(Below are Jessica's thoughts on Chapter 6 of Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter as well. Feel free to leave a comment, question or scripture in the comment section below this post. Let's dig deep and join together to fight this battle!)
Have you ever felt like you were bound, blocked, or just too confused to see what was once made so clear to you by God? The first thing I thought of as I read this chapter was the very beginning of this journey with autism, when I was researching, researching, researching. I felt nearly paralyzed and completely overwhelmed with all I could pursue to help my son. I relate to this where I am now also, as trials of various sorts come at me as I do my best to maintain everything I have in place and follow where we are meant to go. Sometimes the present crisis takes so much attention that it is easy to forget all that God has done for us in the past. It is easy and quite understandable to be thrown off focus in this way with so much going on.
It becomes very apparent in these times that we need to lean on God's understanding completely. Joyce shares a struggle that she had early in her ministry with confusion, self-doubt and unbelief. This nearly threw her completely off course to where she couldn't possibly see how her ministry could grow into what God had showed her it would be. In prayer, the Holy Spirit revealed and confirmed repeatedly that there were "mind binding spirits" at work. As soon as she prayed for deliverance, she was set free and was able to believe again.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. -Romans 8:26
This journey requires faith, stamina and motivation far beyond what any of us could have imagined. The only way to have this is through God. If we ask in prayer, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us things that we could not possibly know otherwise and lead us to pray the way we need to. We are drawn closer to God into deeper relationship and are better able to be used by Him.
As Joyce prayed for her deliverance, she confessed these two passages of scripture, out loud:
John 8:31-32
If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
I love the way Joyce reminds us that God "chooses weak and foolish things to confound the wise" (1 Cor 1:27, p.58). It may seem to others that we are foolish in our hope, optimism, faith and the lengths we are willing to go to for our children. It makes me feel better to know that even at my weakest moment, God can and will use me for something great. So if you've ever felt like you were too weak, confused, tired, weighed down or overwhelmed to make any difference, take heart! You are in very good company, as one who can be used by God in extraordinary ways.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for hearing us when we pray to you. Thank you for each and every mother that you draw closer to you and for all of the ways you have blessed us as we raise our children with autism. In the name of your son Jesus, and by the power of His blood, we come against any "mind-binding spirits" that have been causing difficulty as we live to fulfill your purposes. In Jesus' name, set us free from anything that holds us back and is not of you. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, give us faith, insight, wisdom, love, healing and deliverance where you know we need it most. We turn from our old ways of relying on ourselves and surrender fully to you. We trust in Your ways and Your perfect plan for our lives and the lives of our children. Speak Lord, we are listening. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
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