You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. Psalm 91:6-7
In the original Hebrew, these verses speak of dangers both seen and unseen. Centuries before Jesus, Jewish translators rendering this Psalm into Greek used language that also reflected an awareness of demonic evil. The spiritual world was very real to them.
There is much to learn about the demonic, how darkness gains influence, why it seems more pronounced in some places than others, and how believers are to stand against it. But none of us needs to live afraid of dark spirits. If we understand the authority of Christ, we know that though darkness is real, it is not sovereign.
Having traveled extensively, I’ve stayed in all kinds of places, and every place has a history. Some have felt peaceful the moment I entered. Others have felt oppressive. Wherever terrible things have happened, there is a spiritual residue associated with what took place there.
Think of a hotel room and the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people who have stayed there. There’s no way to know everything that has transpired within those walls. So one of the first things I do after unlocking the door is pray. I speak Scripture, acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ, and ask Him to fill the room with His presence. I have spent enough fitful nights feeling inexplicably agitated to know that it’s imperative to pray rather than dismiss the uneasiness.
It is instinctive to fear enemies we cannot see, but God sees every one of them. He is a good Father who does not leave His children defenseless. In Christ, He’s given us every weapon to prevail. False bravado is out of places. So is a fascination with spiritual darkness. Satan is actually delighted with either. My confidence is not in how forcefully I pray but in the authority of the One whose name I carry.
The powers of darkness are not impressed by me. But they know Jesus.
Hidden in You, I am feared by Your enemies. Thank you. Amen
