DREAD
Have you ever felt dread? Perhaps you never gave it much thought? Perhaps you have, perhaps you have not. But I found this is the most sneaky and cunning spirit yet. Many don't even know what dread is. Many don't realize it is fear! Regardless what your situation is, this teaching is one of the most important to helping you get your life back! To help restore you to peace without guilt or shame, without frustration, anxiety, or worry, without fear and irritation, and most of all "feeling" overwhelmed.
I believe we can all agree that we know what it feels like to be "overwhelmed." When we have twenty thousand things to get done in a day, or you just got a job that just seems way over your head, or you are doing things that just keep piling up. Well, you get the picture. You started out meaning well, you want to do these things, but before long, there is a pile of things to do and now you "dread" 'doing them.
Many church-goers find themselves overwhelmed and it leads to burn out. They simply quit, sometimes even leave the church and take several years to re cooperate. I know; I was one of them. It seems I start out okay but things just get too hard to handle, so I quit and move on. Sometimes I go to another job or church with determination to not get involved. But, if you are anything like me, "involved" is my middle name. So we try to not get "too" involved, but you know what happens then, you either are or you aren't and we are right back where we started from.
Well I didn't know what my problem was; well, not until I learned that it was the "Spirit of Dread."
When I would start to feel heavy, overwhelmed or get confused, that's when I discerned the "Spirit of Dread" was behind it all. See, I can do all those things through Christ who strengthens me. Dread says, "It's too hard, and I can't do it." Here are some other statements that Dread says:
When (not "if") you experience these thoughts again, you have the power to cast out that spirit of dread! Each and every time! I don't care how many times you have to do it, keep doing it.
As I was preparing for this teaching, dread tried to stop me from writing it. I just didn't "feel" like doing it. I had other things I needed to do, so I was thinking of putting this off even longer. But as you know, when you put something off that you can do today, that is sin because that's procrastination. So not only is dread there, now sin is piled up on top of it. Then I wonder why my bones start aching and I don't feel good. When the body manifestations started I stopped and said, "Wait a minute, those are manifestations of the spirit of dread." So immediately I told the spirit of dread to leave. IMMEDIATELY the overwhelming feeling went. My body restored itself, I was focused again, I felt a new day began (even though it was mid afternoon) and was filled with excitement of what I'm doing in this ministry. It was no longer a "dread" to me, it was an enjoyment.
This is a lesson for you too. No matter how real the feelings are, it's not you! It's that spirit of dread using you as a puppet to act out its character. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about. What will you lose by stepping out in faith and addressing that spirit? It's not what you will lose it's what you will gain. Peace, stability and your joy!
Take a moment now and identify any area in your life that you dread doing. List them out. Then pray this prayer:
Father, I recognize that I have been in dread in these areas _______________________(name them). I ask you to forgive me for not recognizing it was the spirit of dread. So I cast out the spirit of dread now in Jesus name. Restore me Lord God with your peace, love and joy. In Jesus name. Amen."
Each and every time you face "dread" you toss Him out! You do that through identifying it and telling it to Go. As you do that, be sure to seek more of God's love; because Dread is really "fear" in another form. And the Bible says that perfect love casts out fear!
Sometimes I find myself dreading when I'm trying to do things myself, in my own abilities and power. Such as trying to figure things out, scheduling my time, and all along forgetting to bring God into the picture. Not acknowledging Him in every decision I make. Dread wouldn't be an issue if I kept my mind on Him. An indicator to me that I have a ways to go! But Praise God, I'm growing.
Personal Story:
Dread is sneaky too. You may not even know you have it. Even after I wrote this teaching, I still had to face some things I didn't know was in me myself. Several years before writing this segment something happened to me. Life was going good, ministry going good, and then all of a sudden my whole thought process and mental capacity changed. I was not feeling well any more. I was dropping thoughts. Was having a hard time multi-tasking any more. Something changed, and it happened over night! One morning I woke up like "this." It wasn't gradual. It wasn't Alzhiemers. It was a spirit of DREAD. I learned through this that the spirit of dread messes with your head! Dread opens the door for mental illness, mental anguish, which when our thoughts are messed with, you know what happens then? Our body follows. Now we are dealing with "symptoms." Instead of facing what started them in the first place, now we are going to the doctor because of our body symptoms! I'm here to help someone. What if it is a spirit of dread at work in your head! If it happened that quickly over night or to wake up in terror, what happened? If we choose to ask God, we may just get our answer. And that's what I did. I had the "never's" in my head. I'll never see the grandchildren grow up. We'll never live close to them. A bunch of "never's" flooded my head. This opens the door to all kinds of problems in our thinking. Dread causes you not to want to do anything new. It tells you, you are doing too much. It lies to you to get you to be ineffective. It cause you to "feel" weird body symptoms that can't even be described. It is a SPIRIT working through our bodies manifesting IT'S feelings. They aren't even yours.
Now there is a balance here. Because though it's a spirit at work, I let it in! I gave it space. Well, once I realized this (took 5 years) I renounced it, and cast it out. But the truth is, once I acknowledged it, it lost it's power and all I had to do was fall out of agreement with it (renounce) and it had to go. Of course, I did proclaim it be gone in Jesus name too... just to be sure. Now the NEW mindsets are taking root and my body is following suit!
Dread wants you to think you are out of time. I recall years ago when first faced with this spirit that I wrote a poem about it. But we are not the ones running out of time, He is. Scrptures say that he knows he has but a short time! And so wants us to think we are running out too! All a lie to get us to fear, dread, worry, and doubt. All lies... We have the power in us from the Holy Spirit to discern the evil and good, and choose good! Choose to think on things above. Choose to replace negative thoughts and lies with the truth of God's mercy and grace. We are in a battle in our minds... as you know. And so, let's not grow slack in this. Let's not let dread rule our thoughts. We are able to do above and beyond all that we can hope ask or dream by getting our thoughts firmly planted in the Word of God. Learning to be filled with His Love. And walking in the Spirit after His heart.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven. We recognize now that dread may be at work in our head. So now that it's exposed, I fall out of agreement with it. I renounce it. I repent from allowing it to come upon me in the first place. Show me the door point and let me resolve all the issues surrounding that door. I ask you to close that door Lord, and heal my heart. Heal my mind. Restore my thoughts. Heal my body concerning dread. Thank you for helping me see the truth that makes me free. Help me to know that I'm the one who allowed dread to house itself in me. I proclaim today that there is no room in the inn!! So leave dread in Jesus name. My heart is now being filled with perfect peace. Perfect love. Perfect forgiveness. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I have the mind of Christ. I am not double-minded any longer, but sound and sure. I may not "feel" these things right now, but that is what I choose to believe and proclaim over my life. I trust you in the darkest nights Lord, that you are with me. That you have never left me. That You make a way to bring me into the light. Thank you for showing me this truth, in Jesus name. Amen.
I believe we can all agree that we know what it feels like to be "overwhelmed." When we have twenty thousand things to get done in a day, or you just got a job that just seems way over your head, or you are doing things that just keep piling up. Well, you get the picture. You started out meaning well, you want to do these things, but before long, there is a pile of things to do and now you "dread" 'doing them.
Many church-goers find themselves overwhelmed and it leads to burn out. They simply quit, sometimes even leave the church and take several years to re cooperate. I know; I was one of them. It seems I start out okay but things just get too hard to handle, so I quit and move on. Sometimes I go to another job or church with determination to not get involved. But, if you are anything like me, "involved" is my middle name. So we try to not get "too" involved, but you know what happens then, you either are or you aren't and we are right back where we started from.
Well I didn't know what my problem was; well, not until I learned that it was the "Spirit of Dread."
When I would start to feel heavy, overwhelmed or get confused, that's when I discerned the "Spirit of Dread" was behind it all. See, I can do all those things through Christ who strengthens me. Dread says, "It's too hard, and I can't do it." Here are some other statements that Dread says:
- "I don't feel like it."
- "I don't want to."
- "It's too hard."
- "I am too tired to even think about it."
- "I wish I didn't have to go."
- "How long is this going to take?"
- "What about............"
- "I'm just doing too much, I can't do another thing."
- "I want to run away from home."
- "I need to get away from here."
- "I'm so confused."
- "I'm so overwhelmed."
- "I'm so frustrated."
- "I'll do that later."
- "I dread the kids coming home from school."
- "I'm afraid I can't do that."
- "I hate doing the dishes."
When (not "if") you experience these thoughts again, you have the power to cast out that spirit of dread! Each and every time! I don't care how many times you have to do it, keep doing it.
As I was preparing for this teaching, dread tried to stop me from writing it. I just didn't "feel" like doing it. I had other things I needed to do, so I was thinking of putting this off even longer. But as you know, when you put something off that you can do today, that is sin because that's procrastination. So not only is dread there, now sin is piled up on top of it. Then I wonder why my bones start aching and I don't feel good. When the body manifestations started I stopped and said, "Wait a minute, those are manifestations of the spirit of dread." So immediately I told the spirit of dread to leave. IMMEDIATELY the overwhelming feeling went. My body restored itself, I was focused again, I felt a new day began (even though it was mid afternoon) and was filled with excitement of what I'm doing in this ministry. It was no longer a "dread" to me, it was an enjoyment.
This is a lesson for you too. No matter how real the feelings are, it's not you! It's that spirit of dread using you as a puppet to act out its character. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about. What will you lose by stepping out in faith and addressing that spirit? It's not what you will lose it's what you will gain. Peace, stability and your joy!
Take a moment now and identify any area in your life that you dread doing. List them out. Then pray this prayer:
Father, I recognize that I have been in dread in these areas _______________________(name them). I ask you to forgive me for not recognizing it was the spirit of dread. So I cast out the spirit of dread now in Jesus name. Restore me Lord God with your peace, love and joy. In Jesus name. Amen."
Each and every time you face "dread" you toss Him out! You do that through identifying it and telling it to Go. As you do that, be sure to seek more of God's love; because Dread is really "fear" in another form. And the Bible says that perfect love casts out fear!
Sometimes I find myself dreading when I'm trying to do things myself, in my own abilities and power. Such as trying to figure things out, scheduling my time, and all along forgetting to bring God into the picture. Not acknowledging Him in every decision I make. Dread wouldn't be an issue if I kept my mind on Him. An indicator to me that I have a ways to go! But Praise God, I'm growing.
Personal Story:
Dread is sneaky too. You may not even know you have it. Even after I wrote this teaching, I still had to face some things I didn't know was in me myself. Several years before writing this segment something happened to me. Life was going good, ministry going good, and then all of a sudden my whole thought process and mental capacity changed. I was not feeling well any more. I was dropping thoughts. Was having a hard time multi-tasking any more. Something changed, and it happened over night! One morning I woke up like "this." It wasn't gradual. It wasn't Alzhiemers. It was a spirit of DREAD. I learned through this that the spirit of dread messes with your head! Dread opens the door for mental illness, mental anguish, which when our thoughts are messed with, you know what happens then? Our body follows. Now we are dealing with "symptoms." Instead of facing what started them in the first place, now we are going to the doctor because of our body symptoms! I'm here to help someone. What if it is a spirit of dread at work in your head! If it happened that quickly over night or to wake up in terror, what happened? If we choose to ask God, we may just get our answer. And that's what I did. I had the "never's" in my head. I'll never see the grandchildren grow up. We'll never live close to them. A bunch of "never's" flooded my head. This opens the door to all kinds of problems in our thinking. Dread causes you not to want to do anything new. It tells you, you are doing too much. It lies to you to get you to be ineffective. It cause you to "feel" weird body symptoms that can't even be described. It is a SPIRIT working through our bodies manifesting IT'S feelings. They aren't even yours.
Now there is a balance here. Because though it's a spirit at work, I let it in! I gave it space. Well, once I realized this (took 5 years) I renounced it, and cast it out. But the truth is, once I acknowledged it, it lost it's power and all I had to do was fall out of agreement with it (renounce) and it had to go. Of course, I did proclaim it be gone in Jesus name too... just to be sure. Now the NEW mindsets are taking root and my body is following suit!
Dread wants you to think you are out of time. I recall years ago when first faced with this spirit that I wrote a poem about it. But we are not the ones running out of time, He is. Scrptures say that he knows he has but a short time! And so wants us to think we are running out too! All a lie to get us to fear, dread, worry, and doubt. All lies... We have the power in us from the Holy Spirit to discern the evil and good, and choose good! Choose to think on things above. Choose to replace negative thoughts and lies with the truth of God's mercy and grace. We are in a battle in our minds... as you know. And so, let's not grow slack in this. Let's not let dread rule our thoughts. We are able to do above and beyond all that we can hope ask or dream by getting our thoughts firmly planted in the Word of God. Learning to be filled with His Love. And walking in the Spirit after His heart.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven. We recognize now that dread may be at work in our head. So now that it's exposed, I fall out of agreement with it. I renounce it. I repent from allowing it to come upon me in the first place. Show me the door point and let me resolve all the issues surrounding that door. I ask you to close that door Lord, and heal my heart. Heal my mind. Restore my thoughts. Heal my body concerning dread. Thank you for helping me see the truth that makes me free. Help me to know that I'm the one who allowed dread to house itself in me. I proclaim today that there is no room in the inn!! So leave dread in Jesus name. My heart is now being filled with perfect peace. Perfect love. Perfect forgiveness. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I have the mind of Christ. I am not double-minded any longer, but sound and sure. I may not "feel" these things right now, but that is what I choose to believe and proclaim over my life. I trust you in the darkest nights Lord, that you are with me. That you have never left me. That You make a way to bring me into the light. Thank you for showing me this truth, in Jesus name. Amen.