Spiritual Warfare…and Why I Really Don’t Like Snakes

STORY TIME

A few months ago, I laid down to go to sleep. I’m one of those people that can kind of control what they want to dream about whether it’s winning the swim meet or beating down the bad guys.

As soon as I closed my eyes I was in a desert. Wow, not my first choice, brain.

In my dream, there was a rattlesnake coiled up by my feet rattling and getting ready to strike.

I felt fear, but more surprised than anything. I opened my eyes and said a very holy prayer, “Lord, I really don’t want to dream about frickin’ snakes. Will you make them go away? In Jesus name, Amen.”

Went to sleep. Didn’t think anything of it.

The next night I laid down to sleep and as soon as I closed my eyes I was in the jungle. Once again, not my preference of a destination; Did I eat something weird today?

Hanging in the branches above me was a boa constrictor. It was watching me with a predatory gaze and hovering above me looking for an opportunity to strike. Once again I sat up in bed and prayed and reminded God about Psalm 91 that we would crush snakes with our feet.

Went to sleep. Didn’t think anything of it.

The third night I laid down to sleep and you guessed it, as soon as I closed my eyes…something was not right. I couldn’t see any environment but it felt dark, vast, and murky. Ocean?

In the darkness, I sensed some kind of snake. Water snake? But this wasn’t like before. There was a tangible fear that settled over me. This snake felt huge, ancient and menacing.

I sat up in bed and realized this wasn’t me.

This wasn’t something I ate.

This wasn’t me trying to dream something up.

This was a glimpse of the supernatural.

But why? Have I given the devil a foothold somewhere in my life?

I thanked God for keeping me safe, rebuked the demonic spirit in Jesus name, and went back to sleep.

BACKGROUND

I reached out to my friend the next day for prayer. The reason I reached out to this particular friend is because she does spiritual warfare and inner healing ministry. I knew she wouldn’t think I was being a kook and that she would listen.

I shared with her my concerns about potentially having some unrepentant sin in my life giving a backdoor to the devil. She said she would pray about it.

After she prayed about it, she reached out and had some questions:

Was the snake ever attached to you?

No. It was just trying to intimidate me.

Have you done yoga that involves meditation that wasn’t focused on God?

No, I haven’t.

But then it hit me and I told her:

“I have not done that kind of yoga. But I am praying for India right now. I have friends that are missionaries getting ready to go there and I’ve committed to pray for them.”

“Yes! Wow, praise Jesus! That is the connection. Don’t stop praying for them or for India!”

Note: It is very common in India to do yoga that is worshipping gods/nature (hence, my friend’s question about yoga and understanding the connection). My Indian co-worker argued that it’s “just exercise”, but I countered that if you are doing this in conjunction with prayers/hymns/spells/incantations to the sun/moon/Vishnu etc then this is sin in the eyes of God.

PRE PYTHOS DREAMS

I felt lead to ask on Instagram if anyone needed prayer. I posted in my story in the morning asking if anyone needed prayer to let me know and I would pray for them. I checked in periodically and not a single person responded even though several had seen the post. 

I had done this sort of thing before and sometimes got a handful of requests to pray for people, but apparently no one needed prayer. I was surprised because I knew there was someone God wanted me to pray for. Maybe they needed courage to share?

But then my friend asked for prayer: her and her husband were attending classes and preparing their hearts for the mission field in India. They were looking for people to commit to praying for them and would I be willing?

I praised God! This was it! This is who I was waiting for! Not a single other person responded to that post after 24 hours.

CONCLUSION

When I received confirmation from my prayer-warrior friend that these dreams were as a result of prayer rather than sin in my life, I rejoiced! Thank you, Jesus that prayer works! The kingdom of God is forcefully advancing despite the enemy’s attacks. (Matthew 11:12)

When I shared this with my friend, it kind of made her worried and fearful. But that’s not why I share this testimony.

I share this to encourage you to pray, church.

If you’re not waging war against the sins and temptations in your life, then you are no threat to the enemy. 

When we pray we are going to war against our flesh and against the enemy. Don’t be surprised if Satan doesn’t like it and retaliates. But take heart, Jesus has already overcome the world! (John 16:33)

Don’t forget to pray for your missionaries both here at home and those on foreign soil because God has equipped us for battle so that His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

2 Corinthians 10:4
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I[Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

1 Peter 5:8
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 5:15-16
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”