Author: Joyce Holzman Hanscom

I am a certified Mental Health Coach through Light University. An author. A Bible teacher for Good News Clubs and incarcerated women in the county jail. I teach about how to discover a new reality through memory transformation. Discovering a new reality is achieved when you heal emotions from painful memories and transform negative heart issues. When false beliefs are transformed by truth, then you can love from a pure heart and make wise decisions. There is hope for complete healing.

FIVE WAYS TO FIGHT THE DEVIL SUCCESSFULLY

Do you know people who make life difficult for you or others? Have you struggled with an argumentative person? I have. Have you considered that Satan is influencing you and those around you? Sometimes I am influenced by Satan when my mind does not resist him, and I am not submitting to God. When that happens, I become selfish, want my way, and am easily offended and unforgiving. A Scriptural example is found in Mark 8. Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, but when Jesus tells him that He will die and be raised up again, Peter protests. In verse 33, Jesus then rebukes him, saying, “‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’”

The Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:1-3, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Ephesians 6:12 states, “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.” This verse explains the levels or ranks of demons. Remember, if you or others do not submit your minds to think on the things of God, you are also not resisting the devil’s influence on your life.

The last post described how believers respond to demons who afflict them and also to being set free. I described four responses:

a) Stand firm in your faith.

b) Be devoted and fully submitted to God when you are set free.

c) Do nothing, then the demon returns with more demons.

d) Be thankful and know that God’s grace will help you deal with the affliction, and His power is great in our weakness.

In this post, we will study Ephesians 6:10-18 and learn five more ways to respond to the devil. I will not go into great detail, but if you are interested in learning more, please check out the series of posts I wrote on spiritual warfare on the Spiritual Warfare Posts page.

1–Be Strong Through Jesus Christ.

10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Observation: We are to be strong in the Lord, not ourselves, and not in anyone or anything else. We can only be strong in God’s strength and in His might.

Interpretation and Application: We can only be strong when we are in the Lord; that is, when our minds are set on Him. We cannot fight against evil spirit forces in our own strength, which is why we must be fully submitted to God through repentance of sin. 2Peter 1:3-2 states “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, then receive Him now into your heart and ask Him to forgive your sins, so nothing separates you from God the Father (Rom. 10:9-10).

2–Put on the Armor of God.

11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Observation: “Put on” is a command. The whole armor of God means all of it, every piece described below. We can only stand against the schemes of the devil when we have the whole armor on. Yes, the devil schemes about how to trip you up and cause you to doubt God, just like he did Adam and Eve. 2Corinthians 11:3 explains, “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Interpretation and Application: Verse 11 does not say how often we are to put on the armor of God, but it is safe to say that every day would be a good start. It does not say when to put on the armor of God, but the safest time is the first thing in the morning. I have a prayer model to help you do this; use the PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD PRAYER MODEL. Paul talks about the devil’s schemes. Schemes mean to plot, plan, design, strategies, and so on. Remember, Satan is the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5:8). In 2Corinthians 2:11, Paul said, “So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” Put on the full armor of God, so you are not outwitted by Satan’s schemes or designs.

3–Do Everything to Resist the Devil and Stand Firm.

13) “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Observation: The previous verse, verse 12, explained that we are in a spiritual war against the ranks of demons. Therefore, the whole armor of God is needed to withstand or successfully resist on the day you are tested or tempted by evil spirits. Next, this verse tells you to stand firm when you have successfully resisted. James 4:7 tells us that when we resist the devil, he will flee.

Interpretation and Application: I often forget to be prepared and to stand firm every day. I forget that I am a spirit being in a human body living in a spirit world within the physical world. I need to be reminded to put on the whole armor of God, so I can successfully resist temptations and oppressions from evil forces at work against me or others. Taking up the whole armor of God is a mental discipline because Satan works in our minds.

4–Put on Truth, Righteousness, and Peace.

14-15) “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

Observation: The armor is already on before you stand firm against the evil day. Each piece of armor represents a characteristic of Jesus Christ.

Interpretation and Application: Jesus is the truth and the Word. When you read, memorize, and do the Word of God, you are putting on truth. When you put on Jesus Christ, you are putting on righteousness. Romans 13:14 states, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” When you put on the shoes of peace, you walk as Jesus would. 1John 2:6 states, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Also, Hebrews 12:14 states, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

5–Keep Faith, Salvation, and the Word of God Close to You Through Prayer.

16-18) “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”

Observation: Faith, Salvation, and God’s word are imperative to stand firm against the assault of the evil one (the devil and his demons). Continual prayer in the Spirit is how you stay alert.

Interpretation and Application: If you relax in any way and do not keep on the whole armor of God and take up the shield of faith, you will be destroyed. Our faith is a shield held up through prayer and reading God’s Word. Praying at all times helps keep these necessary components of the armor close to you. Colossians 4:2 tells us to “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” We are also commanded to keep alert with all perseverance to be watchful, that means, don’t give up and don’t let your guard down.

Conclusion:

The armor of God is something we forget about. We lay down our shield of faith, don’t read the Bible, forget to pray, and then wonder why we aren’t doing well and have so many problems. Too often, watching TV takes up most of your time, and you don’t have time to read your Bible and pray. Remember, if you are a child of God, you need to keep your mind on the things of God above, not the things of this world. TV is a gateway to worldly thinking. The five more ways to deal with the demonic realm are as follows:

1–Be Strong Through Jesus Christ.

2–Put on the Armor of God.

3–Do Everything to Resist the Devil and Stand Firm.

4–Put on Truth, Righteousness, and Peace.

5–Keep Faith, Salvation, and the Word of God Close to You Through Prayer.

If you are interested in learning more, please check out the series of posts I wrote on spiritual warfare on the Spiritual Warfare Posts page.

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All verses are from the English Standard Version. If you find my posts and website helpful, please share this link with your friends and family: hopeforcompletehealing.com. The information is copyright-protected. Please do not reproduce any part of the posts or my book without proper citation to Joyce Hanscom and this website.

My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

DEMONS AND BELIEVERS RESPONSE

Can demons afflict and oppress Christians? Many Christians believe the lie that the devil and demons do not afflict Christians because Christ defeated them, and He did. The fact is, Satan is still very active. 1Peter 5:8-9 states, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9) Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” First, Satan is our adversary, who wants to destroy our faith and oppress us. Second, Satan is seeking to devour anyone who is not vigilant or sober-minded. Third, we are to resist him. Your response is to remain firm in your faith in Jesus Christ (2Cor. 15:3-4). While resisting the devil, you need to submit to God at all times (James 4:7). If you are not submitted to God, then the devil can and will attack you.

No one likes suffering and being oppressed by a demon, let alone seven. This post will cover three accounts and how the believers in Jesus Christ responded. The first account will be how Mary Magdaline responded when delivered from seven demons. The second account will be how believers should not respond when delivered from demon oppression. The third account is how the Apostle Paul responded to being harassed by a demon.

Mary Magdalene is delivered from seven demons.

Not much is known about Mary Magdalene, but the Bible says that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after He rose from the dead. She was a devoted follower who cared about Jesus and ministered to him. Mark 16:9 records, “[[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.” Luke recounts this event in 2:2, “And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.”

Observation:

Jesus healed her of evil spirits by casting out seven demons.
It appears that Mary Magdalene believed Jesus when He said he would rise from the dead on the third day.
She went to the tomb early on the third day, which could explain why Jesus appeared to her first.

Interpretation:

After Mary Magdalene was delivered from the seven demons, she followed Jesus and devoted herself to Him.
She became the first evangelist by obeying Jesus and telling His disciples that He had risen.

Application:

We all have some form of demonic oppression afflicting us, whether we know it or not. It could be worry, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, chronic sickness, etc. For me, I had habitual anger, which was controlled by the oppressive spirits attached to trauma memories.
Not everyone will go to a deliverance service, but those who do experience tremendous freedom.
I became free from oppressive spirits attached to trauma memories as I submitted them to God for healing and forgave those who hurt me.
If you have a habitual sin or chronic issue, please seek someone who understands deliverance and hopefully trauma memories, and ask for help.
I discovered that my deliverance prayers in my book remove all sorts of oppressive spirits when trauma memories are healed, but sometimes it is helpful to have people pray for you.

Fill the void with truth.

Once the demons are cast out, you need to fill the void by submitting to Jesus Christ and growing in your knowledge of God’s word. Here is an example of what happens if you don’t fill the void left by evil spirits. Luke 11:24-26 explains.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

Observation:

Cast out unclean spirits wander about seeking rest.
They will return to the same person if they do nothing.
They will bring more evil spirits with them.
The evil spirits dwell with a person and oppress them even worse.

Interpretation: If you don’t fill your life up with the Spirit of God and truth after being delivered, then the evil spirit will come back with more evil spirits, and your life will be worse than before.

Application:

When you get rid of an oppressive spirit, you need to fill the void with God’s truth and devote yourself to Jesus Christ and live in this world as He lived.
My book explains how to identify wrong beliefs from trauma memories, heal trauma memories, cast out any attached oppressive spirit to the memory and wrong beliefs, then replace the wrong belief with God’s truth.
Go to hopeforcompletehealing.com to find these prayers.

What to do if the Spirit will not leave.

If Satan was defeated by Jesus, and he was, and can no longer harass Christian believers, then why was the Apostle Paul afflicted by a messenger of Satan? Let’s look at 2Corinthians 12:7-10.

7) So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

8) Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10) For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation:

Paul is given a messenger of Satan (demon) to harass him, which was to keep him humble.
NOTE: Paul was NOT possessed by the demon, simply harassed, in other words, oppressed. He likened it to a “thorn in the flesh”.
He prayed earnestly for God to remove it, but it persisted.
God said that His grace is sufficient to help Paul endure the harassment.
God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
Paul chose to give God glory for his weakness, to experience more of God’s power.
Then he chose to be content with the demonic harassment.

Interpretation:

The text does not say who sent the harassing spirit. But I do know from experience that people who minister will be harassed by evil spirits. I explained that in the last post.
God heard Paul’s prayer, but chose to let the harassing spirit be for this time to keep him from becoming prideful.
Paul chose to be content and be at peace with his suffering for the sake of Christ. He kept his mind set on the truths of God, not his suffering.
There is a suffering that comes from our own doing. Peter describes the two kinds of suffering in 1Peter 3:17 “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” And 1Peter 4:15-16 states, “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”
Though Paul was a Christian, he was still afflicted by a demon, and God allowed it.

Application:

It is very humbling and hard to endure suffering.
Pray for God’s deliverance.
If God chooses to give you grace to endure, then choose to glory in the power He gives you to endure.
Pridefulness is a sin, and it separates you from God. God did not want Paul to become prideful. God does not want us to be prideful either.
I made a habit of asking God to show me any prideful spirit in me.
The hardest thing for us to do is be content when we are suffering. We naturally want to complain rather than be thankful in all circumstances (1Thes. 5:18).
We are called to suffer with Christ. 1Peter 4:13 states, “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” Also Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Conclusion

Demons will afflict Christian believers; it is how you respond that makes the difference. Mary Magdalene devoted herself to following Jesus Christ. The man who had a demon cast out did nothing, then seven more came back. To prevent that from happening to you, you must fill the void with God’s truths from the Bible and draw near to Him. The Apostle Paul chose to be content and thankful, giving glory to God for the strength to endure the harassment. Remember, 1Peter 5:8-9 states, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9) Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and the truths behind them. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles. Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.

Can anyone cast out a demon?

Who has authority over evil spirits? I am writing a series of posts about the spirit world through Jesus’ eyes. Today’s post is about how only Jesus has authority over spirits and gives that power and authority to His disciples. In my first post, you learned the difference between a demon and evil spirits. In my second post, you learned the difference between spirit oppression and demon-possession. The Bible is clear that demons, Satan, and the devil exist and how destructive they are. When you look around our current world, you see the evidence of demonic and Satanic destructive influence on mankind.

Luke 9:1-2 states, “And he (Jesus)called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” Matthew 10:1 states, “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits (NIV; evil spirits), to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

Observation:

Jesus gives his twelve disciples power and authority over all demons (unclean and evil spirits), to cast them out of people and cure their diseases.
Jesus also gave them power and authority to preach about the Kingdom of God and to heal every sickness and affliction.

Interpretation:

Jesus is God and has all authority over evil spirits.
These spirits still exist and continue to afflict people.
People still need deliverance to be free of diseases and afflictions.

Application:

We have power and authority through the Holy Spirit -Jesus within us to cast out demons.
Have you invited Jesus into your heart and received forgiveness of your sins?
If you have, then you have the authority to do what the disciples did. Read, “Four Reasons for Authority in Prayer.”

Luke 10:1 states, “After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.” Luke 10:17-20 “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ ¹⁸And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. ²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’”

Observation:

Jesus sent two people out to preach and minister to people.
Jesus gave many others the power and authority over demonic spirits using His name.
He gave them authority over all the power of the enemy, and the enemy will not hurt them.
Jesus saw the effect of their prayers when Satan fell from heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” See my web-book to learn how I do this.
The 72 men were amazed that the demons were subject to them.

Interpretation:

Jesus uses us to prepare people’s hearts to receive Him.
Jesus refers to demons as serpents and scorpions. Also read Ps. 91:13.
Satan continued to have access to heaven to bring destruction to people’s lives. See the story of Job as an example.
The men Jesus gave power and authority to believed in Him as their names were written in heaven, which I believe refers to the Book of Life.

Application:

We, too, have been given power and authority over demonic spirits in His name when we believe in Him.
We, too, can intercede for people and destroy the devil’s work in their lives.
We, too, can tread on the enemy and suffer no harm. 2Thessalonians 3:3 states, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

So, can anyone cast out a demon? You will learn what happens to those who do not have authority over demons in the following Scripture passage in Acts 19:11-19.

11-12) And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

13) Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”

14) Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.

15) But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

16) And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17) And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

18) Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

19) And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Observation:

God has power and authority over all the spirits and healing. Even the Apostle Paul’s handkerchiefs that touched the sick healed them, and evil spirits came out.
God is almighty in power and has no limits.
The demons (evil, unclean spirits) know the name of Jesus has power.
The demons will speak through the person they are possessing.
Demons can hurt those who do not have the protection of Jesus Christ.
Sorcery and magic arts were practiced even among the believers.

Interpretation:

It appears from verse 12 that evil spirits are often involved with human diseases and sickness. We learned that from my last post, when Jesus healed the sick girl by delivering her from a demon through her mother’s faith. There are many other scriptures with the same correlation.
Only those whose names are written in heaven have the power and authority to cast out demons.
When the people saw how the evil spirit through one man took on seven and beat them up, they became fearful. They then confessed their sins and burned their books on magic.

Application:

If you have any occult images, games, or books concerning magic or curses, even innocent ones like a Buddha or any Hindu figures, you need to destroy them immediately.

Also, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you have the authority to break all curses from your ancestry. See my web-book for more details.

Conclusion:

The only people who can pray and cast out demons in Jesus’ name are believers whose names are written in heaven. When the Holy Spirit resides in you, you have the power not only to preach the gospel but also to cast out demons and heal people’s diseases. Next time you or your family feel uneasy or agitated, consider praying and commanding any intruding spirits to leave your home in Jesus’ name. When I feel depressed or really tired for no reason, that could be oppression from an evil spirit. I take authority over any spirit attacks on my mind or body, and command the spirits to be gone in Jesus’ name. I feel immediate relief.

Blessings.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

A Mother’s Faith and Demon Deliverance

Do you remember the story of the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus about her daughter who was severely oppressed by a demon? How did she know her daughter was oppressed by a demon? How is it that we, today, are not aware when we are being oppressed by a demon? Let’s read this account in Matthew 15:21-28 and learn how a parent has the authority to ask God to deliver their children from demons.

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Observation:

The news that Jesus was in the area brought a foreign woman to seek healing for her daughter.
She first asked for mercy.
She knew that Jesus was the Son of David and called Him Lord.
She presented her need for Jesus to heal her daughter, who was oppressed by a demon.
Jesus would not answer her because His mission was to reach the lost sheep of Israel.
She continued to cry out to Jesus, asking for mercy and for His help.
She humbled herself by kneeling before Him out of worship.
Jesus was not inclined to help her and even called her a dog.
In great humility, she responded that even dogs eat what falls from the table.
Jesus was amazed by her faith and gave her what she asked for.
Her daughter was healed instantly.

There is another account in Mark 7:24-30. And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29And he said to her, “For this statement, you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

Jesus was trying to hide, but He was so famous, even in the Greek region called Cannon, that they knew where to find Him.
In this account, the daughter was described as having an unclean spirit. I explained in a previous post that being oppressed by a demon and having an unclean spirit are synonyms.
The mother wanted Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter.
The last post I wrote describes how you know if you are being oppressed by a demon.
Jesus spoke the word, and the demon left the child, and the child was healed.
When the mother went home, the child was well, and the demon was gone.

Interpretation:

The woman was considered a heathen because she was born in Phoenicia in the Canaan area, which is now modern-day Syria.
The King James Version said that the woman’s little girl was grievously vexed by a devil.
By calling Him the Son of David, she is acknowledging that He is the Messiah.
The woman’s approach is an example for us.
- She boldly came to Jesus with her request, knowing Jesus was the only one who could help her daughter.
- She humbled herself and worshiped Jesus. Even when He told her He was not there to help her.
- She was persistent in her request.
- She was specific about what she wanted Jesus to do.
- She believed Jesus could deliver her child from the oppressing demon.
Casting out demons also heals the person. Every person whom Jesus cast out a demon was also healed.

Application:

A parent or grandparent has authority over their children and can petition God to heal or deliver their children from every oppression.
We need to be humble, specific, and persistent. This passage does not say how long she pleaded with Jesus, but in Matthew’s version of the story, the disciples said the woman kept crying out after them. The New American Standard version said she kept shouting at them.
We also need to have faith like this heathen woman and believe that Jesus can and will heal our loved ones.
Often our afflictions are the result of demon possession or oppression, which appear to be the same. Possession refers to having control or dominance over a person’s spirit and body. Oppression is the exercise of control over a person’s spirit and body, causing hardship and suffering.

As a school teacher, I had to take authority through Jesus Christ to command demonic spirits to leave the classroom. Every time I had to do this, there was immediate peace, and the student who brought the demon with them calmed down. Once, I had to sit in a detention room with a first-grader and his aide. The student kept talking about wanting to be a bully and his Pokémon cards. He would not do his school work and would not cooperate with any of our instructions. The aide had to leave to use the bathroom, and the detention room had a glass wall facing the principal’s office, so I stood next to some filing cabinets and prayed softly for the demons to leave the boy and the room, in Jesus’ name. At that moment, the boy sat up straight in his chair, and we had no more problems the rest of the day. He even finished all his schoolwork. The aid was amazed by this, so I told him what I prayed, because the aid was a Christian as well.

I also teach a Bible study at the county jail and have encountered many demons throughout the years. Before I go into the jail, I pray and ask God to protect me, and I put on the armor of light (Rom. 13:12) that dispels the dark forces of evil. I also ask God to remove all demonic spirit attachments from the girls before they come into the room. One girl said that the only place she feels peace is when she comes to our Bible Study.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Demon-Possession and Deliverance

How do you know if someone is demon-possessed? What did Jesus do when He encountered someone who was demon-possessed? In my last post, you learned that the term “demon” is used interchangeably with “evil spirit” or “unclean spirit.” A person who is demon-possessed is controlled by an evil spirit. Evil is immorality, harming others, and being destructive (Dictionary.com 2026). A person who hurts others and is destructive is controlled by an evil spirit.

Because of my family heritage, I had several evil spirits that controlled my thoughts and behavior. Both sides of my family have a history of practicing witchcraft in some form. When you play around with any form of witchcraft (seances, tarot cards, fortune telling, ouija boards, pow wows, voodoo dolls, etc.), you are inviting evil spirits to possess your spirit. Please read my post about the reality of the spirit world. I inherited spirits that passed from one family member to the next. My sin also invited evil spirits to oppress my spirit and influence my thoughts. I am free from all of them through the authority of Jesus Christ.

Demon Deliverance

There are two distinct examples of how Jesus dealt with the demon-possessed. I am looking at two different accounts of the same situation. Each person, Mark, Luke, and Matthew, all witnessed the same account but recorded different perceptions about it. The first account, and most detailed, is when Jesus encountered the Gerasene Demoniac. I will use the Inductive Bible Study method, which focuses on observation, interpretation, and application to study these Scriptures.

Mark 5:1-13 states, “They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. ²And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. ³He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. ⁵Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.⁶And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. ⁷And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” ⁸For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” ⁹And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” ¹⁰And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. ¹¹Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” ¹³So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. ¹⁴The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. ¹⁵And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.”

Matthew 8:28-31 states, “And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. ²⁹And behold, they cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’ ³⁰Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. ³¹And the demons begged him, saying, ‘If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.’”

Observation:

Demon-possessed people are often fierce, violent, or hostile in nature, and they may be unusually strong. They frighten others with threats and hostile actions.

The other observation I made was that the demons knew who Jesus was right away, which tells me they were angelic beings who once dwelt in heaven with Jesus. They knew He was the Son of God. They also know that the lake of fire was created for them and they would be tormented (2Pet. 2:4).

Interpretation:

John 10:10 states, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” People who are destructive are either demon-possessed or oppressed by demons. I will write about oppression in another post. You can tell if a person is controlled by an evil spirit by the fruit of their behavior and words (Matt. 7:15-20 and Matt. 12:33-35).

Application:

Jesus Christ has the authority to command the demons to leave. If you are a follower of Jesus and He dwells in you through the Holy Spirit, you, too, have the authority to tell the demons to leave in Jesus’ name. There are many more examples throughout the New Testament.

Another Encounter with a Demon-Possessed Man.

Mark records another encounter with a demon-possessed man. Mark 1:23-27 states, “And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.’ ²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ ²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’”

Luke 4:33-36 gives another account: “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.’ ³⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. ³⁶And they were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!’”

Observation:

The unclean spirit knew Jesus was from Nazareth and spoke to Him, asking if He came to destroy” us”, which means there may have been more than one unclean spirit. Or, it could mean the spirit knew their judgment from when all the rebellious angels were thrown out of heaven. In the previous account with demons, they knew Jesus was God and had power over them.

When Jesus rebuked the demon to be silent and cast it out, the strength of the demon threw the man down before coming out of him. Mark said the demon caused the man to convulse, and it cried out loudly before leaving the man.

Interpretation:

Jesus didn’t ask the man if he wanted to be free from the demon. Jesus didn’t send the demon to any specific place either. When a demon leaves a person, it is unpredictable what they will do. When you read accounts of demon deliverance, there is some form of commotion when they leave. Jesus did not speak to the unclean spirit this time. Demons are deceiving spirits, so you should not engage a spirit, but command them to come out.

Application:

You have the authority to command unclean spirits to leave as well, if Jesus is the ruler of your life.

Conclusion:

Demon possession is real, and you will encounter demon-possessed people whether you know it or not. If a demon presents itself, you have the authority through Jesus Christ to command the demon or demons to be gone. I remember when God showed me that I had a spirit of pride. When I prayed and said it was to be gone from my life, I could not breathe; my chest heaved for many seconds before the spirit left. After it was gone, I could breathe so much better, and I felt a weight lift off me. A long time ago, I visited a Franciscan priest who was a spirit-filled, born-again Catholic and had a deliverance ministry. I asked him to pray a deliverance prayer over me to deliver me from any demons I may have had because I had uncontrollable anger. He found one from my mother’s side, and when he commanded it to come out, I felt it leave. Again, I felt a weight lift off me, and I could breathe better.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

The Spirit World Through Jesus’s Eyes, Introduction

Have you ever wondered if a person had demons or oppressive spirits? What would that look like? In the coming months, I will explore the unseen world through the eyes of Jesus. My posts will be biblically based using the Inductive Bible Study method, which focuses on observation, interpretation, and application. We know the Bible says that angels are ministering spirits for those who are to inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). They give us messages (read the Christmas story as an example) and protect us (Ps. 91:11). Angels obey the word of God (Ps. 103:20).

Last year, I wrote about mental health. As I was praying about what to write this year, the Lord impressed on my mind to do a deep dive into how we can know when we are dealing with a demon or oppressive spirits, and what to do. I lead a Bible study in the prison system, and I have seen the evidence of demon activity in the women who attend my Bible Study. I have cast out demons as well. And, I have been attacked by demons/evil spirits. I will explain how I knew and what I did about it. Our mental health is also influenced by unseen evil forces.

Misconceptions About Demons

I am surprised by how many people do not believe that Christians can be afflicted by demons. And how many Christians believe that when Jesus died on the Cross, he defeated Satan, which is true, so we are victorious over them, which we are. But what many Christians are not aware of is how they are unwittingly inviting evil spirits to oppress them through their sin and thought life. Then, I know some Christians who rebuke everything as if a demon is behind it. If a door is stuck, they rebuke the demon that is causing it to stick. YIKES! We need a balanced biblical view of demons, evil spirits, oppressive spirits, and Satan. I generated 16 pages of scripture references, so I have plenty of factual material to teach from.

The Three References to Evil Entities.

So what is the difference between demons, evil spirits, and Satan? The Bible uses all three references. I am not an expert on this topic, but I have firsthand experience. Let’s look at what the Scripture says.

Demons are known to be the fallen angels who followed Lucifer in his sin and were thrown down to the earth with Satan, who is also known as the devil. Revelations 12:9 states, “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

Demons are spirits, Matthew 8:16 states, “That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.” King James reads, “When …, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, ….” The New International Version and New American Standard Version read, “When… many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word…”

Evil spirits are demons. Luke 8:2 explains, “And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.” Here is another example of evil spirits also being demons: Acts 19:15-16 states, “But the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?’ ¹⁶And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” We know the demons who possessed the men at Gadarenes knew who Jesus was (Matt. 8:28-29). The evil spirit in the man in Acts 19:15 also knew Jesus, which suggests that evil spirits are demons.

Concludion

I described two spirit entities, demons and evil spirits; to respect your time, I will write a separate post on Satan. We do not have to fear the devil, evil spirits, or demons because Jesus Christ has given us the authority to command them to leave. BUT many of us give the evil spirits the right to oppress us. I will elaborate on that in another post. YOU can live in victory and freedom through Jesus Christ.

Blessings.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

Three Great Ways to Increase Dopamine and Feel Good

What makes you feel good, happy, and secure? Depression is the top mental health issue around the world. It can be treated with medication, but it can also be treated by increasing the hormone and neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine gives you pleasure and regulates your mood. It helps us focus, work towards goals, and find things interesting. Warning: dopamine is the root precipitator for all addictions.

Achieving Goals

How do you feel after you accomplish a goal? When you achieve a goal, does it make you feel rewarded and good? That is because accomplishments increase the feel-good hormone dopamine in your brain. At one time, I was addicted to the dopamine hit from reaching goals, and I became a workaholic. I would make lists of goals I wanted to accomplish, and with each achievement, I would feel a sense of satisfaction. I used achieving goals to cover my mental health problems, to forget about my past. Once I healed my past issues through prayer and memory healing, I was no longer addicted to achieving goals, though I still like the reward I feel when I do achieve a goal.

Exercising

As we enter a new year, most of us have a goal of exercising more and losing weight. Exercising every day is the best way to increase dopamine in your brain. Exercise not only increases your quality of life but also reduces dementia risk, increases energy, and improves your mood and sleep. There are many articles written about the benefits of exercise, so I encourage you to read them, write down the benefits, and review them every day to remind you why you need to exercise. I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the less I feel like exercising, even though I know it is more important now than ever before.

Do you know people who are addicted to exercise? They exercise for hours a day. This is because they seek the dopamine highs. I never had this problem. Some people are addicted to food because it gives them the same dopamine hit. I will blame my grandparents for feeding me candy and cookies when I went to their house. I became addicted to sugar-laden treats for the feel-good dopamine high it gave me. If you think you are addicted to increasing the dopamine hormone response, then please seek professional counseling. Recently, Jelly Roll was in the news talking about his 300 lb weight loss. Yikes, what an accomplishment. In the article, he admitted to having a food addiction that he got therapy for. Most addictions cover up the effects of painful memories. So, healing painful memories is important to overcome addiction. See my onlinebook to learn how I overcame my addictions.

Helping Others

The third way to increase dopamine is to help other people, especially if they can’t return any benefit to you. Here is an excellent article called “The Surprise Science Behind Why Helping Others Helps You.” I love to help others, now I know why.

I had a long list of goals when I retired, and one of them was to finish a 43-hour Child and Youth Mental Health Coaching program from Light University. I finished the program on December 31, 2025, after two years. I learned how to coach parents to understand their children and help them build emotional resilience. I wanted to equip myself with the knowledge I needed to be the most help to hurting people. Do you find you don’t want to be around messy, dysfunctional people? But they are the ones who need the most help. I love to read how my website has helped people and given them hope. This makes me feel good.

With each class I took on Youth Mental Health Coaching, I learned how dysfunctional my family was and how messed up I was as a child and a parent. I also realized that by the grace of God and His healing power, I am now emotionally resilient and secure. There is hope, which is why I developed the Hope for Complete Healing website and wrote the book with the same name.

Mental Health Coaching Programs

If you are interested in enrolling, go to LightUniversity.com and select Mental Health Coaching. I wrote about the first Mental Health Coaching program I completed in this post. Here are some of the great topics you will learn about in the Youth Mental Health Coaching program.

Childhood Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences – Shannae Anderson, Ph.D.

Managing Stress and Anxiety in Children and Teens – Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D.

Moody: Understanding Depression and Mood Disorders – Gregory L. Jantz, Ph.D.

Battling Loneliness and Bullying – Mark Mayfield, Ph.D.

Buzzed: Winning the Alcohol and Substance Abuse War – John Eklund, M.S.W.

A New Normal: Helping Kids and Teens through Grief and Loss – Jennifer Ellers, M.A.

Anger, Defiance, Rebellion, and Violence: When Kids Go Awry – Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.

Pornography, Sex, Sexting and Sexuality – Jim Cress, M.A.

Walking a Thin Line: Health, Diets, and Eating Disorders – Amy Feigel, M.A.

Guidance and Support for Children with Developmental Disabilities – Stephanie Holmes, Ed.D.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Behavior Patterns, Issues and Intervention – E. John Kuhnley, M.D.

Everything is Changing: Brain Health, Hormones and the Neurobiology of Youth and Development – Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.

The Use of Psychiatric Medication in the Mental Health Treatment of Children and Adolescents – E. John Kuhnley, M.D.

Love and Limits: Parenting, Boundaries and Structure – Mercy Connors, Ph.D.

Emotion Coaching and Regulation for Children and Adolescents – Gary Sibcy, Ph.D.

Connecting with Kids through the World of Play – Daniel Sweeney, Ph.D.

Decisions and Consequences: Making Wise Choices When It Counts – Karl Benzio, M.D.

Conflict Management and Resolution – Karl Benzio, M.D.

Cultural Identity – Mark Crear, Ph.D.

Performance, Pressure, and Identity: Managing Sports, Academics, and Life – Zach Clinton, M.A.

The Wired Generation: Technology, The Brain, Social Media and Behavior – Mark Mayfield, Ph.D.

Helping Parents Teach Their Youth About Healthy Sexuality – Jim Burns, Ph.D.

Gender Identity and Ideologies: Helping Parents and Families When Youth Come Out as LGBTQ – Kathy Koch, Ph.D.

Family Systems: Understanding Generational Patterns – John Eklund, M.S.W.

Childhood and Adolescent Development: An Attachment Perspective – Anita Kuhnley, Ph.D.

Prodigal Children: Helping Parents Stand Strong and Trust God in the Midst of Heartache and Brokenness – Mark Mayfield, Ph.D.

Divorce and Living in Blended Families – Jay Daughtry, M.A., and Tammy Daughtry, M.A.

Family Strong: Helping Families Survive and Thrive in the Storms of Life – Shannae Anderson, Ph.D., and Mercy Connors, Ph.D.

There is hope for complete healing. Reach out to me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com if you have questions or need free mental health coaching.

How to Successfully Navigate the Seasons of Life

Do you like change? How about the change of seasons? Each season has beauty and challenges. But all seasons bring change. What season of life are you in? You may be in a difficult season of sickness, a relaxing retirement, or a busy season with many demands. Whatever the season you are in, God is with you, so don’t forget about Him. He is there to help you and to give you peace, strength, and wisdom.

When Multiple Seasons Coincide

I am still in the season of caring for my handicapped mother since 2012, who has dementia. For many years, I cared for her in her home, which was a three-hour drive; now she is in a local Nursing home. This season was challenging because it coincided with working full-time, attending grad school part-time, and attending endless sporting events my youngest teenage son was involved in. At the same time, my oldest son was a drug addict for ten years. I say all this to encourage you, that God is my help, and He sustained me through it all. God will sustain you as well. 2Chronicals 16:9a (NIV) states, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” Is your heart fully committed to God?

My favorite uplifting scripture is Isaiah 46:3b-4 (NIV), “Listen to me, …, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.” Sustain means to support, provide for, hold up, to keep (a person, the mind, the spirits, etc.) from giving way, as under trial or affliction. Sustain also means to supply with food, drink, and other necessities of life (Dictionary.com 2025). Psalm 55:22 states, “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Also, Isaiah 50:4 states, “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.” I pray that this post offers words of hope and encouragement to sustain you in your seasons of change.

Enduring Difficult Seasons

You can trust and rely on God when you are in or facing a season of difficulty, even if you feel overwhelmed and can’t sense God’s nearness. He is there, carrying you whether you are aware of it or not. God (the “I am”) promises to sustain you and even rescue you. Read over Isaiah 43:4 again. Note the phrase “I will.” These are promises. You can trust God to keep His promises. I have written about many of God’s promises in my book “Unlocking God’s promises.” Jesus promised to give you peace in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 1John 5:4 explains, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” And Hebrews 11:6 states, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Transitioning to a New Season

I am entering a new season of change and uncertainty, but aren’t all seasons like that? This is why we need to hold onto God to help us navigate each season of our lives. I retired about six months ago, which was a breeze. I loved it. I got so many projects done. Retirement is great, but my husband is retiring next month, which will drastically change my retirement season. I like to be in control of what, when, and how I do things. I also pace myself throughout the day to get everything done. Having him home all day will be difficult, as he will want me to be part of his agenda. I am already getting very stressed about it. But remember, all thoughts are in my control, and I will take every thought captive. I may not be able write posts as often as I have in the last eight years, but everyone who reads my posts is in my prayers.

Here are ways to navigate life’s seasonal changes with grace.

Find something praiseworthy to focus on.
Embrace the changes and know that you will find a new normal.
Discuss common interests and potential conflicts, and how to mitigate them.
Talk about expectations and concerns. The more you understand each other’s expectations and concerns, the easier the transition will be. For example, when I began working full-time, I would not have time to do all the housework. So my husband and I worked out a way to split the chores.
Commit all your frustrations to the Lord, and seek His wisdom to overcome problems that inevitably occur in any season you are in.

To help with the transition of having my husband around every day and all day, I suggested we buy a van and turn it into a camper van, then take short trips around the US while we still have our health. This will give us a common goal rather than being annoyed with each other for interrupting our individual agendas. Does this make sense? If you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear them. Please leave a comment. I understand that this plan can backfire, and other issues will sneak up. Gary’s parents are old, and so are my mother and my aunt, so they could die or suffer a major health crisis, which will bring in a new season. The key is to trust God and rely on Him to sustain you and help you.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

14 Mental Health Indicators

If you had to rate your mental health from one to ten, what would it be? I learned to manage disappointment more effectively, to accept what I cannot control and to trust God, and to gently correct others’ offenses. My marriage improved because I stopped speaking negative words over it and replaced negative thinking with gratitude. I have spent the last year exploring ways to improve my mental and spiritual health. I was amazed by how much it affects our psychological and physical health. There is so much more to learn. The key takeaway from my research is that mental health and spiritual health are interrelated and directly affect your physical health. Therefore, the more spiritually healthy you are, the more mentally healthy you will be, and the more mentally healthy you are, the more physically healthy you will be. Read “Why Be Physically Healthy?“

Mental Health Rating.

I created the following summary in the post titled “How Mentally Healthy Are You?” published on January 11, 2025. When I read various articles about mental health, including my Mental Health coaching instructions with Light University, I learn that there are many perspectives on what a mentally healthy person is. The following list summarizes people’s views of what a mentally healthy person looks like. Rate yourself from one to ten for each category. How well are you doing?

Aware of negative thinking but not obsessed with it. 1 —–5—– 10

(Thinking creates feelings, which build beliefs that affect emotions and behavior. Read “All Thoughts are Within Our Control.”)

Identifies and accepts disappointment but does not discount it. 1 —–5—– 10

(Acknowledge the unmet expectations and process resulting disappointment through prayer. Read “How to Develop Emotional Resilience.”)

Forgive those who offend me. 1 —–5—– 10

(God requires forgiveness, and it removes the power of the offence from influencing your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Read “Why Must You Forgive.”)

You are realistically thankful about something even when expectations are not met.

1- –5 — 10 (Thankfulness changes the negative thought and emotion into a positive thought. Read “Being Thankful During Hardships.”)

Humbly consider others’ needs and desires. 1 —–5—– 10

(Loving others requires humility and consideration. Read “How to Build Trust with Win/Win Agreements.”)

Understands boundaries and uses them. 1 —–5—– 10

(Boundaries create healthy interactions. Read “HOW TO BE PROACTIVE: cont.”)

See possibilities and positives in hardships, and don’t obsess over unrealistic worst-case scenarios. 1 —–5—– 10

(Hardships are part of life, Jesus said He will give you peace. Read “Thoughts That Create Peace Within and Without.”)

Proactive and not defensive. You receive criticism and use it for positive change, and do not get defensive or become depressed. 1 —–5—– 10

(Very difficult to do. Read “How to Respond to Criticism.”)

Do not get into futile arguments to prove your right. 1 —–5—– 10

(This requires wisdom and a sound mind. Read “How to Have a Healthy Argument or Conflict.”)

You know you can only control your own thoughts and actions, not what others think or do. 1 —–5—– 10 (Read “10 Ways to be Proactive Instead of Reactive.”)
You are content yet persevere toward positive goals. 1 —–5—– 10

(Being envious and anxious steals you peace; contentment gives you a sound mind. Read “TWELVE WAYS TO ACHIEVE HEALTHY GOALS.”)

Do not need validation from others to feel good about yourself. 1 —–5—– 10

(Read “Eliminate Depression with Self-love and God’s Love.”)

Do not relinquish your power to external influences. 1 —–5—– 10

(Do you allow others’ flawed opinions to influence how you think and believe? Read “What is An Emotionally Healthy Person?”)

Do you take your sad thoughts to God and rejoice in His help, provision, and wisdom?

1 —–5—– 10 (You can take every thought captive and focus on Jesus as your source of joy. Read “HOW TO REPLACE SADNESS WITH REJOICING” and “Purpose, Sadness, and Loneliness.”)

Conclusion

How did you do? if you need to improve in one or more areas, there is hope. Read “Eight Ways to Rewire Negative Responses.” Your mental health is critical for living your best and most prosperous life. You cannot have healthy relationships without healthy emotions. You can’t face life’s hardships without a strong spiritual life. I pray you grow more mentally healthy as you also strengthen your spiritual and physical health. To read all my mental health posts, go to the Mental Health Posts page.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.

How To Overcome Holiday Stress

For many, the holidays are not a happy time and are full of stress. You may be one of the fortunate ones who has never experienced disappointment during the holidays; that is great. In this post, you will learn how to mitigate stress and change your perspectives, expectations, and focus to find joy and peace.

Do you remember a time you really wanted something for Christmas, and you didn’t get it? Does that memory steal your joy during the Christmas season? Do you feel sad because a family member died or there was a divorce? It is okay to feel sad about a loss. We will always have disappointments that make us sad or angry. I grew up poor, and when my father left, I never heard from him again, so the holidays were not joyous.

I have to confess that last year I became depressed because my children weren’t coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. They just had a baby and didn’t want to travel down from Syracuse. That is understandable, but I was still sad. It helped me develop compassion for others who lack family and will spend the holidays alone.

Stop Stressing About Gift-Giving.

Gift-giving is a tradition begun by the wise men who brought gifts for baby Jesus. Giving gifts shows honor to the person receiving the gift. Gift-giving became stressful when it became a competition on who could give the most. We were poor and could not give as many gifts. Buying gifts is a challenge for me and very stressful. So, I stopped making gift-giving the central theme of Christmas. Most of my family understood because they could all buy what they wanted, when they wanted. Most people don’t need anything. My husband’s family agreed to stop buying presents for the adults. So we only buy for the children.

My sister refuses to stop buying gifts and expects me to get her gifts. She is very wealthy, but I am not, so she would always compare the gifts she gave me with the ones I gave her, which was very humiliating. Do you see why gift-giving is so stressful for me? I came up with the idea of giving her gifts of service, which she appreciated more than a gift. I also make things for her, which she likes. This year, I am making her a unique raincoat. We picked out the pattern together, and she picked out the fabric.

I live with my husband, and I still cannot come up with a gift for him because he gets everything he needs or wants. Plus, we have the same bank account, so he would know everything I bought him, so there is no surprise. I did start making chocolate-covered peanut butter and coconut candy, which he loves. I also give them as gifts to my children, but not to my sister. For a few years, I gave my husband ten cards that he could redeem for a massage. He loved that. Please leave a comment with other gift ideas. We have so much, and we don’t need more stuff. I don’t need more stuff.

Change Your Focus.

Holidays are focused on family gatherings, which is good. But not every family is mentally healthy, and not everyone has a family. Change happens every year. A family member may die, get sick, move away, get married, or experience a job loss, and so on. There will always be disappointment around Christmas time. I found joy by focusing on the wonderful gift that God gave us in the birth of Jesus, the actual reason for the season. I look for opportunities to share the good news of salvation that came with the birth of Jesus, along with hope (Rom. 15:13), peace (John 16:33), joy (John 15:11), and love.

Start new traditions that focus on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. When I had children at home, we read the Christmas story and talked about the gifts God gives us. I also had them do a scavenger hunt for baby Jesus. I gave each child a clue, and they raced to find the next clue and see who could be the first to find something made of gold, then find myrrh, then frankincense, and the last clue was where baby Jesus was hidden. The kids loved that tradition. I would love to hear your ideas.

Reach Out to Those Who Are Alone.

Look for ways to encourage widows, take them a lunch, and spend time with them. Many will spend the holiday alone. Going to a Nursing home to visit those who have no one to see them. Singing carols with those in the Nursing Home gives them great joy. If there is an orphanage in your area, take time to give to them. James 1:27 states, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Volunteering at a soup kitchen to feed the homeless will also make you feel good and show honor to someone who cannot give back.

One year, I could not go home for Christmas because of a snowstorm. A person I knew learned of my situation, came by my apartment, and took me to her house for Christmas dinner. I will never, ever, forget that Christmas, which was over 40 years ago. Her mother and father made room for me at the dinner table and gave me a bag of M&Ms as a gift. Whenever I see M&Ms, I am reminded of their kindness. So I encourage you to reach out to those who will spend Christmas alone.

Invite the people around you to church, take them a plate of cookies, or invite them to dinner. One year, our church encouraged the members to invite international students to their homes for a holiday meal. Many students cannot go home for the holidays. Inviting them to your home would be a memory you and they would never forget. Showing kindness to someone will boost your mental health.

Jesus gave an example in Luke 14:12-14: “He said also to the man who had invited him, ‘When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13) But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.’”

Conclusion

I hope this post was encouraging and helps give you ways to make the holidays less stressful. Giving gifts of service to those who have everything, not more stuff. Focus on the real reason for Christmas or Thanksgiving and start new traditions. Invite those who will spend the holiday alone to your home. Give to those who can’t give back. Be a blessing. I know there is so much more I could have shared, but I would love to hear your ideas, which would also encourage others who read this post. I pray God bless you richly as you focus on Him and share love with others.

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My latest book, Unlocking God’s Promises, explains 18 categories of promises relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.

If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.