Sticks and stones may break my bones, your words they shoot and kill

South Asia taught me how powerful the spoken word is. It can heal, it can kill, it can praise, it can demote. And in the spiritual battle that is life, words are the most powerful weapon (for either opponent).

For the evil one:

While at City Market, four of our team members were physically, mentally, and emotionally attacked by a man who was possessed. But not two minutes before this happened we walked past three men who were praying. Now, obviously they were not praying in the name of Jesus. These audible words were the open door that Satan needed to send his spirits our way. I truly believed that had we not passed these men, or anyone else praising demons, that that encounter would not have occurred. Don't get me wrong, I praise God for opening my eyes, through that experience, to how real our battle is.

For the Holy One:

I learned early on in the trip, that simply claiming the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ will immediately free us from any bondage and wrap us in safety. Anything that is not for Christ cannot stand to be in His presence and must leave. As soon as we made His presence known by speaking His name, the demons left.

Likewise, praises to our Father are extremely powerful. By singing, or simply stating, praise to Jesus Christ, we claim His power and authority over creation. Whether it was in "team time" when we claimed His authority of our own lives, or at VBS when we claimed it over the audience and the village, or anytime we were out and about or traveling and claimed it over wherever we were and the buildings, streets, or people there, our God's power became known and His glory was poured out. Light was present in the midst of complete and utter death and darkness. This is the power of my God who lives and abides in me! Sotram!