Driving Out Demons

"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you." Luke 11:20

How many of you have struggled with yo-yo dieting? I can name several times in life that I've lost significant amounts of weight, only to gain it all back again and then some. After doing the South Beach Diet and stopping when I got pregnant with my first son, I gained back more weight than I had lost, leaving me heavier than ever. UGH!And I can't blame the pregnancy - for after gaining over 60 pounds, I gave birth to a little guy who weighed just slightly more than 3 pounds. 

Why can't I stay on task and keep with what I know is right? As I've been studying God's Word and pondering this thought, I read the following verses that Jesus spoke in Luke 11:24-26: "When an evil (or unclean) spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first." When I read these verses, I'll admit that I was horrified. It dawned on me that this may be happening to me.

I think in the present age, we don't think so much about 'spirits' that enter us. Maybe our culture doesn't make it 'fashionable' or 'hip' to think that demons could be possessing us - that's for horror movies and non-fiction, right? But as I've been reading the New Testament, driving out demons is often how Jesus' healing was described. I have a great friend who struggles with seizures, and I just read in Luke how God rebuked the demon who had been possessing a boy who had various seizures (Luke 9:37-43). When God healed a man who had been mute in Luke 11:14, He did so through driving out the demon. Jesus drove out an evil spirit on the Sabbath in a synagogue in Luke 4:31-37. He would also say things like "your sins have been forgiven" when he healed folks. For me, I know that overeating has been a sin in my life. But, have I left the door open in committing these sins for actual evil spirits to enter? I shudder at the thought.

Then I read the story of "the Healing of the Demon-possessed Man." I remember this story well, for I did Bible quizzing when I was in high school and we were to memorize the first half of the book of Luke and be quizzed on it. I wasn't completely committed to the quizzing as some of my friends were, but I did enjoy learning this way and remember much of what I read from those days. In any case, I remember Jesus meeting a man who called himself "Legion" because many demons had gone into him (this story is found in Luke 8:26-38). "A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and He gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned." I almost giggled at the irony. What do pigs represent in society? Typically, if we call a person a piggy, it means that they eat too much. Could my demons be sent into a herd of pigs that they would die rather than me? That is my prayer! I would rather the demons not wander around aimlessly and come back into my cleaned-up life and settle in with seven of their friends. Rather, I'd rather be done with this sin once and for all!

After this man was healed, he begged Jesus to go with Him. But Jesus sent him away saying "Return home and tell how much God has done for you. (Luke 8:39)" I think this is a crucial step to our healing, too. I boast not at the fact that I've lost weight. For honestly, this has been a struggle for me almost my entire life. If I had discipline to begin with, I wouldn't even be writing this for you (and the public at large) to read. Rather, it's humiliating to talk about something that society looks down on and is truly sin in my life. But, in saying that, I've lost over 60 pounds and it's only been through God's amazing grace. For, I don't have willpower or discipline on my own, but God has been showing me His extravagant love for me and His desire for my well-being. Please pray for me, and I will continue to pray for you. It's only through prayer and God's work on the cross that we'll ever be set free from sin!

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are holy. We can praise You and magnify You even on days that we don't feel worthy for You are ALWAYS worth of honor. Father, we thank You for Your Word today. God, we pray and ask right now that You would drive out the demons in our lives by Your very finger so that the kingdom of God would come to us. Lord, I'll be honest and admit that I don't understand a lot about demons. I don't fear them, for You alone are to be feared. Instead, I ask You to drive out any evil spirits that we've allowed to enter our lives. And, please don't let them wander, but we ask that you instead send them into the pigs that they may die and we might have life more abundant. God, we don't want to leave room for even more evil spirits to come into our lives. God, guard our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our souls and our actions. Lord, we ask for the Holy Spirit to protect us as only You can. Please mold our bodies and hearts as You intended when You created them. Don't allow sin to enter our lives and destroy Your creation. May our bodies glorify You, as we long to display Your splendor for Your honor. God, help us admit where we've been wrong and tell others what You alone have done for us. It's not by our work, Lord, but by Your very finger that we are healed. We thank You and praise You, Lord Jesus. Have Your way in our lives! In Your Name we pray, AMEN!

Depending on God's Mercy

^"It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy." Romans 9:16

I read this verse as I was studying the Bible, and I realized how true it is. We can desire to be thin, we can struggle and make lots of effort to overcome our sin, but in all reality, our entire success depends on God's mercy. You see, He's the only one that can forgive us of our sin and set us free from the bondage we've allowed ourselves to get into. And, we can't do anything to earn His favor. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But, the good news is that God is merciful! The work has already been completed on the cross. We don't have to earn it. We just need to receive it and believe that God has forgiven us so we can begin again. It doesn't depend on human effort but on God's mercy. If you're struggling today, fall back on God's mercy. He desires to set you free as His beloved child.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You in awe and worship. You are a holy God. Lord, no amount of effort or works gets us to your throne of grace. Instead, the blood of Your Son Jesus has already paved the way for our forgiveness. Thank You for reconciling us to You even while we were still sinning. God, we don't deserve Your goodness, but we thank You for Your mercy and love. Thank You that You have called us children. We long to honor You in what we say, do and even eat. Please forgive our sin and help us start fresh today. We humbly ask to be healthy and thin for Your glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Watch & Pray

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Matthew 26:41

This verse spoke to me as I read it. Jesus was telling His disciples to keep watch and to pray that they wouldn't fall into temptation. Do you struggle with tempting foods? I know I do. One thing I fell in love with this summer was the caramel frappe from McDonald's. In just one drink, there's over 600 calories! Yikes! Yet, I couldn't seem to resist when the opportunity arose for one. Then I noticed their advertising called these drinks 'temptations.' Was that a sign or what?!?!

According to Jesus in the gospel, we need to watch and pray so that we won't fall into temptation. I run most mornings and I start the day thinking that I'm going to eat healthy and light and workout a ton. In my spirit, I'm willing. But as the day wears on, I notice the weakness of my body as I get hungry or tired. What's the answer? Prayer. Being watchful. Realizing that our body is weak. Going back to a loving God and asking for help so we don't fall into temptation. Let's pray now!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a holy and loving God. Thank You for Your Word. God, we want to be watchful and we're coming to You in prayer. Please keep us from temptation. You know our spirit is willing, but you also know our body is weak. Please protect us, oh Lord, and strengthen us. Please make us healthy and thin for Your glory. Develop character and discipline in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!