Nightmares- My experience and detailed steps on how I received my victory
For the past couple years, Satan was my neighbour.😊 Yah, honestly! These neighbours worshipped idols, were steeped in the eastern mythology and the new age practices. I had not realised that my embracing and conversion to Christianity had offended them so deeply. They wanted to harm me, ruin me and humiliate me for doing so- for becoming a Christian. To teach me a lesson, they embarked on this ambitious journey to demonstrate to me the power of their idols. Oh boy, how miserably they failed at it.
Read more to know how God, the Holy Spirit taught me warfare and glorified Jesus.
Those days, life was in the fastest gear and I was living out of suitcases. Different time zones and incoherent work schedule added to the complexities of life. In between all this, suddenly one day an elderly woman approaches me and introduces herself as my neighbour. Our conversation goes something like this:
Elderly lady: When can I come over to collect my things that have accidentally fallen off my patio and landed in yours?
RivkaGabriel: In an hours’ time, please
After an hour: Ting tong… it’s the door bell 🔔🔔🔔 I invite her in. She glances at the Cross hanging on the living room wall
Elderly lady: Are you a Christian?
RivkaGabriel: Yes, couple years back, I embraced and converted to Christianity
Elderly lady: Oh.. and scuttles away
A week later, as I slept at night, I had a terrible nightmare. I woke up sweating and all upset. And I did exactly what anyone of us does in such circumstances- “Judge myself”… But quite unfortunately, this did not help a tiny bit and I experienced more nightmares.
👉 In most of these nightmares, I saw ferocious dogs chasing me or encircling me with the malicious intentions to harm me. And then, I thought perhaps it is something “spiritual”. That following Sunday, while taking the Holy Communion at the Church, I sought the Holy Spirit for His guidance and help.
Here is the three pronged solution that I received:
- Liberation from self condemnation: The very next day, Monday, I read a digital devotion by Pastor Joseph Prince (from Singapore). The core message of the devotion was to keep eyes on the Cross where our failures are turned into Christs’ success. It was so liberating.
- The Strategy: Holy Spirit turned my attention to a group of African preachers on YouTube. I learnt about the power of midnight prayers and how to use it as a warfare weapon (I’ll be doing a separate blog on the warfare arsenal, prayer points, confessions etc and will share the links of the messages too). I added some fasting to it as well. I was completely oblivious to this sort of teaching.
- The Knowledge: Holy Spirit led me to the messages preached by Pastor Derek Prince. They are very insightful and by far the gold standard in understanding witchcraft.
Now, I had a divine plan to fight these witchcraft demons that attacked me in dreams. Initially, as I settled into this new timetable, I encountered challenges, setbacks and a few victories too. But gradually, I overcame my fears and shortcomings with the help of the Holy Spirit.
My initial successes looked like this:
☑️ One time in my dream, I saw the elderly lady (who indulged in witchcraft) visit my flat and hand me a paper with something scribbled on it to read. I shoved it back into her face and told her “All that you do is witchcraft to instil fear in me”. And then I shut the door on her.
☑️ And again, another time, I had a dream in which I saw a spotlight from above shining only on myself as I walked in the midst of deep darkness that surrounded me on all sides. I could hear accusing whispers- as though there were people around hiding in the darkness and slandering me. And in that one voice which I recognised was of that neighbour (who practised witchcraft). In a span of about three months, I went from being a victim to a victor. The three pronged strategy shared by Holy Spirit saw me through. All glory to Lord Jesus!
My Key Challenges:
- Daily praying from 12am to 2am was challenging. Couple times, I dozed off a bit 🥱😴💤. So, as a fix- I’d wash my face in between and have warm water or Green tea 🍵 once or twice to refresh myself
- My biggest challenge was mentally prioritising the spiritual over the physical. Because flesh likes everything but being uncomfortable 😊
- Not hearing from Holy Spirit on those days when I felt I did exceptionally well spiritually
- Gradually cutting off those activities that did not align with my new lifestyle
- Moving away from a sprint to a marathon view point. I reoriented my vision on spiritual warfare🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃
- Enhancing my knowledge in this area
- Blessing them that curse you. I am still struggling with it 🤷🏻♀️ 😣
My Learnings:
- I gained significant ground because God, The Holy Spirit made it easy for me. He helped me a lot, a lot… a whole lot
- Spiritual intelligence: Holy Spirit gave me insight into their wicked plans.
👉Like, onetime Holy Spirit told me ahead of time that the vegetable delivery guy is their (my neighbours, who practised witchcraft) man and to not consume those items.
How can I say this? I’ll tell you how: That particular morning, just before I woke up, I saw this same man handing over to me the veggies. And after I received the items, Holy Spirit laid on my heart to throw them away. I imagined consuming them and a great guilty consciousness came upon my spirit. So, I discarded them and my peace returned. - Be sincere with Holy Spirit: It is a journey with the Holy Spirit. If you are truthful with Him, you will soon find out for yourself how forgiving He is. Holy Spirit is an ocean of mercy!
- At times, do pray with those who are spiritually over you- specially with the ones who are in active missions.
- Wrestling game: Spiritual warfare is a wrestling match.🤼♀️ Be ready to receive a few blows. Yes, you will. Satan is very cunning and sly. He has been playing this game since time immemorial… He knows how to inflict crippling wounds on you. Pastor Joseph Prince has some wonderful articles in the area of condemnation and restoration posted on his website and I think they are also available on the YouTube. Be sure to check them out!
- Most importantly forgive yourself. You will make mistakes and it’s ok. Repent and get back in the game.
- Be Cross focussed: Always remember, Victory✌️ is already won on the cross.
“And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power” Colossians 2:10
People who indulge in witchcraft hate God. You will instantly notice their rebellious attitude towards the Christian God and the Church.
“You are my war club, my weapon for battle— with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms”
Jeremiah 51: 20
May you be a mighty weapon in the hands of God, the Holy Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen
