The gallery wall.
Test the Spirits: Escaping the Ink of Deception
1 John 4:1–6
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God…
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world…”
Understanding the Spirit of Truth
Some battles do not come with sirens or warnings.
They come quietly—through a voice, a person, a pattern.
The Word teaches us to test the spirits because deception does not always roar.
Sometimes it whispers Scripture out of context.
Sometimes it hides behind religious language.
Sometimes it wears a mask of care.
But the Spirit of God confesses Christ—His humility, His truth, His love, His righteousness.
And the spirit that contradicts Him reveals itself through confusion, manipulation, and darkness.
The Octopus Mind: A Picture of Deception
The octopus, with three hearts and nine brains, is a master of camouflage.
He escapes through the tiniest cracks, unscrews jars from inside and out, and releases ink when threatened—
a swirl of confusion in the water.
And then he flees… even from his own ink.
In many ways, this mirrors the mind of a narcissistic abuser—
always planning, always observing, constantly shifting shape,
always escaping accountability.
He studies you.
He waits.
He strikes.
He confuses.
He hides.
He blames.
And when the ink clears, you are left questioning your own reality.
Spiritual Abuse: The Ink Cloud of the Enemy
Some cultures view the octopus as a symbol of mystery or transition,
but the Bible teaches us to test the spirits by their fruit.
The Spirit of God:
goodness
righteousness
truth
The spirit of the enemy:
manipulation
deceit
arrogance
hatred of truth
division
entitlement
confusion
Like the octopus, the spiritual abuser projects his own darkness outward.
He camouflages behind Scripture.
He twists God’s Word into a weapon.
He escapes responsibility.
He creates confusion and then runs from the consequences he created.
This deception is ancient—
a whisper in Eden:
“You will not surely die…”
SACRED PAUSE
“Becoming Watchful in the Spirit”
Close your eyes.
Breathe deeply.
Ask the Holy Spirit:
“Show me what is true. Reveal what is not from You.”
He who is in you is truly greater.
You are not abandoned in the ink.
You are being led into clarity.
The Eight Arms of Chaos: The Narcissist’s Machinery
An octopus has eight arms and a small brain in each one.
This is how a narcissist operates—
a mind that plots in many directions,
setting traps, sabotaging growth,
reacting with hostility when you begin to rise.
Your success threatens his false throne.
Your healing exposes his darkness.
Your freedom confronts his control.
But you survived by the Spirit of God.
You learned to inhale His peace,
exhale resentment,
guard your heart,
and hold onto Jesus.
The fruit grew slowly—
but it grew.
Nine Traits of the Narcissist
1. Entitlement
A twisted use of Scripture.
A demand for submission without love.
A refusal to labor, yet expectation of honor.
2. Arrogance
A need to appear superior—
even at the cost of the family’s well-being.
3. Exploitation
Using others, draining them, discarding them.
4. Apathetic
A coldness in crisis.
Kindness is performed only for an audience.
5. Self-Righteous
Never wrong.
Bible verses are used as chains rather than light.
Hypocrisy in holy clothing.
6. Envious
Your blessing becomes their bitterness.
Your progress becomes their rage.
7. Micromanaging
A constant surveillance.
Fault-finding.
Criticism of even your smallest movements.
8. Passive-Aggressive
Silent treatments, guilt-trips,
and emotional sabotage.
9. Jealousy
A refusal to share your time, attention, or love—
not even with your children.
These patterns destroy the soul slowly,
like a frog in a pot as the water heats degree by degree.
But the Lord taught you to see.
Twisting From the Outside In
The narcissist performs goodness publicly
while destroying peace privately.
They twist words, take credit,
and perform “kindness” to gain power.
This creates homelessness not of roofs,
but of safety—
a life where you must constantly relocate
because their shadow follows you
and exhausts those who try to shelter you.
Twisting From the Inside Out: Your Escape
Like an octopus slipping from a jar,
I learned to escape through wisdom.
Not by fear.
Not by running impulsively.
But by:
education
counseling
faith
self-love
community
and finally—
the courage to use the law God established for protection.
I prayed in the courthouse parking lot,
asking God to give me strength, mercy, and justice.
And God answered.
He gave me a wise judge.
He granted protection.
He saw me.
He defended me.
He lifted my head.
I wept because justice finally heard me for the first time in a long time.
The God Who Sees
Justice may come slowly,
but it comes.
Healing may unfold quietly,
but it unfolds.
And truth—
truth always rises to the surface after the ink clears.
You are not who the abuser said you were.
You are not the reflection of his lies.
You are the beloved of God,
sealed by His Spirit,
strengthened by His love,
and protected by His hand.
He who is in you is greater.
You are of God, little child.
You have overcome.
Direction for the Path Ahead
Gracious Father,
As the morning light breaks through the shadows,
I lift my eyes to You, the One who guides my steps.
Your Word says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Today, I surrender my plans, my thoughts, and every decision into Your hands.
Lead me away from confusion and toward clarity.
Let Your Spirit guide me into all truth.
If I begin to turn to the right or to the left,
whisper to my heart, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Order my steps in Your wisdom.
Set a hedge of protection around me
and grace me with Your divine provision—
strength for the day,
favor for my tasks,
and peace in every moment.
May I walk as a child of the Light,
fully aware that He who is in me is greater
than anything that rises against me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Protection in the Midday Battle
Sometimes we have to stay in enemy territory, but God is with us, and we should always pray for protection.
Lord Jesus,
In the heat of the day, when pressures increase
and old shadows attempt to rise,
be my Shield and Defender.
Your Word says,
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
So I run to You now.
Cover me beneath the shadow of Your wings.
Guard my mind from confusion and my heart from fear.
Silence every false voice that contradicts Your truth,
and surround me with Your angels who excel in strength.
Let no weapon formed against me prosper.
Let every lying tongue be stilled.
And let Your peace steady my spirit
like calm waters after a storm.
Provide what I need in this hour—
clarity where there is uncertainty,
courage where there is weariness,
and strength where there is weakness.
You are my Keeper,
my Mighty Warrior,
and my Safe Place.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
Provision & Rest for the Journey Ahead
Father of Lights,
As darkness settles and the day concludes,
I place my heart gently into Your hands.
Thank You for the protection You provided today,
the unseen battles You fought on my behalf,
and the direction You quietly whispered along the way.
Now, Lord, I ask for Your provision—
not only for my needs,
but for the healing of my soul,
the restoration of my peace,
and the strengthening of my hope.
Provide rest for my body,
clarity for my thoughts,
and renewal for my spirit.
Provide grace for tomorrow
and wisdom for every step.
If anxiety tries to rise,
speak over me: “Peace, be still.”
If old fears try to drown me in the ink of yesterday,
remind me that the Light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness cannot overcome it.
Watch over my sleep.
Guard my home.
Protect my loved ones.
And let me awaken with joy,
knowing You have already gone before me into tomorrow.
In Jesus’ holy name, amen.
WHEN HEALING FINDS YOU THROUGH THE STRONG ARM OF JUSTICE
For a long time, I lived inside the ink—
surviving, observing, enduring.
But then…
God moved.
Justice is not always loud.
Sometimes it begins in a whisper:
“Daughter, it is time.”
I felt the shift when I walked into the courthouse,
heart trembling,
prayer rising,
asking the Lord to strengthen my hands.
And He did.
He gave me a discerning judge.
He validated my cry.
He acknowledged my suffering.
He named my experience:
Domestic violence.
Justice touched my life,
and a piece of my soul exhaled for the first time in years.
Healing through Justice
Healing often begins when:
- The truth is spoken aloud,
- The abuse is named,
- The law acknowledges your pain,
- And safety becomes a legal reality.
Justice becomes the First Arm of God’s Healing.
It breaks the chains of silence.
It dismantles the lie that you must endure.
It reveals that God is not only your Comforter—
He is your Defender.
Sometimes We Must Stay in Enemy Territory: Please don’t confuse this; if you and your children are in danger, get out, get help now! You can still heal in a “Safe Place”
I once told my abuser/s that I would protect myself and my children if they physically harmed us. This was before I learned about Emotional, Spiritual, and Narcissistic Abuse. But even so, if my life is in danger, I will still protect my loved ones and myself. I have a voice now, I have tools, and I finally know the God of Justice.
There are times when God does not immediately move us out of enemy territory.
Sometimes He asks us to walk through it; in this case, I was under His direction and protection, so I
live in it for a time,
endured it,
observed it,
and trusted Him in it.
Not because I was forgotten—
but because He was forming strength, discernment, and wisdom inside of me.
Israel lived in Egypt.
Daniel lived in Babylon.
Esther lived in Persia.
David lived in the wilderness while Saul hunted him.
Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt.
Paul preached under Roman rule.
Jesus Himself walked among Pharisees who hated Him.
Enemy territory does not mean abandonment.
It often means protection, preparation, and positioning.
God does not leave you unguarded in the enemy’s camp.
You may feel surrounded, but you are not alone.
The Lord stands with you.
His angels encamp around you.
His Spirit empowers you.
His truth lights your path.
His presence fills the very darkness that tries to swallow you.
Sometimes the enemy’s territory becomes the very place where:
- Your discernment sharpens,
- Your prayer life deepens,
- Your courage grows,
- Your identity strengthens,
- Your voice awakens,
- And your healing begins before your escape.
But while you are there, God calls you to pray
Pray for protection.
Pray for wisdom.
Pray for discernment.
Pray for deliverance.
Pray for the strong arm of justice.
Pray for safe people, resources, and clarity.
Pray that every false spirit is exposed.
Pray that every snare is broken.
Pray that you remain hidden under the shadow of His wings.
And pray—
not because God needs reminding,
but because your spirit needs strengthening.
Your prayers become:
- a shield,
- a barrier,
- a fortress,
- a lifeline,
- a declaration of truth
in the middle of enemy noise.
God Always Hears You in Enemy Territory
He sees every tear.
He watches every night.
He stands guard over your life.
He whispers direction when confusion surrounds you.
He becomes your refuge when every earthly shelter collapses.
He becomes your strength when every human strength fails.
He becomes your voice when fear tries to silence you.
And when the time is right—
when your heart, safety, resources, and deliverance align—
He leads you out
with His mighty hand,
His outstretched arm,
and justice at your side.
