the reality of extensive demonic activity
"When she got home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone." —Mark 7:30
Our secular humanistic society likes to pretend that there are no demons, or, if there are demons, that not many of them are active around us. However, Pope John Paul II has stated that we in the Western world live in a culture of death. This implies that Satan, the prince of death (Heb 2:14), probably has his hosts of demons very active in our society, cities, neighborhoods, churches, and families. In our times, it may be even more appropriate to say that "our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above" (Eph 6:12).
When we admit the degree of demonic activity around us, we are in touch with reality and thereby have the possibility of applying Jesus' total victory over the devil to the reality of our daily lives. Jesus has already destroyed the devil's works (1 Jn 3:8). He is enthroned at the right hand of God the Father and is waiting "until His enemies are placed beneath His feet" (Heb 10:13). We can do this and bring down all the strongholds, sophistries, and proud pretensions of the evil one (2 Cor 10:4) simply by following the Lord's instructions. When we have decided to obey the Lord completely, in every area of life (2 Cor 10:6), the Lord "will quickly crush Satan under [our] feet" (Rm 16:20).
Demons are all around us, but the Lord will put them under us when we accept Him over us.
Prayer: Father, put me in touch with reality, especially the effects of Jesus' Paschal mystery.
Promise: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body." —Gn 2:24
Praise: Targeting the demonic activity that was responsible for upheaval in a prayer group, Ginger responded with the weapons of prayer and fasting and saw victory.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 1, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 7, 2002