Casting out the demons By David Christenson
Just before Easter this spring Shonda Savage of FGGAM wrote about a young man in prison who had been a self-avowed atheist his whole life before recently accepting Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I will only identify him as Bryan and I have communicated with Bryan a few times the past few weeks and it has been a wonderful exchange. I just got my second letter from Bryan this morning and it has propelled me to write about the article and the feelings it has generated to me and in me.
Bryan accepted the Lord at Easter time in 2013. Bryan wrote to me in his first letter that it was a day that he will never forget; 3/31/2013. I have sent Bryan a number of J-pay emails and I also sent him a snail mail letter. In one of my messages to Bryan I stated that the demons that afflicted him in his past life might very well attack him and try to reclaim him into their fold once again. I had been unable to go to sleep one night not long after my prayers because that thought kept coming into my mind. It was like the Holy Spirit was telling me that I needed to warn Bryan of the impending attack and that he needed to prepare himself the best way possible. This thought of mine was predicated by an experience we had with Paul in my Bible study group when he had accepted Jesus after some issues of drugs and gang life in his younger days. The demons had attacked Paul and were trying to come back into his life. Just as I was afraid might happen to Bryan. I used Luke 11:24-26 to reference this to Bryan.
“When an impure 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.’25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes 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.” ~ Luke 11:24-26 +++
I told Bryan that demons that are cast out of our lives will come back if we don’t fill that void with something good. In Bryan’s letter he mentioned that the last couple weeks prior to my warning that he had been dealing with “several of those demons” and he then quoted Romans 15:30.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. ~ Romans 15:30 +++
Bryan then said he was totally ungrateful that he is now in prison. Of course he doesn’t like being there but Bryan recognizes that if he wasn’t in prison he would never have met Stephen, never have met Shonda who introduced me to him and therefore he never would have been brought closer to God. It really pleases me to see someone grow their faith such as what I’ve witnessed with Bryan. Praise God!
Because of all of this, Bryan is now enrolled in some college credit courses while in prison so he will have a viable vocation when he is released someday. These classes include restaurant management and culinary arts. Bryan, I am proud of you and you will remain in my prayers.
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. ~ Hebrews 13:3 +++
About David Christenson: He is a lifelong resident of South Dakota, grew up on a farm north of Claremont and attended school in Amherst and Britton, graduating from Britton in 1977.
David married Gretchen Tisher in 1984. Gretchen is also a graduate of Britton and teaches math and drama at Britton-Hecla high school. David and Gretchen have two children. Zach is an engineer for Continental Ag in Norfolk, Nebraska and his wife Amanda is a nurse. Margo lives in Denver and works as a Marketing & Outreach coordinator for MyLifeLine.org, a cancer support not-for-profit entity.
David started a cow/calf operation in the 1980s and farmed on the family farm after his high school graduation until December of 1994 when he accepted a sales position at the John Deere store in Britton. David left the John Deere sales position in March of 2006 and became a licensed crop insurance agent in May of 2006. David also started a rental business in 2010 and remained in the cattle business until January of 2012.
David, age 55, has had some extraordinary circumstances in his life. He was run over by a farm tractor before age 6 and had three heart attacks a few months before turning 40. Then he suffered life threatening injuries a few months after turning 50 in a hit and run incident. David was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 and skin cancer in 2014.
David started writing his recovery experiences on Facebook in December of 2009. Over the next four years those Facebook notes became what would become chapters in his book, “Why Are You Here?” which was published in December of 2013.
Oh wow! Praise God! I know Eldon & I are so glad that David started writing Bryan and praying for him too because were growing weary being the only ones sharing with him and ministering to him from the outside! Thank you David! God bless you!