@Marcie_Bridges
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12
Prayer —
the most
powerful
place
to
pierce
the
powers
practiced
by the
prince of darkness
pointing
us to
passionately
pursue
the
Prince of Peace
Whose
presence
pleasingly promises
perpetual
penetrating
protection
and
purpose
each
period, pinnacle and
peak
of our life.
permanently,
persistently
present.
~Marcell Warner Bridges
©19 November 2015
all rights reserved.
I stood among a patch of newly blossomed flowers. Spring was finally here. Enjoying the warmth of the sun, I picked a few to take back to the room. Poppy red, carnation pink, sky blue, deep purple, and golden yellow buds formed a beautiful bouquet.
As I turned to go, a form I can only describe as the face from the painting, The Scream¹, by Edvard Munch rose before me. Screaming, I dropped the flowers and ran as fast as I could.
Entering the room, Mark and the girls just laughed at me when I told them about the monster. I was sure there had been more than one. Leaving me to nap—because I was “just exhausted” they said—I found myself alone.
But nothing. Absolutely nothing. Could have prepared me for the next moment. The room, decorated in beige and turquoise tones, was lined with dolls. Everywhere I looked dolls of all shapes, sizes, and faces greeted me. “Oh how lovely!” I thought.
Picking one up, I admired her, touching her sweet pageant dress of blue with white flowers on it. Suddenly, her left hand grasped my thumb and her face turned ashen. Her smile formed a grin of rotten teeth as she began cackling.
I tried to throw her to the floor but her other porcelain hand grabbed onto my shirt. What strength! I couldn’t free her from me.
Tears streamed down my face. The room became cold and dark. My eyes darted around the room and all of the dolls now laughed with ugly zombie-like faces.
Terrified, my mind searched for answers. There must be something I could do to end this nightmare I was trapped in. Between sobs I found myself singing:
Jesus. Jesus. Jeeeeee-sus. There’s just something about that name…
Over and over I sang this line. And just as suddenly as the dolls had morphed into evil, they changed back to their beautiful porcelain selves and they too sang with me:
Jesus. Jesus. Jeeeee-sus…
I felt my body shift. My eyes blinking in the darkness of my bedroom. On one hand my body wanted to go back to sleep; but, on the other hand, part of me didn’t.
I got up and found my youngest daughter still awake even at 3:00 in the morning. I told her about my dream. Not all of it. Just enough. Her response? “Wow mom. Even in your dreams you turn to Jesus.”
And that’s what I find so intriguing about this dream. Even though it was just a dream, Jesus was part of it. I turned to Him for help and found the power of speaking His name not only calmed my fears, it also changed the outcome of the story.
Do we really know the power of Jesus in our lives? Do we really understand that just the mention of His name sends Satan and his cohorts fleeing? This isn’t just something Frank Peretti² made up to write his novels. It’s real! This is real!
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!** We do not wrestle with flesh and blood but powers of darkness. We cannot overcome them. Not in our own power. We cannot save ourselves from any of it without the very power of Jesus Christ within us. We MUST speak His name—JESUS!
During my darkest hours or when I’m feeling fearful, maybe worried, I know I can breathe in Jesus and exhale His peace. Try it with me. As you take in a breath say or think His name: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Now as you exhale, letting the air out slowly, feel the peace only He can give spread through your heart and body.
Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have against Satan. Do you know why? Because as we pray, Satan can’t stand our prayers. As we speak Jesus’ name, Satan’s grip on us loosens. As we inhale the name of Jesus, Satan flees and we find there is no other name, no other way, we can feel peace.
I walked back to bed, lay down, and fell back to sleep right away. If I had any other dreams, I don’t remember them. Now that’s peace.
From My Heart to Yours,
Marcie
Credits:
¹https://www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp
²Frank Peretti.: This Present Darkness
All pictures provided by www.pixabay.com
MISS LAST WEEK’S POST? READ IT HERE … BE STILL MY SOUL ~ A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Wow! Powerful testimony! I experienced a similar dream involving spiritual warfare almost 40 years ago. I still remember it vividly. A band of Darth Vader type creatures were racing toward me on black stallions — they were seeking to destroy me. I knew all I needed to do was speak the Name of Jesus, but my mouth was clamped shut. I struggled and struggled to speak His Name and finally it stammered from my lips. Then I began to speak it with boldness and confidence and the stallions reared to a halt, their Darth Vader creatures turning them around, and racing toward the horizon. The next morning I knew something incredible had happened to me. And THEN I found a small stained glass cross that hung on my window with a suction cup lying on the carpet of my bedroom. The cross was in tact, but the welding around it was twisted. Can you imagine? Powerful!
Wow! I don’t know whose nightmare was more spooky. I think yours, especially after finding the cross welding bent up. I’m so grateful God is available to us and rescues us even in our dreams…nightmares. Thank you for sharing this story with me. It too, is a very powerful testimony to our Lord and of your faith. Love you 🙂
Wow, Marcie, this is so powerful! Calling on Jesus in prayer will give us the strength and courage to subdue even our most dreaded fears.
Blessings!