Demonic Visitation

Q

I was raised Catholic and raised my children Catholic. I got saved about six years ago and began going to a Christian church. One of my two grown daughters has been going with me also but I could never get my other grown daughter to. She has not been in a church in about five years. Last weekend she indicated out of the blue that she would attend church with us. Of course, I was very happy and grateful.

This past Friday evening she said she would go again with us on Sunday. Then, at about 1 am on Saturday morning, she was awakened by a presence in her room which she felt was demonic. She felt it trying to push her off of her bed and she had a strong feeling that if it did, she would become possessed. No one in my family has ever had any experience of this kind before. She began to pray the Lord’s Prayer out loud over and over again and the pushing motion she felt slowed down but did not stop and the presence did not leave her. In fact, her lips became numb and soon she could no longer pray out loud. At that instant she began to say in her mind, “I cast you out in Jesus Name” and immediately the presence left her.

Can you explain this? Could it have just been a dream? If not is there anything I can do to help her? She is frightened it may happen again. Thank you and God bless you and your family.

A

Yes, it could have been a dream, but from your description, I’m more inclined to believe that it was just what she thought, a demonic visitation. Your daughter’s intuitive response was consistent with the Bible’s admonition to “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

The devil doesn’t like to lose anyone, and even neutral people belong to him, but visitations like this are rare. He must believe that your daughter will become a powerful force for the Lord. Encourage her to make a public profession of faith as soon as she can sincerely do so because the Bible also tells us that “Greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

In the meantime, while we’re admonished to respect our enemy we’re not to fear him, and the name of Jesus is a powerful and effective weapon of resistance.