Not long after discarding what I referred to in my previous journal entry as a letter from "Hell"…
I began to sense God's displeasure at what I had done. While the letter was repulsive and unsettling, what I now realize is that I should have put it aside for the time being. In hindsight, it would have been best to wait until I was rested, and then carefully and prayerfully read the letter.
My mistake was acting in haste. Yes, I was tired at the end of a busy workday. I was annoyed by this unwelcome letter, as well. But that's no excuse. As a follower of Jesus, and as one who has himself been the victim of satanic influences and demonic powers, I should have seen its author as a man living in a tormented state of mind, and in desperate need for deliverance from the powers of darkness. While he himself may not be aware of how twisted and depraved his mind is right now.
The Lord, I believe, wanted me to first pray over the letter while at the same time speak against the demonic spirit that was behind it. As a child of God I have His authority to do this because, as the Lord himself declared in the Scriptures, that His disciples would be able to "tread on serpents and scorpions,"(literally demons), and "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19).
Ideally, my role was to do these things, as well as ask the Lord what else He wanted me to do with the letter. Had I done so, I do believe I would have been instructed to send it, along with a cover letter from me, to my friend Andy Kahan, in Texas, where he is the Director of the city of Houston's Crime Victims Assistance Unit. Andy also helps at the Crime-Stoppers of Houston office, too.
It is too late now, and my heart remains heavy. But I did ask the Lord's forgiveness for my disobedience for not first praying in order to seek his guidance. He has forgiven me, and I have the assurance that He has. Why? Because the Bible says that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Yet the Lord Jesus chastened me as well. Speaking to my inner spirit, He instructed me not to act on impulse in situations like this. And not to make important decisions when I'm tired, but to be patient and to wait on the Lord for His instructions on when or when not to act. This was a tremendous learning experience for me.
With this said, God used that letter from Hell as a teaching tool to expose the areas in my life where I was weak in and needed to be strengthened. And as for the letter itself, I'm certain justice will move along just fine without it.
D.B.
My mistake was acting in haste. Yes, I was tired at the end of a busy workday. I was annoyed by this unwelcome letter, as well. But that's no excuse. As a follower of Jesus, and as one who has himself been the victim of satanic influences and demonic powers, I should have seen its author as a man living in a tormented state of mind, and in desperate need for deliverance from the powers of darkness. While he himself may not be aware of how twisted and depraved his mind is right now.
The Lord, I believe, wanted me to first pray over the letter while at the same time speak against the demonic spirit that was behind it. As a child of God I have His authority to do this because, as the Lord himself declared in the Scriptures, that His disciples would be able to "tread on serpents and scorpions,"(literally demons), and "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19).
Ideally, my role was to do these things, as well as ask the Lord what else He wanted me to do with the letter. Had I done so, I do believe I would have been instructed to send it, along with a cover letter from me, to my friend Andy Kahan, in Texas, where he is the Director of the city of Houston's Crime Victims Assistance Unit. Andy also helps at the Crime-Stoppers of Houston office, too.
It is too late now, and my heart remains heavy. But I did ask the Lord's forgiveness for my disobedience for not first praying in order to seek his guidance. He has forgiven me, and I have the assurance that He has. Why? Because the Bible says that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Yet the Lord Jesus chastened me as well. Speaking to my inner spirit, He instructed me not to act on impulse in situations like this. And not to make important decisions when I'm tired, but to be patient and to wait on the Lord for His instructions on when or when not to act. This was a tremendous learning experience for me.
With this said, God used that letter from Hell as a teaching tool to expose the areas in my life where I was weak in and needed to be strengthened. And as for the letter itself, I'm certain justice will move along just fine without it.
D.B.
