Unmasked - Exorcising Demons through Therapy
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Middle Aged (35-54)Transcript
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Chapter five. God steps in God was not gentle with me. He threw me into the fray long before I felt ready. I had mapped out my whole program of preliminary research, but he had other plans altogether. Even so, I trusted in his wisdom to do things his way. He certainly knew me what a coward I was and how risk averse. I rarely ever took a step forward until I knew how it would work out. He knew that if he left it up to me, nothing would happen. So I needed a strong nudge. Of course, I was not at all pleased about it at the time and I told him so in no uncertain terms, but he did what he had to do. One night I was wrapping up a counseling session with a christian client. My custom with believing clients was to close in prayer, surrendering the therapy to God and asking him to carry it through to completion. On an impulse I took her hand as I prayed. I had sensed she needed a human touch to support her at that moment. No sooner had I begun to pray and intercede before God asking him to help her overcome the fear and anxiety that troubled her than the woman broke in and interrupted. How strange I thought, as I fully realized what she was saying. She belongs to me. And I am not leaving. Stop bothering me! Leave me alone! Because I like living here! You are so annoying! A shiver ran up and down my spine. I stiffened and opened my eyes. She looked like she was still praying. But the voice coming out of her mouth was taunting me. I realized I was still holding her hand, and I didn't know what to do. My first impulse was to drop her hand and fling it away, but something inside me made me stop. If you do that, an inner voice cautioned, the Demon will know you are afraid of it, and you will lose your advantage. But if I don't, I answered back, I will drop dead of fright! Right here! I feel like I am holding the devil's own claw in my very hand. What if it comes into me through this physical contact? Get hold of yourself! Said the inner voice. Remember what the Minister said, You have God's authority. Now use it! Oh, my God! I cried out as I recognized the voice inside me. Don't leave me now! I need you here beside me. So give me strength! The woman's husband, also in the room looked baffled. Her mouth kept talking, but now I understood that it was a demon. It was a good first step, right, at least I had figured that out. Shut up! Shut up! It said, stop praying for her! I am not going anywhere! And I refused to let you ruin this! I mustered up all the courage I could find which wasn't much and I leapt into action! What's your name? I demanded nerves. I am nerves! And I'm not alone. We have a whole crowd here and we are strong. How did you get in, nerves? I live here. This is my house. Answer me. How did you get in? I snapped. Ah! There are so many things. She's very weak. So it was simple. What do you want with her? We want to destroy her. We want her husband to get sick of her and walk out. I didn't dare look away to glance at her husband. I was terrified that this woman might lunge at me, though she showed no signs of doing so. You will fail, I answered. Come out of her in the name of jesus. No, I am not leaving. I am strong, stronger than I am. For sure. I thought to myself, but I pressed on stronger. Is he? Who is in me? I declared. Ah, yes, but I am also strong. We will see who wins this! He dared me. My mind was racing. It was 10 o'clock at night. My husband was about to pick me up, and there was no one else in the building to open the door for him. It's closing time! I told myself, What can I do! A thought came to me, and I acted on it. It's time to give back her control over her mind, so she can go home! I ordered, trying not to show that I was trembling with fear. The woman opened her eyes and said. What happened? She looked as if she were just waking from a deep sleep. I didn't know what to say. I looked at her husband and asked him, do you realize what happened? I don't know what to think, he said. I heard it all, but I don't know what it was all about. I need to go now. It's very late. And I think we should talk about this at our next session, I said, warding off any lengthy explanations that I did not feel ready to give. They agreed and left. At first. I felt relieved. But then I thought, what if one of those spirits came out and is floating around here somewhere? The thought made me shiver. I took the bible off the shelf and clutched it tightly against my chest with both hands. I tried to feel God's presence. Lord! I begged, Please, get my husband here on time. I inched through the hallway to the building's front door and cautiously pushed it open. Nothing. He wasn't there yet. I hugged my bible all the way back to the office. Oh, Lord, please tell me there are no evil spirits around here. Tell me that nothing will hurt me or get inside me. I felt truly terrified. Then I heard the horn honking and knew he had come. I dashed to the door, walked out of the building and plunged into the car still clinging to my bible. Thank you, Lord, thank you for bringing him just in time