...facing your demons...

22 One day Jesus got into a boat with His disciples, and He said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, 23 and while they were sailing He fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to Him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And He woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?’

26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As He stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before Him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me’ — 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds. 30 Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So He gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So He got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him” Luke 8:22-39.

I have to admit, the story of the pigs is a challenging story about demon-possession. So, how do we pray in the midst of such a story! I think we can all sit and pray for all those who are suffering from the violence we are seeing in our own country and in our world. Innocent people are being attacked, and countless millions are going through another day with no food or water or medicine. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Pray for those who have a ton of anger in their lives — and fear! Pray for those who are overwhelmed with depression and anxiety — and all of these people have turned in on themselves until they have forgotten who they are and can only think about all the pain they are feeling! Pray for them!

Pray for Jesus to push away the subtle demons we all struggle with, some more than others. Some are deeply in the grip of evil influences, demons that overwhelm them with anger and fear and anxiety. And remember, as the days of Lent pass, Jesus faced more and more of these evil forces and demons that He would only conquer on the Cross and in the empty tomb!

Ask God today to help you look into the depths of your own heart, and tell Jesus what names are haunting you, and what decisions and weaknesses continue to weigh you down.

Today, just sit quietly in the presence of God and feel His loving presence.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me a sinner.