How to battle spiritual disorientation

It’s a Saturday morning and for a working mom living with 3 males, it is quite a busy morning for me like any other Saturday. I stepped out of the bad habit of sleeping late because it was robbing me of spending quality time with God. I have learned during my early morning sessions with God that our spiritual capacity and structure are being prepared and strengthened for the weights of our day.

But on Saturdays, I am shifting, getting up a little later as during the week (6 am) except the times when the Holy Spirit wakes me during the early morning watches to pray, intercede, or to share the revelation with me. But then, the Holy Spirit can use any situation or time to give us insight or revelation.

So as I am on my way to collect some cleaning items needed for cleaning my bedroom, I stopped right in front of the cupboard, not remembering what I came for. As I was standing there, trying to remember what I came for, the word DISORIENTATION popped up. I am a visual learner and the Holy Spirit mostly uses this spiritual sense to alert or to teach me.

As I was nibbling on this insight, I started to understand what I was going through the past few days. I was DISORIENTATED! But why? There must be a cause and I started to engage with the Holy Spirit and received bits and pieces of information to complete my search.

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On Monday I could not find my reading glasses anywhere. Strange, because it never happened before!

On Tuesday, the same thing happened and after a long search, I found it next to the washing machine!

I told my husband that it might be an attack on my spiritual vision, but without taking it into further consideration I went off into my day.

I was frustrated and moody during these few days and felt like giving up, but I still pressed on. Why? I knew all of it was because of spiritual attacks.

More about disorientation

Due to anesthesia during surgery people become disorientated and may remain disoriented for a few hours afterward. It affects their memory, focus, and stability.

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The three areas where disorientation attacks

Spiritual focus

Spiritual memory

Spiritual balance

This can manifest itself in spiritual disorientation, then affects our direction and eventually our relationship with God.

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This post is written for those who have a busy program and despite their job, are constantly aware of their daily kingdom assignments.

Discerning the first signs of disorientation

• Insecurity
• Procrastination
• Searching for words
• Being behind in your schedule
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Not being able to focus
• Depressed
• Slowness

How to react when confusion strikes

1. Orientation

Orientation becomes a phase to gain stability and finds a strategy.

1. 1 Stop and evaluate the situation

Stop and meditate on the insight to discern where it is coming from. Gather some information with these questions: What could cause me to become distorted? Check out the time and your surroundings.

Prayer journaling became a space where I could sit down, evaluate the situation, seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit, and find strategies.

Remember, during this time I was so disoriented that I had to pause and seek direction. In times like these, one can be extremely vulnerable, but also very much dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

1.2 Engage with the Holy Spirit

What’s happening and why? These are some of my first questions to the Holy Spirit, my Helper. Whether the answers come immediately, after a few days, or even longer, I am waiting for revelation before I can engage into any warfare.

1.3 Write down what you discern

Sometimes it is important to write down the notifications and information the Holy Spirit is providing. Prayer, journaling has been of great help and also a place where I could wait patiently for prayer answers or revelation. Even though I sometimes do not know why I am writing down certain words, I choose to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Although desperate I grasp words or strategies, but I first discern where they come from. I’ve never before become so aware of the controversy of quiet times with the Lord !

2. Take action

2.1 Practise resistance immediately if necessary

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

There is power in resistance!

Why else would the devil flee from you? But how do you resist these attacks coming from our adversary? Simple – like Jesus did:declaring the word of God.

 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Matthew4:3

Resistance stops any attack in its tracks, and our adversary will have to come up with plan B, as he did with Jesus in the desert.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Matthew 4:4

But then, resistance will not be effective without submission to God. The level of our submission equals the strength of our resistance.

2.2 Ask for direction

Disorientation shifts our thoughts on a detour and tries to distance us from God. Asking God for divine direction is a strategy to lead us out of this state of depression.

Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

Psalm 116:2

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God supports faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

2.2 Ask for revelation

No way out or no effective strategy without a revelation from God! Revelation on the situation is the key to finding a strategy to pray. Revelation from God can come in various ways.

In my case, it came with a dream where I was walking alongside a road with a covering over my head. I dreamt that I was walking and heard the cars pass me by, but could not see.

2.3 Ask for a battle strategy

Because of the above revelation, I was able to discern that the attacks were launched at my spiritual focus trying to change my direction. This insight enabled me to pray in the right prayer direction.

 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

2 Timothy 2:7
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but power and love and self-control.

Psalm 119:169
Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word!

1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Corinthians 14: 33

Conclusion

It is only the grace of the Lord and His steadfast love that abounds us during these times if we lean on the strength of His name and trust the Holy Spirit for a way out. The keyword in all of this is patience: To wait!

There is still so much more to share with you, but as I am heading out of this situation, I am truly thankful for the grace of God. In every battle or situation, I ask for God’s grace: For it is enough for me!

Be strong in the Lord!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

1 Corinthians 10:13