A few years ago I was on the Sunday after-service prayer team and a couple came up for prayer. He had been struggling with anger for his whole life. He’d quit his job a few weeks earlier because the environment triggered his rage. She was holding up well under his verbal outbursts, but she was pregnant and they really wanted this to stop before their baby came into the world.

They are both strong Christians. He had done all the work to forgive people in his past. They had received lots of help. He put on his spiritual armour every day, prayed when the temptation arose to be angry, and asked for forgiveness immediately after each incident. They clearly loved each other and were actively loving God and others. There was nothing else to add to all that they were doing to try to cope with their situation. So we cast out the demon. He felt something leave. His face changed. He was finally free.

A spiritual outlook is not just helpful, it’s critical. Far too many Christians are unaware that we’re even in a battle. Others are in the battle, but unarmed. The devil is snatching away the Word from people’s hearts. He’s killing, stealing and destroying. He prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. There could be a reason you get sleepy when you read your bible. That rage could be coming from somewhere. Maybe there’s something behind that lust problem you can’t overcome. Your addiction might be more than that. Your favourite temptation could be coming via personal delivery.

Ask the Holy Spirit if there’s anything personally coming against you, then seek out freedom in Jesus.