I decided to write this post because I’ve simply had enough.
I’ve had enough of hearing how the enemy is influencing moms to ruin their lives and the lives of their children. Just yesterday I read part of a story about how a mom shot and killed her own toddler.
And do you know why she did it?
Because voices in her head told her to do so.
After reading this, I cried. I cried for the child, but thanked the Lord that he is in Heaven with God. And I cried for the mother, because she has ruined her life. She cannot undo what she’s done. This one act of obedience to the enemy will haunt her for the rest of her life.
And you know what hurts even more?
The fact that this didn’t have to happen. If she had been equipped with what to do when this kind of thing happens, her toddler might be alive and she could be walking in victory over these “voices”.
I’ve heard many accounts of things like this happening to moms for the same reason. All of them felt like something was telling them to do it.
And it’s true, something was. And that something goes by many names: Satan, the enemy, the devil, the deceiver, the adversary.
I personally have firsthand experience with this level of demonic mental bullying, so I can understand how the enemy is working behind it. If you’ve ever dealt with scary suggestions coming to your mind, know that you are not alone. These thoughts can scare you for sure, but there is a way out of this. You can conquer and be free of this!
How the enemy works
If you take a look in Genesis 3, you see the account of the serpent coming to Eve to tempt her. God had already spoken and told them what they could and could not do. They could not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or else they would die.
The devil knew this, and he wanted them to die. But he’s crafty and knew exactly how to get them to take themselves out. What was his tactic?
Lying.
That’s what he did back then, and what he still does today. He maligned God’s character and convinced Eve that God was holding back from her. He played the part of her advocate to make her do exactly what he knew would bring about a tragic end. And she believed him and did what he said.
What I always think is so interesting about this story is that if Eve had only refused to listen to the devil, they would not have encountered the consequences they did (shame and spiritual separation from God). It’s God’s desire that we refuse evil; that we keep ourselves free from its influence by resisting it.
And this is what I see the enemy doing today: running rampant and whispering to people’s minds. Telling people to steal from, kill, and destroy each other. His tactics are not brand new, but we can get in trouble if we don’t recognize them.
2 Corinthians 2:11 says that we are not “ignorant of Satan’s devices.” After I had my second daughter, I encountered the lies of the enemy in heavy and scary way. He tried to flood my mind with harmful things to do to my children and scary images of them so that I’d give in to fear and be prey to his bullying tactics. He cares for no one, and will try to tempt anyone whom he thinks might carry out his plans.
I’m being very transparent in this post because I keep hearing stories of moms and dads alike who are doing unheard of things to their kids. And when I look at it, I know that they are under demonic influence. They are listening to the lies of the enemy and carrying out what comes into their minds.
And I’ve actually discovered that a lot of moms go through this very thing, and it scares them. It scares them to even talk about it or share it, lest others think that they should be locked up in a mental ward or have their kids taken away. Even Christian mamas I know have struggled understanding why they were hearing and seeing the things that were coming to their minds.
If you feel like this is you and you would like to be free from this, understand that there is a way out of this madness! You don’t have to be under the devil’s tormenting schemes. That’s not what God wants for you and not what you want for yourself. Here are some things you can do to get and stay:
Recognize the source
We have to recognize where these types of thoughts originate. The enemy’s will is to kill, steal, and destroy. Every thought that lines up with these things originates in him.
On the contrary, it’s God’s desire that we walk in love. And what does that look like?
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,it does not brag. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I was dealing with this very thing was assuming that all these crazy thoughts were coming from my own self. I think that’s what scared me the most.
I spent about six months being tormented by the enemy because I didn’t recognize where it was all coming from. I thought I was the one originating these thoughts, and I thought, what an awful person I am!
2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Whatever it is that is coming to our minds doesn’t belong there. It’s an imagination and a pretension, and needs to be taken captive.
Do not obey “voices” that tell you to do harmful things
This is pretty straightforward. If you are saved, then you belong to God. But if you make a habit of listening to demonic voices, the enemy will continue to speak to you.
We need to know and grow in the truth (see more below). Not even Jesus was free from the enemy making suggestions. However, Matthew 4 shows us how Jesus dealt with this particular thing: he refused to agree with or obey the devil. Let’s follow his example!
Don’t open the door
1 Peter 5:8 says to “be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.” We don’t want to give the devil a landing place by watching or reading things that enable a pathway for his influence in our lives. Watching scary movies, reading scary books, allowing things that are associated with magic (movies, toys) in our homes are all pathways that he can use to influence us.
Whatever we allow to come into our minds and hearts is what the condition of our souls will be. In our home, we are careful of any music, tv show, or book that would discuss or showcase things we don’t agree with. We also explain to our kids why we are careful about this-we are pursuing love and godliness, so why would we watch, read, or listen to things that are contrary?
Another way we can invite demonic influence in our lives is through uncontrolled anger. Do you feel like your kids push you to the breaking point? I’ve definitely been there (more times than I care to recount!) and I’ve come to understand that part of the reason this was happening was because I wasn’t being diligent in the training of my children.
Wouldn’t it just be easy if our kids came out of the womb pre-programmed with manners and character? But alas, it isn’t so. It is the duty of every parent to train their child in what is good and right. A child left to him or herself will surely cause us much heartache!
When Adam and Even sinned in the Garden of Eden, man from that point on was cut off from the influence of God upon the soul. Apart from the influence of godliness, we are naturally selfish. That’s why we are exhorted to “train up a child in the way he should go.” (Proverbs 22:6). We have to model and train our kids into righteousness. Otherwise, selfish they will be!
Untrained children have unfortunately met early deaths because of the anger of their parents. If you feel like you struggle in this area, I encourage you to purchase a copy of both Grace Based Parenting and To Train Up a Child. We all need guidance, and these books provide some of the best!
Related: Train Your Kids to Obey the First Time
Pray and meditate on truth
Becoming a mom is nothing to take lightly. There is warfare over our children that we may not see, and it’s important that we do what’s necessary to protect ourselves and them.
I’ve tried to do this without God, guys. I really have. I’ve tried only relying on knowledge that I gain, and while the knowledge definitely shed a lot of light on my situation, there were things I couldn’t see.
God knows us and knows what we need, and He can give us tailor-made wisdom for ourselves and our kids. Read books, but also pray and God will highlight to you what the issue is for your particular situation. We are made for fellowship!
Another good resource that I need to mention is The Believer’s Authority. I read this book when I felt overtaken by fear and it made me realize that I was believing wrongly. It helped me to completely overcome fear and the bullying tactics of the enemy. Definitely a must-read for every Christian mama!
I really hope this helps any mama out there who may be feeling ashamed or embarrassed by the things that have crossed her mind. It may relieve you to discover that you’re not alone! Freedom from this is God’s desire for you-start your freedom today!
Related Posts:
How I Completely Overcame Postpartum Depression and What I Learned
How to Have a Prayer Life When You’re a Busy Mom
How I Stopped Wasting Time as a Stay at Home Mom