War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. // Revelations 12:7-8
My household “sisters” surrounded me in the dorm room. Their hands were stretched, touching my shoulders and reaching towards the heavens. Words of praise poured from their mouths, and tears streamed down my cheeks.
“In Jesus’ name I bind and cast out the spirit of unforgiveness,” I prayed aloud. They encouraged me as I continued to call on Jesus to cast out the various spirits that oppressed me in my life. We were following the process of deliverance prayer from the book Unbound by Neal Lozano, and in the spiritual realm at that moment Saint Michael and his angels were battling against the dragon and his followers on our behalf.
My friends and I, through the guidance of spiritual advisors, prayed these deliverance prayers many times together, for each other and with other women seeking healing and forgiveness from specific sins. It was a beautiful time of experiencing the Lord’s grace that launched me deeper into my spiritual life.
Those years of prayer together taught me that there really is a battle we face everyday in our lives. We know that the Lord has the ultimate victory in His Death and Resurrection, but He is also ready to fight for the soul of each and every human person on earth. The spiritual realm can be a little baffling and scary. I often do not think about the presence of angels around me, but they are there, ready to fight for us against the dragon who has no place in Heaven.
Sister, today is the Feast of the Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Pray to them today, asking them to help you face the spiritual battles the Lord allows you to encounter. You do not have to battle against sin alone. Allow them to fight with you, and the devil and his fallen angels will not prevail.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
You do not have to battle against sin alone. // Susanna Spencer Click to tweet
Susanna Spencer holds a master's in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the Content and Theological Editor for Blessed is She. She is a freelance writer, editor, and speaker living with her philosopher husband and four kids in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She loves reading theology, attending beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious food, and casually following baseball. She is the author of the Gospel Studies including Seek His Kingdom: A Meditation on Matthew; narrator for Found: Advent With the Good Shepherd and Rescued: Lent With the Lamb of God; a contributing author to our children’s devotional prayer book, Rise Up; and Theological Editor of the Blessed Conversations Studies. Find out more about her here.
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