Matthew 12:43
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Are you maintaining your deliverance?

What is “deliverance?” Most Christians often use synonymously it with “the casting out of demons.” That is why there is a negative connotation associated with it. However, deliverance has a much broader scope. As a Christian, demons cannot possess you because you belong to God and His Spirit is in you. However, the devil can attack you through depression, oppression, and torment. In those times, you need to be delivered from demonic influence and persecution. From a spiritual standpoint, deliverance is taking you from the place where you are and bringing you to a new place in God.

Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (New International Version NIV)

Your deliverance is the reason Jesus died.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

Deliverance is a good and necessary thing in this walk. Don’t allow pride or ignorance to keep you from getting what you need. When you get rid of the habits and activities in your life you have done for a long time, that do not glorify God,  you are being delivered. When you break free of the influences that cause you to feel worthless, to succumb to depression, and function with low self-esteem, you are being delivered. Keep in mind, deliverance creates a void; it is the empty place in your life that used to be filled with those habits and activities.

Luke 11:25-26 “When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt.’ On return, it finds the person swept and dusted, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits dirtier than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place.” (The Message MSG)

What are you going to do with the free time you now have? You can’t leave it free. You have to fill the emptiness with the presence and power of God.

• Invite the Lord to dwell within you every day.
  Colossians 3:16a  Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being]. (Amplified Bible AMP)

• Spend more time in prayer.
  Psalm 55:17 Every evening I will explain my need to him. Every morning I will move my soul toward him. Every waking hour I will worship only him, and he will hear and respond to my cry. (The Passion Translation TPT)

• Use the time to study the word.
  2 Timothy 3:16-17 God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. 17 Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you. (The Passion Translation TPT)

• Ask the Lord what He wants you to do with the time.
  Psalms 119:33 Give me revelation about the meaning of your ways so I can enjoy the reward of following them fully. (The Passion Translation TPT)

• Continue to evaluate yourself to see when and where the enemy might have an inroad into your life.
  Psalm 25:4-5 Direct me, Yahweh, throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you. 5 Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation; I have wrapped my heart into yours all day long! (The Passion Translation TPT)

The devil does not want you to be delivered, and he certainly does not want you to stay delivered. Just as he went away, for a while, after tempting Jesus, he will return. Make sure there is no resting place in you when he comes back. If you have not filled the emptiness, he will bring back what you were delivered from and bring a lot more with it.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I thank You for being my Constant Deliverer. I especially thank You for continuing to refill me. I repent for the things I used to do that didn’t bring You any glory. I justified my actions by telling myself I was not committing any sins. I was just wasted time, taking a break, etc. Whether it was a particular program, I had to watch on a designated day and time, some game on my computer or any other activity that was not edifying, just time-consuming. I didn’t realize some of those activities became habits. You delivered me from the need to do those things. You instructed me I had to do something else with the time You freed for me. You also let me know if I did not fill that time, I would go back to doing what I was doing. Thank You for helping me fill that time with You. Thank You for counting me worthy of new assignments. I dedicate that time to You…

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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.