The Spiritual Man

526 The Spiritual Man

In a situation like this, the child of God is inclined to believe it is
due to his physical condition or to the stimulation or overexertion of
his nerves. Frequently these reasons are merely suppositional. If they
were real, then following rest or some other natural remedy he would
experience restoration. But he does not because the evil spirits
employ those natural reasons to obscure their unseen activities. Thus
when a believer senses thoughts galloping through his head during
the night, let him inquire of himself on this wise: where do these
thoughts originate? Are they mine or are they foreign? Am I
thinking? Do I think this way? Could it be from myself when I do not
even want to think? Who gives me such multiplied, confused,
unclean, oppressive thoughts? Who, indeed, except evil spirits!

Forgetfulness

Due to the devil’s attack quite a few saints are deprived of their
power of memory and suffer from forgetfulness. They forget even
what they have just said or done. They cannot locate the article they
have just put aside that same day. They forget the promises made not
so long ago. They behave as though they are without brain, for
nothing seems to remain in their mind. These saints may conclude
that their memory is worse than anybody else’s, without realizing
that their mind is actually under the disturbance of evil spirits.
Consequently they must rely on notes. They become slaves to
notebooks and memoranda as a means of reminder. Now we are not
suggesting that a person should be able to remember everything. We
grant that matters can be forgotten after many years or forgotten
immediately when they leave no deep impression. Even so, many
events which have happened not too long ago and which have
arrested one’s attention ought to be recalled within a certain time
limit and under certain appropriate circumstances. Why are they
forgotten, lost without leaving any shadow, and beyond recall? The
explanation cannot be natural; it must be due to the invasion of
malevolent forces. Some matters are quite naturally forgotten, others