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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Demonic harassment/addictions	Faith	Monday, September 13, 2004
Question: My question is in regards to determining if an addiction or destructive behavior is a form of demonic harassment. I wrote some time back wondering if a compulsion to seek pshcyics and participation in "occult" activities could be either a cause of or result of demonic harassment. For the longest time I felt compelled to seek advice from so-called psychics. It was wreaking havoc emotionally, mentally and needless to say, financially. I knew it was wrong but just couldn't seem to stop. I prayed many of the spiritual warfare prayers on your website and found them both comforting and strengthening. It didn't happen overnight, but its as if one day I just did not feel the need anymore. On one hand, I believe as time went on and various "predictions" did not pan out, I saw the pointlessness and foolishness of wasting time and money on it. On a whole other level, I wonder if the Lord finally used this to open my eyes and save my wallet and my soul from destruction. The only real problem I still have is that I need so much guidance in my life and simply do not trust my gut reactions and inner feelings to make decisions. I pray to God daily for guidance and also for the strength to not seek it from unreliable and unholy sources. Is it permissible to ask God for clear signs of direction? For example in regards to a job or romance or other decision, to ask along the lines of "if this is the way you want me to go, please make it obvious?" Lately I just do not trust my judgement and my emotions are so numb that I don't trust them either. How can I know of God's true guidance in a situation. I have heard some people ask for a clear sign and I've heard others say this is wrong. I really appreciate your advice and thank you dearly for posting those spiritual warfare prayers.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Faith: I praise God that our material and prayers have been helpful for you to overcome some of this compulsion. Addictions and the like are often complicated by demonic harassment or involvement in some way. Demons like to be hitchhikers. They may not cause a problem, but they are happy to jump on a problem that already exists and make it worse than it has to be. That is when those prayers are handy. As for your not trusting your own judgment, that is probably wise. What you need to do is find what we Catholics call a Spiritual Director (a spiritually mature person who can help you sort out your spiritual life). When you do not trust your own judgment you can bring that issue to your Spiritual Director and ask for advice and guidance on what to do that is consistent with the Christian way of life. A Spiritual Director does not have to be a minister, it can be your next door neighbor if they are spiritually mature, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. Perhaps you can benefit from a book by Father Dubay called Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within. This book will help you to understand what a Spiritual Director is and is not, what to look for in a Spiritual Director, and what to do if you cannot find a Spiritual Director. Although this is a Catholic book, the principles of Spiritual Direction remain the same for non-Catholics. As for asking God for signs, remember what Jesus said, "It is an evil and adulterous generation that seeks after signs." It is not a good idea to ask for signs. The devil can easily counterfeit signs to fool us. Rather look to the still small voice in prayer, look to the circumstances, open doors, closed doors, coincidences and divine appointments. Look to friends and advisors for their opinions. All these things will be clues to God's will for your life. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Demonic harassment/addictions

Faith

Monday, September 13, 2004

Question:

My question is in regards to determining if an addiction or destructive behavior is a form of demonic harassment. I wrote some time back wondering if a compulsion to seek pshcyics and participation in "occult" activities could be either a cause of or result of demonic harassment. For the longest time I felt compelled to seek advice from so-called psychics. It was wreaking havoc emotionally, mentally and needless to say, financially. I knew it was wrong but just couldn't seem to stop.

I prayed many of the spiritual warfare prayers on your website and found them both comforting and strengthening. It didn't happen overnight, but its as if one day I just did not feel the need anymore.

On one hand, I believe as time went on and various "predictions" did not pan out, I saw the pointlessness and foolishness of wasting time and money on it. On a whole other level, I wonder if the Lord finally used this to open my eyes and save my wallet and my soul from destruction.

The only real problem I still have is that I need so much guidance in my life and simply do not trust my gut reactions and inner feelings to make decisions. I pray to God daily for guidance and also for the strength to not seek it from unreliable and unholy sources.

Is it permissible to ask God for clear signs of direction? For example in regards to a job or romance or other decision, to ask along the lines of "if this is the way you want me to go, please make it obvious?"

Lately I just do not trust my judgement and my emotions are so numb that I don't trust them either. How can I know of God's true guidance in a situation. I have heard some people ask for a clear sign and I've heard others say this is wrong. I really appreciate your advice and thank you dearly for posting those spiritual warfare prayers.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Faith:

I praise God that our material and prayers have been helpful for you to overcome some of this compulsion.

Addictions and the like are often complicated by demonic harassment or involvement in some way. Demons like to be hitchhikers. They may not cause a problem, but they are happy to jump on a problem that already exists and make it worse than it has to be. That is when those prayers are handy.

As for your not trusting your own judgment, that is probably wise. What you need to do is find what we Catholics call a Spiritual Director (a spiritually mature person who can help you sort out your spiritual life). When you do not trust your own judgment you can bring that issue to your Spiritual Director and ask for advice and guidance on what to do that is consistent with the Christian way of life.

A Spiritual Director does not have to be a minister, it can be your next door neighbor if they are spiritually mature, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

Perhaps you can benefit from a book by Father Dubay called Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within.

This book will help you to understand what a Spiritual Director is and is not, what to look for in a Spiritual Director, and what to do if you cannot find a Spiritual Director. Although this is a Catholic book, the principles of Spiritual Direction remain the same for non-Catholics.

As for asking God for signs, remember what Jesus said, "It is an evil and adulterous generation that seeks after signs."

It is not a good idea to ask for signs. The devil can easily counterfeit signs to fool us. Rather look to the still small voice in prayer, look to the circumstances, open doors, closed doors, coincidences and divine appointments. Look to friends and advisors for their opinions. All these things will be clues to God's will for your life.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.