Are you concerned about the spiritual atmosphere around your life? Your discernment is a powerful gift!
Yet I frequently hear from Christians who struggle with what they discern.
They may be experiencing physical, mental, or emotional strain from spiritual warfare and demonic encounters.
When these people come across Enliven Blog, they are relieved to hear from someone who has experienced similar problems.
The Atmosphere of the Holy Spirit
It is true that in my early years of growing in discernment, negative atmospheres affected me.
Yet that is not my experience today.
Today, I live with a continual awareness of the Holy Spirit being with, in, and upon me. I know the atmosphere I carry is one of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14:17)
This is my usual experience, and if it is ever anything otherwise, I can quickly make my way back into that awareness of God’s Presence.
- It is simply a matter of doing whatever it takes to get back into a place of reliance upon what Jesus has done for me. (Col 2:13-15) This may involve confession or repentance. It may include an act of obedience. Freedom may come as I renounce something. But most often, I am helped by simply returning to a position of trust in God.
I know that peace and the experience of God’s Presence is my inheritance as a Christian—and it is yours too.
Take the Weather with You
‘Everywhere you go, always take the weather with you’ sings one of our favorite New Zealand bands. [1]
As people who discern and sense atmospheres, we have a choice.
We can come under the dark clouds or, we can rise above them. Better yet, we can participate with the Holy Spirit in shifting the atmosphere.
Determine that you will not be like a thermometer, going up and down with the temperature. People around you (and their issues) will not affect you.
You can be a thermostat and, you can set the temperature. Take the weather with you. And the weather forecast in God’s Kingdom is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 14:17) [2]
Notes:
[1] Crowded House, “Weather With You”, 1992
[2] The above article is an excerpt from the revised version of the book, ‘Unlocking the Gift of Discernment’
Related Post: Change the Atmosphere by Speaking Prophetic Words of Life
Unlocking the Gift of Discernment eBook
Available for purchase from the Enliven Blog e-store.
The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare and can assist when ministering freedom to individuals. And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.
“Unlocking The Gift Of Discernment” incorporates wisdom from Enliven Blog. It also has additional valuable material on how you can be protected as a discerner in times of spiritual warfare.
To view “Unlocking The Gift Of Discernment” in our e-store, click here
Related Posts:
Discernment: Be a Glory Watcher (Like Ezekiel)
© 2015 Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
Enliven Ministries: Prophetic Ministry for a Revival Generation
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
Hi Ms. Helen,
Can you help me to be enlightened?
When I became a Christian since October 2007, up to now I have a constant dream that occurs almost every month. For 9 years, I’ve been constantly seeing and casting out bad spirits in a dream. This includes like entering a house that I could sense a very heavy atmosphere and in my senses I’ve known an indwelling of a spirit. Sometimes, I literally see in my dream a bad Spirit and its possession to people I’ve known and even to strangers. Whenever I’ve had this events in my dream, I often cast them out in Jesus’ name while praying in tongues. That would always be the scenarios. I’ve often see people in my dream being possessed by bad Spirit or see spirit literally and sometimes their presence only in a certain place, and whenever I have these encounters, I always cast out and pray in tongues in my dream then I will be awaken with the clear picture of my dream. Also, there are instances that what I have dreamed of did actually happened and what is significant, in my dream, I’ve prayed sometimes in words I’ve understand but most of the times in tongues then I will wake up having the memory. So, what I’ve always done, I often pray for the people or scenarios in my dreams that God would take care of it.
I don’t know its meaning and I’ve been looking for someone who can somehow can give an insight on my experiences. I’m also having a sensitive sense in the change of atmosphere, of sensing and understanding emotions eventhough the person I’m talking with is a stranger or first time encountered. I’m also aware if the one speaking is having an anointed or gifted life and even partly in struggle. I’m praying for it and haven’t have the clear understanding. I don’t know really and hope you can help explaining these to me.
Hi Sister Helen
i was just reading your articles and i think i may have the gift of discernment because:
1) before i was saved (when i was a small boy) there was this one time where my parents brought me to a buddhist temple and i stood outside the temple around the wishing pond and i felt like an unease in my heart but i always felt like a white “aura” that feels pure and holy
2) i couldnt watch horror movies when i was young and there are times when i slept, i would scream when i was sleeping after watching horror movies
3) i have an unusual interest towards the supernatural ever since i was young. especially in esp and hypnotism. someone even gave me a tarot cards for my birthday
4) when i became a christian, there are times during prayer/when talking to people i would see vision of colors or feel it in my spirit man
but i am not sure, what do you think?