inner healing and deliverance topics. If you feel you have struggled with spiritual oppression, seeing your loved ones as the enemy, if you fight hearing lies about your identity, or if there seems to be confusion and twisting within words during conversations or disagreements with your loved ones, there is hope for freedom!
Be blessed,
Rick
