Some years ago, I was visiting with friends in Abuja. I stayed over at a friends’ and I was given a room to myself for the night. Exhausted from my road trip, I had settled into bed quite early, hoping to sleep through the night. Some hours later, just about midnight, I was awoken from my sleep. There was no electricity and the room was pitch dark such that I couldn’t see anything around me, but I felt a presence in the room. Though, I could not see anything, the presence was so strong that I knew without a doubt that I was not alone in the room. I also knew, instantly that whatever was in the room was not a friendly presence because it came with an overwhelming sense of intimidation.
In a few minutes, I went through several emotions, most of all was fear. Then almost immediately, I switched to some form of anger. How could an ungodly presence intimidate me in my room? This was my room for the night and as far as I am in here, I take authority over this environment…So I got out of bed and started rebuking the spirit/demon/presence…whatever it was. I spent over 30minutes casting, binding, commanding and even declaring scriptures but the presence felt stronger than ever. When I got tired, like the disciples of Jesus who couldn’t cast out the demon, I took the matter to the Holy Spirit.
What is this? I asked. Why won’t it go away?
Am I not a child of God?
Should there be an evil presence in my room?
I definitely didn’t want to feel defeated by whatever it was, so I asked, thinking He’ll me another fighting strategy to get this thing out.
“Go to bed.” I remember hearing those words in my spirit so clearly.
What? How? There’s something inside my room. I need to get it out.
“Go to bed” and that was all He said.
Since I had tried all I know anyway, I heeded the Holy Sprit and went to bed.
I slept like a baby.
* * * * * * * * *
Sometime later, when I reflected on that day, I came up with a few lessons;
- Knowing God and knowing that you’re His child is not enough. Beyond knowing who God is, we must strive to know His will per time and in every situation. We should not be tempted to think that God will do things the same way at all time or that He is thinking exactly what we think. Life has taught me that just because something is good does not mean it is good for us or that it is appropriate for that particular timing. I assumed that I knew what should be done and didn’t bother to seek God for His strategy until after my own understanding had failed me. We must eliminate the ‘see finish’ attitude from our dealings with God.
- Sometimes, our trials are simply a test of trust and not a test of power or capacity. What I set out to do that night was to assert my authority as a child of God (which is not necessarily wrong) but the challenge may not have been one that required power. Sometimes, God doesn’t want to see how much we can do but how much we can trust Him. I believe asking me to go to bed was Him asking me to trust Him enough to sleep through my anxiety and though I don’t know what happened while I slept, I know my trust worked because I woke up unscathed and refreshed.
- Not doing anything is not necessarily wrong. Many times, all that God requires for him to work with us is surrender. I tend to say that sometimes, God has an entire loaf for us but he hands us a slice to see if we’d be willing to present that slice back to him. Question is, how much can we surrender in order to allow God work and act on our behalf? Since there cannot be two captains controlling a ship at the same time, it is our place to surrender the reins of our life to the one with superior knowledge. Of course, the appearance of this is at first silly and unintelligent (it didn’t make sense to go to bed when there was an obvious intruder in my room) but God always shows up fully armed when our weapons have been cast down. He will not come and complement our strength with His own so the Glory can be shared. He is God alone.