The Exorcist's Bestiary

When I was in middle school, I saw Jeremiah 29:11 everywhere I went. Having never heard of the verse before that season, I thought it was a sign, but I eventually became aware that famous churches were focused on this verse and smaller churches across the country were using their curriculum. In college, I noticed the number 111 all over the place and got hung up on it as a sign. But I later noticed I could pretty much find any sequence of numbers anywhere if I just kept my eyes open for it.

Signs are a tricky thing. While Jesus gave signs to illustrate truths to his crowd, and he told us that more signs would come, many of the signs people tell us they’re following feel self-validating, confusing, or completely off. For example, many Christians know of one or several people who say that God told them they were supposed to marry their significant other. Many Christians have also seen those same people get divorced.

I think my childhood dog, Dusty, is a good example of what it’s like to follow signs. When we started packing the truck to move from Three Oaks to Westland, my dog read the signs. After watching everyone take their things outside and put them into piles, he grabbed his tennis balls and put them in a pile next to the truck. He wasn’t the most clever dog, but he read the signs around him to make sense of what was going on in the realm of his masters and then he stepped into the dynamic.

When we’re doing deliverance ministry, signs are very important. As we pursue inner healing together, the Holy Spirit slowly offers varied nudges forward. Participants have visions, dreams, and very poignant thoughts. On top of that, certain conversations, Bible verses, and moments they encounter stick out to them as though the Holy Spirit had arranged them for their benefit. These varied signs come together as one big nudge, asking the participant to step out in faith toward something that our inner healing team is discerning through together.

What are the signs nudging your life forward? Where are they trying to lead you? How are you discerning them well? Because if we don’t discern them well, there are also false signs that we can follow.