16 May, 2025 · By Natalie Grace · Comments

Winning the Battle of Your Mind: Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Warfare, and Walking in God-Given Freedom

16 May, 2025 · By Natalie Grace · Comments

Introduction: My Roots

I’ve always considered myself spiritually open. I believed in energy, the universe, and God in a broad, somewhat undefined way. But as I began to grow in my understanding of the Bible, one of the biggest shifts I experienced was becoming more aware of the reality of good and evil—not just in the physical world, but in the spiritual realm.

That might sound like Spirituality 101 to some, but for me, it was new. I used to assume anything spiritual was good. I didn’t believe in the devil; I thought he was just a symbol of the darker side of human nature. To me, evil was simply the result of human brokenness and poor choices.

While there’s truth in that, the Bible also paints a very clear picture of a real battle between good and evil taking place in the unseen world.

Ephesians 6:12 says:

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

In other words, the primary battle we face isn’t physical—it’s spiritual.

Now, I get that this can sound abstract—even to those who grew up in the church. I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by people who are practical, logical, and science-led. But spiritual warfare isn’t just a radical idea—it’s a core part of Jesus’s teachings.

In fact, Jesus speaks about Satan more than anyone else in scripture. And regardless of your beliefs—whether you're a Christian, agnostic, or atheist—most people would agree that Jesus was a man of great wisdom and knowledge. He didn’t speak to waste words. So when He repeatedly addresses something, it’s worth paying attention.

Over the past year, I’ve been steadily growing in this subject, and it’s been a defining part of my faith walk (I get into those details a little later). I’m not a doctor or psychologist, and I’m not coming from a clinical perspective—that’s not my lane. But I can offer insight from a spiritual perspective, shaped by my personal experience and grounded in scripture.

What I share is only a glimpse, but I believe it’s enough to encourage you, empower you, and point you toward the voices and teachings that have guided me along the way.

We’ll walk through a few key scriptures to guide and anchor this conversation. But above all, here’s what I want you to take with you:

There is more to this world beyond what we can see.
And when you begin to walk in your God-given authority, that is the beginning of freedom.

Deliverance from an "Unclean" Spirit

A significant part of Jesus’s ministry on earth was delivering people from both physical sickness and spiritual oppression.

“And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” — Mark 1:34

In scripture, terms like demonic spirit, unclean spirit, and evil spirit are used interchangeably. They all refer to any spirit that stands in opposition to God. At their core, these spirits are rooted in rebellion against Him.

One of the biggest misconceptions that holds people back from recognizing spiritual oppression is the belief that someone has to be fully, dramatically “possessed”—like what we see in Hollywood movies—in order to be under the influence of an unclean spirit.

Yes, that extreme form of possession exists. But more often, it’s subtle.

Unclean spirits often influence people in everyday ways—quietly, deceptively, and often without them realizing it.
Addiction. Compulsive thoughts. Perversion. Phobias.

Sometimes, the world leads us to believe these things are just part of who we are—something we’ll always have to live with.

But the more you accept it as yours, the more authority you unknowingly give it. And anything that torments you, turns you against yourself, or contradicts what God says about you—is not from God.

And guess what? It’s not you, either.

Deliverance doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes, it looks like someone no longer needing alcohol to cope. Or finally having a peaceful, healthy relationship with food after years of struggle. Sometimes, it’s as simple and powerful as finally being able to rest—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

The Spirit as Separate from the Person

Throughout Scripture, Jesus makes it clear: an unclean spirit is not the person—it’s a separate entity entirely.

In Matthew 12:43–45, Jesus says:

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.”

Let’s unpack that.

The unclean spirit refers to the person’s body as a house. It wants to dwell in a person—it craves rest in a physical host. And once cast out, it doesn’t just disappear. It roams, it waits, and it looks for a way back in.

Now here’s another powerful—and frankly wild—story from Mark 5:10–12 and Luke 8:31. In it, Jesus is casting demons out of a man, and the demons beg Him to send them into a herd of pigs instead of into the abyss.

“And [the demon] begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’” — Mark 5:10–12

“They begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.” — Luke 8:31

What’s going on here?

The demons knew Jesus had authority to cast them out—and they didn’t want to be left without a host. So they begged for the next best thing: the pigs. Why? Because they were desperate for a place to rest. This shows us just how uncomfortable unclean spirits are without a body to dwell in.

Stephanie Ike once explained it like this:
Have you ever been out, away from home, and suddenly really need to go to the bathroom? You start scanning your surroundings, looking for any stall or washroom—anywhere you can get relief?

That’s how unclean spirits feel when they’ve been cast out. Uncomfortable, so they’re looking for somewhere—anywhere—to go.

Because here’s the truth: our bodies are made to host a spirit. This is what separates the living from the dead—we fill a spirit.

This leads me to why a delivered person, without God, is still vulnerable.

Sometimes, you hear stories of people being delivered. They go to Ayahuasca or a psychedelic retreat and they are healed from their disease or mental bondage and they feel liberated. But it's only half the battle, Because soon, something will want to fill that "empty space."

This is the reason for this verse back in Matthew 12:43–45 of the unclean spirit “returning” home to seek rest. He explains how when the spirit tries to come back, it brings even more darkness with it.

"Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first."Matthew 12:45

Here’s what that means in plain language:
It’s not enough to be delivered—you need to be filled. If you're not filled with God—His Spirit, His truth, His light—then you risk being surrendered to something else.

Understanding this changes everything. Because when you realize the battle isn’t you vs. you, but you vs. a spiritual influence—you can finally stop fighting yourself… and start walking in your God-given spiritual authority. This is freedom.

Victory for the Taking — The Choice Is Yours

There’s a moment in the book of John that has stayed with me—Truthfully, it was from watching The Chosen when it really struck me (if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a stunning series on the life of Jesus Christ, and Jonathan Roumie is outstanding as Jesus). (P.S. This scene is added to the end of the video above).

In this scene, Jesus approaches a man who had been waiting by a healing pool for years. But before healing him, Jesus asks a surprising question:

“Do you want to be made well?” — John 5:6

At first, that question might seem odd. I mean, yes Jesus—isn’t it obvious!?

But Jesus still had to ask—because our agreement is part of the deal. It always has been.

Saint Augustine once said:

"Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not."

The truth is, God honours our free choice. He won't fight for you if you’re not in it. The desire to change has to come from you. Why?

Because Love does not force.

And sometimes, to answer yes is less obvious than we think. People might express a desire to change, but when the moment comes to accept healing, they hesitate. Because they’ve wrapped so much of their identity in their bondage, that they’re actually afraid.

If it's deliverance from an alcohol or drug addiction, the person might think:

"But who will I be without this? I've always been the party girl, the wild one... What does that make me without it?"

And so they stay in that place, holding the key inside their own cage.

Because sometimes, bondage feels safer than the unknown—even when the unknown is freedom.

In this story, the man replies yes to healing, to which Jesus responds:

“Get up. Take your mat and walk.” — John 5:8

And the man walks. Of course, this is a miraculous story—and not everyone’s experience will look like this. But the core truth remains: freedom always starts with a decision. God wants to set you free, but it starts with you.

Ask, And You Shall Receive

There’s a powerful passage in Matthew 7:7 that outlines this divine process:

“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Many people limit themselves to asking and conclude God's not answering them.

But it's a three-step invitation:

Step 1: Ask – Start the conversation. Bring it to God.

Step 2: Seek – Lean in. Be present and open to opportunities. He might align your desires with His if yours were faulty.

Step 3: Knock – Walk toward the door. You hold the key—are you willing to turn it?

My Story and Testimony

Finally, I can speak about this because it’s part of my story and my testimony.

I wrestled with intrusive, compulsive thinking for a long time. More than half my life. Thoughts that caused me a lot of anxiety and dread.

One day, while home alone with my baby sleeping, I hit a breaking point.

I found myself on the floor, crying. Completely exhausted. Defeated.

And in that moment of desperation, I cried out to God.

Actually—I tested Jesus, for the first time.

I said:

“Jesus, if You’re really here, I need You to show me.”
“I don’t want these thoughts anymore.”
“I just want peace.”

I wasn’t instantly transformed. I just felt lighter. Enough to get up and care for my baby.

But a couple of months after that—He answered.
He really answered.

This still feels like a deeply personal and sacred moment to speak about. But to share it simply: I was led to a sermon on spiritual warfare—an area I had never been exposed to before. As I listened, my heart opened. My mind cleared. And during the final prayer session, I felt it—an undeniable release. It was as if something heavy left me.

I never knew what an angelic encounter might feel like, until that moment.

One day, I’ll shine more light on this story. But here’s the part I want you to hold onto:

That moment happened over a year ago.
And I’m still resting in the peace I asked Him for—
back on that floor, crying out.

Of course, I still face challenges and mental battles like anyone else. I haven’t “arrived” by any means.
But I knew in that moment—that specific battle was over.
He answered.

And one thing I did differently that time, more than all the others, was ask.

It sounds simple, but I hadn’t really done it before.
Because complaining about something, or wishing it away, is not the same as rebuking it.

As I began to grow in my understanding of God, I started to see something clearly:
The struggle I was living in wasn’t His desire for me.

So I exercised the spiritual authority He gave me—
And that changed everything.

You’re Not Alone, and You Can Be Free

Whatever mental, spiritual, or physical battle you’re facing—I want you to know this:
You are not alone. And even more importantly, you can be free.

There is power in knowing who you are in God.

The enemy’s greatest tactic is keeping you from discovering that truth.

When Jesus said He came to set the captives free, He didn’t mean we’d live in a constant state of ease or bliss. He meant He came to break the chains of spiritual oppression—to loose what binds you, to silence what torments you, and to empower you to walk in victory.

He meant you.

He meant now.

He meant you don’t have to stay where you are.

Through Him, you have the authority to put to death whatever is keeping you in bondage.

And when you begin to walk in that truth, the battle in your mind starts to shift—because you're no longer fighting alone.
Heaven is backing you up.

I truly hope this encouraged you, strengthened you, or even just helped you feel seen. If it resonated, let’s talk. I’d love to hear your story.

With love,
Natalie