Daily Journal: 14 June

How Do I Live Free of Spiritual Oppression?

If I’m not feeling free, if I’m burdened, constrained, oppressed, or maligned, I need to recognise where that’s coming from. Is it coming from within me or is it coming at me from other people?

When I feel spiritual oppression it’s like a weight. I can’t necessarily pick exactly what is happening but I can feel it. Spiritual attack can come through circumstance or a person blaming, justifying or deflecting in a way that causes strife, not peace.

So, how do I live free of spiritual oppression?

I need discernment to understand what is taking place and bring myself, firstly, under the submission of Jesus Christ and see if there is anything in me that needs addressing (Psalm 139:23-24). Then I need to ask for discernment to understand what it is I may be dealing with externally and begin to move against that power that is coming against me in the spirit.

John 8:32 (NLV)

You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

The worst thing I can do, that I do too often, is allow myself to become hurt, offended, defensive, abrasive, disempowered or pass judgment.

Jesus Himself didn't even pass judgment, so in my journey, I must not either.

John 8:15 (NIV)

You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.

When the Holy Spirit shows me what I’m dealing with, I can stand in the Name of Jesus and take authority over that spiritual darkness that is trying to strip me of my position and power – because that’s what it’s trying to do. The darkness doesn’t want the light to shine and so it will try and extinguish the light in me.

1 John 4:4 (NCV)

My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God’s Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.

I need to move in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, reminding spiritual darkness that Christ has already overcome and I stand in His victory. I claim His victory. I am of no consequence in myself, but I carry all that Jesus has given me. I might be as weak as an invalid, as vulnerable as a baby, but Christ in me carries all the power and authority I need to overcome all spiritually dark activity. All of it combined is no match to the one Jesus Christ in me. Attack comes from many different places, some surprising, some unsurprising. I must remain inside the fortress of Jesus Christ because outside of that fortress I am too weak to stand in power and peace.

Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)

The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

He has overcome sin and death from beginning to end already. I need to take my position, stand in it and declare the dismantling of every spiritual element that comes against me and the knowledge of Jesus Christ in my life. If it takes doing that every day, throughout every day, then I need to do that. I acknowledge that I am in a spiritual war.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLV)

It is true, we live in a body of flesh. But we do not fight like people of the world. We do not use those things to fight with that the world uses. We use the things God gives to fight with and they have power. Those things God gives to fight with destroy the strong-places of the devil. We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.

The only thing I must do is believe, just like Jesus said in Mark 5:36.

2 Timothy 1:6 (AMPC)

That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you