Tags
anxiety, deception, discerning the spirits, ears of the heart, encouragement, experience, fears, feelings, panic, Satan, spiritual power, thought life
The other day as I was half awake in the morning, still dwelling on some thoughts that could have turned into real worries sooner or later, I suddenly heard a voice that emphatically told me, “Panic is satanic!” Although I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me, I wondered why His voice was not as still and subtle as it often is when God nudges me tenderly to open my ears toward Him. It dawned on me that God wanted to teach me something. Therefore, I would not be that surprised later that day as a black truck passed me by when I was on a prayer walk in the afternoon. On this truck you could read a big-lettered yellow label that said, “Don’t panic!” Aha!ย ๐
However, my first thought afterwards, alas, was a worried one. “Did God try to warn me that a bad thing might happen to me and that I should not react panic-stricken?ย ๐ Many of us might know how panic works. At first you have a tiny, seemingly innocent thought about something you fear. If you dwell on it long enough, this thought produces frightening emotions that are related to fear like trepidations and anxieties. For fear of what might happen to you soon(er or later) your heartbeat is getting faster and breathing is getting harder and harder as… all of a sudden another bad thought is offered to you. Then it is getting VERY hard to NOT dwell on this one, either. Actually, the power that is hidden in this mere mental race to the bottom increases as long as we allow these spirits to keep working in us. Thus they begin to rule our thought life. Although nothing seems to have happened on the outside in the visible realm, there is a real war going on in the spiritual realm of our minds as our soul suffers from these strong negative emotions and our physical being is forced to endure an ever-increasing stress-induced weakening of our body’s defenses. This is anything but fun, right?ย ๐
We may theoretically know that we should have rather turned to the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength at once, but alas, it seems to be too late as all our strength has disappeared. I do know how both threatening and weakening these false spirits tend to be whether I meet them in my dreams (nightmares), in what I read or watch, or whether I have an encounter with people who are driven by these spirits. If I dwell long enough on what I have experienced, I am always back at square one regarding a restful spiritual state of mind as I described further above. Instead, another panic attack is approaching…ย ๐ฆ
But STOP!!! Isn’t there a way out of this mental confusion or is it our inevitable fate to cave in to these wrong spirits?ย ๐ Even if we know what to do, that is, to turn to the Lord for help, it is sometimes helpful to see how biblical persons dealt with fear in the past as they had often experienced Gods help in their trials. Here is a short excerpt from the Old Testament. The psalmist said,
Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. (Ps 118:5-8 ESV)
These are only a few verses that have just touched my heart in a particular though indescribable way. Whatever might be floating around in our heads, isnโt it more often about other people, i.e. human beings, than about God? Trusting in man is not wrong, esp. when the other one is a Christian of whom we know we can rely on them. However, we need to have learned to rely on God before. If we do not know that God answers our prayers and our cries for help, how could we ever trust other people and discern the good (ones) from the bad (ones), too?ย ๐
Dear reader, I dare to share another but pretty long part of Scripture with you on here. What has helped me from this first chapter of Proverbs is particularly the last verse 33. I know I wrote an article about this verse before, yet now I want to include the whole context as well.
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;ย at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
โHow long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.โ (Proverbs 1:20-33 ESV)
I believe if we seek out God for wisdom (see James 1:5), which is Christ who has been made God’s wisdom for us (cf. 1 Cor 1:30), we should never be troubled in our minds by ANYTHING any more. May God help us to get there.
…but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. (Proverbs 1:33 ESV)
Michael said:
Susanne, as I read your latest blog I thought of this verse:
The fear of man brings a snare: but whosoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe. (Prov 29:25, KJ2000)
I have known this kind of fear (panic) in my past. The more I feared, the worse it got until I was like a deer caught in the headlights of the oncoming car.
Trappers make snares by taking a piece of wire and making a noose out of it and tie the other end to a tree or branch. When the animal gets caught in it, it struggles and fights only to have the noose tighten up on that extremity all the more, causing even more panic. When we cave into our fears it is just like that. It gets worse and worse. Learning to trust in the Lord and throw ourselves upon His mercy and love through prayer, is the key, don’t you think?
I know that you have done just that. When I heard that you often take long prayer walks alone in your area, I was afraid for you, but you insisted that the Lord has promised to keep you under His protective covering. You put your trust IN HIM. I have learned much from you in this matter. Thanks for sharing your inward life and the lessons you are learning with us once again. โญ
Michael
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
The Scripture you quoted above is another very helpful confirmation of this topic, Michael. Thanks a bunch for sharing this! You are very welcome as to my sharing as well. ๐
You wrote, “The more I feared the worse it got until I was like a deer caught in the headlights of the oncoming car.” Amen! That nails it! โญ
What you described about this kind of trap, isn’t it cruelty to animals? I believe that God did not create animals so that we should torment them before they die. I have always been disgusted by this method of catching animals! ๐ฆ I have seen our dog Bella (decades ago) and our cat Lily panicking when they would hear very loud sounds unexpectedly, esp. fireworks. What animals do not ‘understand’ (i.e., know), they fear. It was always difficult to comfort them, though not impossible. Maybe, understanding how these panic causing spirits work helps us avoid these attacks also… ๐ And of course, we should throw ourselves on Him through prayer ASAP!! ๐
Yes, I always feel secure when I seek solitude in nature. The more silent it gets, the closer I feel God and His protection, even in the dark. But without His leading I would have never gone there!
Susanne
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Michael said:
โSusanne, I hope my description of how a snare works did not disturb you, but it really is a good example of what happens to me when I get a panic attack. Paul wrote,
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2Tim 1:7, KJ2000)
It seems that when this kind of fear comes upon us it is a spirit from hell and we need to resist it for what it is. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” His trick seems to be to get us to focus on the snare instead of Christ’s love for us and His peace, seeking the mind of Christ in each situation.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you (not on the snare), because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORDGOD is an everlasting rock. (Isa 26:3-4, ESV2011)
I have received a lot from Him as to the nature of fear and panic as I have meditated on what He was saying to me in what you wrote. Thank you so much once again.
Your brother in His love, โค
Michael
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
You are very welcome as to the sharing, once again, my brother. No, Michael, I was not disturbed. And yes, God has given us a spirit of power, of love AND of a sound mind! When we are panicking, our thoughts are anything but sound, aren’t they… ๐ Instead, we focus on the snare, on the could-bes and could-have-beens. Ha! And then you quoted one of my favorite Sciptures. ๐
So simple and sooo true! Thanks!! โญ
In His love, โค
Susanne
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Anna Waldherr said:
What an encouraging post, Susanne! Your advice is particularly apt these days when the news is often worrisome. โค
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thank you so much for your edifying words, dear Anna! โค ๐
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Kenneth E Dawson said:
Yes SUE our watchful loving Papa comforts us in the midst of panic causing storms—Thank you for the encouragement!
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
You are very welcome, Ken.
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Allan Halton said:
Good word, Susanne.
Here is another good verse: “But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Pr. 1:33). I find I must discipline myself to be hearkening unto, listening to, the Voice of the Lord. The object of the Adversary is to whisper fears of evil into our ears, and all to often I start listening. And the wrong fear fills me.
I say the wrong fear, because just a few verses prior to this one, it speaks of those who “choose not the fear of the LORD” (Pr. 1:29). In that fear there is strong confidence. “In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children shall have a place of refuge” (Pr. 14:26).
The fear of the Lord is simply obedience to His Voice. If I am paying attention, being attentive, to that Voice, I need fear no evil.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thank you for your encouraging words, Allan. ๐
Proverbs chapter 1, verse 33 has been exactly the one God would point me to long ago. Like you, I often need to “discipline myself to be hearkening unto, listening to, the Voice of the Lord.” Who would have thought that the voice of the flesh would be so strong, still, after decades of walking with Him? ๐
I like the KJV version here just the same as I do the ESV that says, “…but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:33 ESV) Dread of disaster… oh, how familiar I have been with such thoughts all my life! ๐ฆ
You put it so well;
Amen, Allan. Well said. โญ
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Anna Waldherr said:
Frรถhliche Weihnachten, Susanne! โค โค โค
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Herzlichen Dank!! ๐ The same to you, dear Anna! Frรถhliche Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch! ๐ โค โค โค
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Michael said:
Susanne und Anna, Frohe Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! ๐ โค
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Vielen, lieben Dank, Michael. Dir auch! ๐๐ ๐โค๐
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Michael said:
May His love flood you and your family this Christmas, dear Susanne ๐โคโคโค๐
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
The same to you and yours, my brother! ๐โคโคโค๐
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Anna Waldherr said:
Heading to my sister’s for strudel tonight! We open our gifts Christmas Eve. ๐ May God grant you and your family health and happiness at Christmas and throughout the New Year, Susanne. I treasure your friendship. โค โค โค
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Dear Anna, โค
We came home this evening from a trip to our relatives. Partly we opened our gifts yesterday, partly only today as we met other relatives than yesterday. It is not that restful a celebration when everyone lives in another spot of the country and you want to see everyone of them at Christmas. Pheeew! ๐
I do hope you enjoyed your (apple?) strudel… and had a great time with your beloved sister. โค May God grant you health, rest, and happiness at this festive time and throughout the New Year, too.
You are a treasure, Anna! โค
Your friend in Him forever,
Susanne
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