For many of us, it’s that time of year again… Spiritual Warfare season! If your response to that statement was a sarcastic “Oh yay!” then you have an honorary membership in the Enduring Faith in Jesus Christ Pressing On Club! (Which should actually be a real club in my opinion). On a serious note, if you have been saying or thinking things like, “Not this again,” or “I can’t believe I am facing this here,” and any variation of sentiments like why me, it’s not fair, or this is getting old… You may have entered a season of fresh Spiritual Warfare. This message is not to alarm you, put you on edge, or explain away what you are dealing with in REALITY aka the natural realm. No, this message is to sharpen your perception, help you strategize your responses, and to let you know that although you are going through it – you are not going through it alone.
Lately, and especially today various passages from the book of Daniel have been really ministering to me personally. This book is especially good for people that are “Targeted Individuals”. There are definitions for the term Target Individuals in Psychology and other disciplines, especially when it refers to a phenomena called “Gang Stalking”, however to prevent this message from getting too long: Targeted Individuals are people who seem to get “singled out,” picked on, isolated, or negatively called out in a way that draws negative attention and ill treatment to them. For a targeted individual, they are not looking for trouble, trouble comes looking for them. A targeted individual is not worried about getting pushed into the ditch, they are concerned with how they are going to get out of the ditch, because they know that push is coming. They may come off a bit standoffish or paranoid, but if the average person were to walk a block in their shoes, they would quickly understand what they are up against. So how does Spiritual warfare fit into all of this? Well, in the book of Daniel an excellent example of how an evil strategy of targeting was executed against Daniel is explained. In Daniel 6 the whole story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den unfolds. Daniel was starting to shine among his coworkers and had found favor with the King. His coworkers and ultimately his competition were observing that he was probably about to get promoted soon, which would increase his power and influence in that kingdom. So Daniel’s coworkers devised a plan against Daniel (this is where they targeted him) by convincing the king to put into law a statute against praying to any other deity but the King for 30 days and if anyone broke that law they would be thrown into the Lion’s den. So this is how targeting works, the people being used by the enemy will observe the individual that they are targeting to try to find flaws, using that information, they try to find a “legal and binding way” to entrap that person so that they will no longer qualify for the promotion, and to basically take them out of consideration permanently. This is why people are so nosy and trying to get into your business, or stalking you, or worried about what you are up to all of the time. The people that feel threatened by your greatness, are always the ones trying to bind you with rules, judgements, and making your differences seem like flaws. Notice, this is not the same as having a “beef” with someone or a gang rivalry situation. Daniel was literally minding his own business and doing his job when the conspirators began to plot against him. He didn’t disrespect anyone or intentionally try to offend anyone, all he was guilty of was excelling at his job.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were doing pretty well, you knew what to do and was finding success at that activity, and out of nowhere it seems like the paying field was changed and everything felt foreign and you could no longer find success with the methods that you previously used? It’s like getting “piled on” in a game of Uno right when you only have a few cards left in your hand, but the consequences and ramifications are not fun and games. One thing that is really unjust is when a situation that affects many people is manipulated to target a specific person. For example, one person at work keeps leaving food in the breakroom refrigerator, and more than likely many people know who the person is. But, instead of directly addressing that one person, a new rule is added to the employee handbook about leaving food in the fridge and what the consequences are. Plus you know with a new rule, there have to be monitors to make sure that the rule is enforced. The whole situation could have been alleviated with a simple conversation, but nooooo, they dislike this person so much that they would rather create a whole new rule that EVERYONE is subject to, with the hopes of getting that ONE person in trouble. This is what targeted individuals have to deal with in the spiritual and natural realms, and this was also what Daniel was dealing with in this historical account. The same thing applies to “calling out” a person negatively and covertly at the same time. Using the employee breakroom situation, what if to make it clear that person X is the reason for the new rule, a group of person X’s coworkers begin to talk loudly, within hearing range of person X, about how gross leaving food in the refrigerator is and how they are so angry at anyone who would do something like that, etc, etc. This group does this not knowing that a new mom who just recently started working in that office had been leaving parts of her lunch in the fridge also for convenience, to make sure that she had something to eat on days that she was too busy with her newborn to pack a lunch. This poor woman hears this group’s angry rant and thinks that they are directing it at her, not realizing that they were really targeting person X. This group self righteously congratulates themselves thinking that they sure taught person X a lesson, when they were completely ignorant of how they demoralized a new coworker who had nothing to do with their hatred of person X. When groups of people seek to target a specific person they often “cast a wide net” to make it seem like they aren’t picking on anyone specifically and if the shoe fits then it is what it is. However, just like in fishing, casting a wide net is only good if you are ok with killing or injuring sea life that you didn’t intend to catch. In some places fishing with wide nets have been outlawed because of the damage that it causes to natural habitats like marine life and coral reefs plus the pollution of dead fish and other creatures that do not survive when thrown back into the water. How many people are walking around with wounds, discouragement, and limited perceptions because of being caught in a net meant for someone else?
So what happened to Daniel? Well, he was not intimidated by the strategy of the conspirators. He boldly opened his windows, and prayed loudly with praises and joy to the One True God! He refused to be restricted from worshiping his God because of a man made law. He knew that it would mean that he would have to go to the Lion’s den, however that was not a deterrent to him. Let’s be real, if someone is trying to get you or take you out, they are going to keep trying regardless of what you do. Daniel must have figured this out and decided that if they were going to take him out anyway, that he might as well go out in faith and worship to his God. This is why conforming to norms and protocols that go against who God created to be are futile and time wasters. If you conform to the world to avoid the Lion’s den that the evil one has prepared for you, you also miss out on the miracle of deliverance from the Lion’s den, the Glory that God is supposed to get from bringing you out, and the testimony of the angelic help that was sent to shut the mouth of the lions. Your enemies also never face the consequences of their evil acts of targeting you for troubles. So you can avoid some spiritual warfare battles by compromising, however it will probably not be the relief that you thought it would be, because that same enemy is going to try another way to take you out when you start to shine again.
Follow Daniel’s example:
When the enemy is coming against your praise – Praise louder and longer!
When the enemy is resisting your prayers – Pray with more fire and more fervency!
When the enemy is invading your worship – Decree and declare victory and triumph over your boundaries / scope of influence.
Have unwavering faith in God’s ability to overcome any conspiracy or Lion’s den set against you!
Attack the attack against you by leaning on the One who is fighting for you!
Attack the attack on your emotions and feelings by staying in the Word and encouraging yourself when discouragement comes!
Attack the attack on your peace, by resisting the enemy until every single one of them flees in the name of Jesus!
Attack the attack that is targeting you by placing it at Jesus’ feet and canceling the strategy of the enemy!
Attack the attack on your progress by setting your days, plans, intents, and efforts before the Lord and inviting Him into your day!
Attack the attack of word curses against you by speaking life, speaking the Word, and using your heavenly language to pull down the Words that God says about you and your situation! Do not conform, fold, or get crushed by the attacks set against you in this warfare season.
Attack the attack by deciding in advance that you will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord according to Psalm 118:17!
Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers). – Galatians 6:9-10 (AMP)
Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. – Daniel 6:21-13 (NLT)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – Ephesians 6-10-13
Thank you for reading this blog post, I hope that it encourages you in whatever situation that you may be facing or helping others through. If this has blessed you or you believe that it might encourage someone else, please feel free to share and or repost.
Blessings Always,
Dionne Renae ♥♥♥
Lessons 'n Blessings 