From “White Witchcraft” to Lovesick Warriorship!

Written by Cassandra Boyson

“…don’t try to use any kind of magic or witchcraft to tell fortunes or to cast spells…” (Deut. 18:10-11).

Since when did having anything to do with tarot cards and witchcraft become acceptable for Christians? Never! Yet, the use of crystals from fortunetellers, predictions through tarot cards and even the use of actual witchcraft are issues some Christians have compromised on. It’s a trend. And we have to ask ourselves from where it stems. Could it be entertainment such as the series about young wizards that remains in popularity? Hasn’t the rise of this entertainment given way to much darkness in the plane of fictional story over all? And is this the culture we want to pass on to the coming generations?

I get it. I had Harry Potter books read to me by my public school teacher in fourth grade. They feel awfully harmless. They’re charming. They’re children’s books written by a gifted woman. But when someone says a story was delivered as if by voices… one has to ask from where those voices came, and whether that author’s talent was hijacked without her realizing.

The problem is that witchcraft (you might want to take a seat) …exists. It’s REAL. As Christians, we must guard ourselves from celebrating it in any way. One has only to come face to face with the real-life effects to realize we want nothing whatever to do with it. Moreover, it opens spiritual doors for the enemy to attack us in any form he chooses, often in tactics we don’t expect.

So, if you happen to find yourself in possession of anything having to do with witchcraft, I find this biblical statement to be quite potent: “Some who had been practicing witchcraft even brought their books and burned them…” Acts 19:19.

Entertainment Addiction and a Call to Devotion

Along with the current entertainment epidemic came this desensitization. We have shallow passion and little conviction. We don't feel things like we should because we drown our emotions in the distraction of entertainment media, much of which actually opens doors to demonic spirits. When we guard ourselves from a full spectrum of emotions that were created by God, many become deaf and dumb to the voice of the Holy Spirit and our own consciences.

Yet, in Ezra chapters 9 and 10, Ezra discovered the Israelites had been living like the foreign people around them, were guilty of "horrible sins" and were disobeying God by marrying outside their people. His response was to rip his clothes, tear out his hair and weep bitterly. He literally sat in shock for hours while people gathered around him to mourn their sins. When he finally stirred, it was to call the people to make amends for what they’d done. In a turning back to God, they actually sent their wives and children who possessed foreign blood away! I don't love the idea of their being cast off like that, but the high point is how deeply the people were convicted of their sin and how drastically they chose to make amends.

God's devoted ones are to MOURN sin, be drawn to repentance and seek to obey and submit to Him at the deepest levels, no matter the cost. CHRISTIANS WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE COMPROMISERS! We are meant to be lovesick warriors of Christ who reign on the earth with conviction and power that comes from the closest intimacy with Father God - intimacy that comes from clinging to Him through the hardest sacrifices and the most perilous fires.

Like aliens in this world, we must remember that we are a people set apart. It’s why, if we live the way Jesus called us, we don’t seem to fit in anywhere – often not even with other Christians. But after all, Jesus asked that we take up our cross and follow in His footsteps… that we DENY ourselves daily. This is a lifestyle of the deepest devotion and is the only road that will lead to the manifestation of ultimate destiny.

If we want peace, we don’t turn to crystals. We turn to God. If we want to move in supernatural power, we abandon our flesh daily so our spirit will grow in the power of the Holy Spirit. We let God lead us through battles, trials and fires and we cling to Him through it all so we may be proven trustworthy of a higher calling. There’s no adventure like living a life of total, yearning devotion to God. But adventure isn’t truly adventurous without adversity. For that matter, heroes aren’t born without it.

If we do not allow ourselves to experience the shame of our compromise, how will we become the victorious overcomers in Revelation 12:11, who love not their lives even unto death? And if we stifle our emotions, how can we be rightly lovesick for the One Who calls us? Jesus isn’t an accessory. He’s meant to be everything. Therefore, we do not pick and choose from Christianity and blend it with fortune-tellers, crystals and witchcraft. We choose Him and only Him, every day. Then and only then will we stand a chance at moving in the supernatural power Jesus promised!

First Annual Christian Witches Convention

The day after writing this, I learned there was, in April 2019, a first annual Christian witches convention. The threat to the salvation of Christians is real. I would love to say we all read and understand the bible enough to not be deceived by something like this... but that simply isn't always the case. We must be careful of what spiritual doors we open in our lives and those of our children and we must read the bible daily. Assuredly, we must pray without ceasing, pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ so that no one falls behind or drops out of the race (Eph. 6:18).

Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Romans 12:9

Recollect Your Authority and Take Up Your Sword!

By Cassandra Boyson

At creation, Satan detonated a weapon upon all mankind. But upon becoming Christians, most have no idea they’ve just enlisted for the opposing side. All of life is a battleground, but all of Christianity is about becoming a warrior in that battle. At the crucifixion and resurrection, war was declared and it was declared for one reason: We have an enemy and he is vicious.

As heroes of faith, we both throw over tables in the face of injustice and turn the other cheek. We do not cast our pearls before swine, yet we go the extra mile when asked a favor. We are generous with our fellow man… but not with their demons. Unfortunately, they manifest them on a daily basis. That is when we must decide to come against the enemy’s use of our brother or sister, which is often much simpler than some may think.

When I was a child, I sometimes returned home from friend’s houses with tales of how I’d been poorly treated. My mother always instructed me, the next time this occurred, to immediately get away somewhere I could take authority over the enemy. It was as simple as, “In Jesus name, you stop it right now!” The very first instance I attempted it, the result played out as a miracle before my eyes. Suddenly, not only was I being treated with respect, I was favored and treated like a guest of honor.

As I’ve grown older, I learned to use my authority in all situations. When the enemy is coming against myself or another person, I instantly go into demon-rebuking mode. And it helps if you can get angry with Satan, because it works as a power boost and better directs our focus. After all, one would not go to war and lightly tap their sword into the enemy. You’re desperate for survival. You put some vigor into it. Therefore, we have not only the right to respond to demons with fury and passion, but it is our duty as spirit-warriors.

Jesus: Man of War

Something the apostles often mention in but a sentence is Jesus’ habit of getting some time alone to pray. This was where the magic happened. He spent time in prayer and intercession, warring against the powers of darkness and championing for the powers of light. Moreover, he re-centered in God’s presence. Because without time with Him, we burn out emotionally and supernaturally. It’s like making tea; the longer we soak in His presence, the stronger we become… and the more potent our authority.

Jesus understood the necessity of charging up in the Father’s company so he could go on fulfilling his call. So, after his time of intercession and soaking, he was free to go about doing what he did best. He rebuked demons and righted wrongs. He performed all kinds of miracles and basically turned Satan’s hold upside down wherever he went.

Because he was a man of war in the supernatural realm (praying, commanding demons, etc.), he could afford to be a man of peace in the natural.

We’ve Enlisted

The world is at spiritual war, so I look at those who do not know Christ as civilians. And choosing Christianity is not choosing comfort, because it will not always be comfortable. We’ve enlisted. And when we join a church, it is not a safehouse, much as we would love it to be. It can stand as a place of refuge – especially if you find a place that will battle with you in prayer, or at least feed your spirit. But unfortunately, Satan works in overtime to get us out of those pews. He loathes and fears a united body. But part of being a warrior is often fighting to remain in the place we’ve been called. Sometimes our duty as soldiers is merely to hang in there and “Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out” (Eph 6:18).

Ephesians 6:13-20

The picture of a warrior’s life is clearly depicted here:

“Put on all the armor God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm. Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God’s justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit. Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people.”

In other words, welcome to the battlefield, Christian soldier! Throw on your armor and let’s go pray together, tearing down demonic activity and righting wrongs wherever we go. The going will be tough, but we walk in the authority of Jesus’ name and the love of the Father. And since clinging to Him through thick and thin makes us indestructible, we’ll make the enemy pay for attempting to destroy all the King cherishes.

Example Prayer for When Under Demonic Abuse

In the name of Jesus, I rebuke every demon influencing me and the world around me and I send you into the pit of hell, right now! I summon angels to affect my atmosphere with worship to the Father and protection over all that concerns me and mine. I submit myself into the care and will of God. I pray, God, You would open a heavenly portal over me to let Your kingdom come and will be done in all that affects me and those You love!

Darkness Cannot Bear the Light

Written by Cassandra Boyson

Do you ever find yourself pouring out for others - encouraging them, building them up or just being a good friend - only to have them turn on you? They’re often either blaming you for something you haven’t actually done or putting attitudes and opinions on you you’ve never felt. Perhaps they claim you think you’re better than them. Perhaps you haven’t done everything they thought you should. Suddenly, you’ve gone from being a blessing to a false friend. Meanwhile, all you’ve ever done was love them, fight for them and cared possibly too deeply for their problems.

All your life, people have responded poorly to your good will. You know your heart is coming from a pure place, but you keep being misunderstood. You may even find yourself unfairly accused of wrongdoing and are made to endure slander. For some, an entire community has turned against you. For the unluckiest, this has happened over and over again.

When these issues arise, you turn to God. You cling to him. You ask Him why, but he just loves and restores you. He takes you by the hand, smiling upon who you are for him and to him and he leads you beside still waters again. Yet, in those moments when we’re confident we’ve moved on, the enemy steals our joy with memories of past pain. Some may look over their life and see themselves used and thrown away over and over again. This steals your self-worth, leaving you apprehensive to step out again.

Recognize Your Value

The real problem is that, all along, you’ve been unaware of who you are. You don’t fully understand the value of what you bring to the table. You don’t know how very bright you are in a dark world. You may not even realize how much of God’s favor you’ve walked in, the gifts and blessings you possess that others only dream of.

Unfortunately, those who don’t realize they’re manifesting demons will react to your goodness in a variety of ways. Jealousy is a big one, feelings they will never measure up to the perfect, put-together person they imagine you are (and perhaps it’s not completely imagined). They may feel they’ll never reach your level of spiritual understanding and are envious of it. Others find it difficult to believe you could actually be as genuine as you are.

It takes understanding who you are to understand the world's response to you. It requires realizing how powerful and favored you are to comprehend why you’ve been rejected, misunderstood, misused and maligned.

The enemy already scorns the very circumstance of your humanity. But being an intimate friend of God puts you at the top of hell's “most wanted” list. And since most are unable to see into the spirit realm, we have no idea when we’re being used by demons as tools of destruction. The Christian life is a battleground, so we must be cautious of whose weapon we are operating as. When we feel jealous or begin to contemplate unexpected negative notions about someone, as if suddenly seeing them for who they truly are when they haven’t actually done anything, we need to realize who is whispering the accusation into our ear. When we want to lash out at someone in any way, we must first ask ourselves what they may be going through and whether the enemy is attempting to use us as a spear in the side of God’s child in an attempt to keep them from the fullness of their destiny. We must take efforts to be God’s weapon against darkness, accusation and cruelty at all times.

The Enemy Wants to Take You Out

A friend of mine has proven a real general in God’s army. Truly, I know few people who posses her spiritual and biblical insight while being a person of character and maturity. Her whole life is taken up with bringing light and understanding to others. But when on the brink of breakthrough, the enemy always takes strides to stop her. A special event is about to be birthed and suddenly numerous people decide she's wicked or false. These people lash out at the worst of times, making what my friend works to do that much more difficult. Even the demonic warfare a prophetic person may experience from mere words spoken behind closed doors can make stepping out for the Lord a real battle, possibly even taking them out entirely.

For those who can relate to this on any level, allow yourself to recognize what a weapon you are in God’s hand. Doing so isn’t prideful. It makes you that much more prepared to overcome. And taking confidence in the reality of your identity in Christ is a faith-booster, making your prayers and declarations that much more formidable. You will see yourself boldly stepping out in areas for which you’d thought yourself unqualified. And understanding how Satan uses others to harm us - taking a moment to remember his goal and the fact he sees you as a threat - will only cultivate your fortitude to move forward and with that much more potency.

Remember, darkness cannot bear the light and that reflects in how others respond to you. You are not the problem. Darkness is. By enduring these trials, you are growing into higher levels of battle-readiness, authority and greater intimacy with the King. Iron sharpens iron and your sword (voice) is growing sharper, cutting through the confusion between lie and truth, good and evil, darkness and light. Satan wouldn’t bother with you if you weren’t a danger to his plans. But the trials he brings against you are the training ground that leads to destiny.

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12