The Distracted, Covetous, & Lustful Heart

Spiritual Warfare Part 6: GUEST SPEAKER- KATHRYN INTRO to Her Story into Darkness

In Part 6 of our Spiritual Warfare series, I sat down with my friend Katheryn for our very first co-hosted episode - and we will be co-hosting again for a PART 2 of her Story- This one is a "set up" for our next episode into Katheryn's testimony down a dark, twisty road into the New Age Movement!  Kathryn is a woman with a radical testimony: raised Catholic, desperate for healing, and slowly drawn into crystals, energy work, tarot, and witchcraft — until one friend's bold obedience to the Holy Spirit changed everything to open her eyes, however, it led to fear, before it led to freedom!  We cover a lot of ground in this part 1 episode of her story: * Why the enemy doesn't need to force his way in - he works through deception and our unmet legitimate needs * How culturally 'normal' practices (astrology, tarot cards, voodoo, crystals, yoga, manifesting) can be open doors that are not always obvious darkness * What witchcraft actually is at its root * The danger of returning to darkness after you've encountered truth * The power of bold, loving confrontation and intercessory prayer * Why the Church's failure to meet real human needs is driving people toward counterfeit community and counterfeit healing This episode is NOT about shame or fear — it is about freedom. We are motivated by love and the call to help set the captives free (Isaiah 61). The challenge of being sober-minded and vigilant with eyes open, and not falling into radicalism, religion, or fear. .it's a fine line, but there IS a line!  Part 2 is coming — including more of Katheryn's testimony and a deep dive on yoga and the dark roots and practices that Yoga is steeped in! Stay tuned! Scriptures Referenced * 1 John 4:1-6 — Test the spirits * John 8:31-32 — You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free * Isaiah 61 — Binding up the brokenhearted, setting captives free * John 15:17 — Love one another * Ezekiel 36:26 — Heart of flesh, not stone * 2 Peter 2:12-22 — The dog returning to its vomit * Ephesians 6:12 — We do not war against flesh and blood  Key Takeaways * The enemy studies our needs and offers counterfeits — he has been doing this since Genesis * Legitimate needs (healing, belonging, comfort, connection) are not the problem — where we go to get them met is * Christians are not immune to deception — even Solomon fell * Walking in authority requires knowing the Word of God * "Seek the Healer, not just the healing — and the Healer will take you to the healing" * There is no condemnation in Christ — conviction is meant to lead us to repentance and freedom, not shame * Prayer is powerful — it was intercession that began Katheryn's journey out Recommended Resources for Listeners (THEIR ARE SO MANY!)  For anyone who wants to go deeper on the topic of spiritual warfare, here are are few of the highest-rated, most widely trusted resources available: 1. The Screwtape Letters — C.S. Lewis A satirical masterpiece written from a senior demon's perspective - showing exactly how the enemy works through subtle deception, normalized temptation, and counterfeit comfort. Wildly convicting and surprisingly entertaining. 2. The Bondage Breaker — Neil T. Anderson One of the most practical tools in Christian counseling. Leads readers from the shadows and shackles of spiritual bondage toward freedom — affirming identity in Christ and learning to confront the enemy's lies. 3. Victory Over the Darkness — Neil T. Anderson Spiritual warfare 101. Walks readers verse by verse through a biblical worldview of the supernatural, renewing the mind and helping believers stand firm in their identity in Christ. Read alongside The Bondage Breaker. 4. Spiritual Warfare — Dr. Tony Evans Dr. Evans reveals that every struggle in the physical realm has its root in the spiritual realm. Helps believers understand the battle, use the armor of God, and walk in Christ's authority over every stronghold. 5. Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table — Louie Giglio Based on Psalm 23:5 — a battle-for-the-mind book that exposes the lies of the enemy and the danger of giving him a foothold in our thought life. Perfect for someone just waking up to spiritual warfare. 6. Live No Lies — John Mark Comer Recognizes and resists the three enemies of the soul — the devil, the flesh, and the world. Written for a modern, culturally-engaged audience. Excellent for those coming from New Age or secular backgrounds. 7. Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices — Thomas Brooks (Puritan Classic) A timeless Puritan classic that outlines the many subtle ways the enemy entices believers — and gives specific biblical remedies for each. Deep, rich, and enduringly relevant for any serious student of Scripture. 8. Waking the Dead — John Eldredge  A beautifully written, heart-level engagement with the reality of spiritual warfare and the battle for the soul. Helps readers understand the story they live in and the role they were made to play. Also check out "Derek Prince" as a resource- there are MANY good options- let me know if you find one that speaks to you!  🔗 Connect with Dani Website: rootedrefinedrestored.com Podcast: War on Love: If I Were the Devil Email: hello@rootedrefinedandrestored.com What the enemy meant for your destruction, God uses to bring beauty for ashes.

Spiritual Warfare Part 5: How Satan Gets Access

Happy Monday, friend. We are five episodes deep into the Spiritual Warfare series and I am not slowing down - because there is still SO much to cover on this topic! And the more I read, study, and discuss with others, I feel more and more passion and conviction to share what I am!  In this episode, I'm building on the military framework (because THIS IS WAR!) we've been working through and getting into two powerful strategic concepts: the indirect approach and interior lines. In military strategy, the indirect approach means attacking where the enemy least expects it - dislocating before engaging. In the spiritual realm? That looks like division through offense, mixing truth with error, and the slow creep of compromise through comfort and distraction. Interior lines is where it gets really personal. A military force on interior lines can shift troops faster than a surrounding enemy. Here's the spiritual reality: Satan is already the prince of the power of the air. He doesn't need to breach your walls from outside when the door is already cracked from within. That's what we're talking about today.   We also walk through four ways deception operates as the enemy's primary weapon: * Misidentifying the enemy - turning on one another instead of recognizing the real threat * Counterfeit wisdom - doubt dressed as intellectual honesty, religious activity substituted for intimacy with God * Counterfeit peace - spiritual numbness that feels like rest, busyness that feels like purpose * The Operation Fortitude Effect — smoke and mirrors that get you defending the wrong position, burning your own energy And then I'm going to call out some things happening in our culture right now that I believe are a direct fulfillment of what Deuteronomy 18 warned us about — and what Paul saw happening in the early church. Tarot cards at Target, horoscopes in Christian conversation, sage practices being normalized - none of this happened by accident. This is not about fear. This is about discernment. The enemy doesn't look like the enemy. He masquerades as light — and if we believe Scripture, we have to take that seriously. I also share from Job 1, one of the most clarifying passages in all of Scripture for understanding how spiritual access and protection work - and what Job's practice of covering his family spiritually looked like. Coming up next: I'm sitting down with my friend Katherine, who was deeply involved in New Age practices before she came to Christ. Her story and insight are going to bring so much of what we've been building to life. You will not want to miss it.   As always, go straight to the Lord, go straight to your Bible. I don't want to be one more voice you follow blindly. I want to point you to the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.   Scriptures Referenced in This Episode All references are NIV unless otherwise noted. Anchor Verse 1. Ephesians 6:12 — For 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. The Greatest Commandment 2. Matthew 22:37–38 — Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Deception & Masquerade 3. 2 Corinthians 11:1–3 — I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy... But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4. 2 Corinthians 11:12–15 — For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 5. John 8:44 — He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Counterfeit Wisdom & Lukewarm Faith 6. 2 Timothy 3:5 — Having a form of godliness but denying its power. 7. Revelation 3:17 — You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 8. Revelation 12:10 — ...the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night... Do Not Adopt the Practices of Other Nations 9. Deuteronomy 18:9–12 — When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord. Acts 19 — Power in the Name of Jesus 10. Acts 19:11–12 — God was performing extraordinary miracles through Paul's hands, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 11. Acts 19:15 — The evil spirit answered them, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?' 12. Acts 19:17–19 — When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. 13. Acts 20:30 — Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. Job — Spiritual Access, Protection & Testing 14. Job 1:4 — His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified... 'Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' This was Job's regular custom. 15. Job 1:6–7 — One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?' Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.' 16. Job 1:8–12 — 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.' ... 'The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well then. Everything he has is in your power. But on the man himself do not lay a finger.' Connect With Danielle * Website: daniellenicolecoaching.com * Email: hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com * Podcast: War on Love — available on Podbean, Apple, Youtube, Spotify, and all major platforms

Wolves in the Church: Spiritual Warfare at the Operational Level

Wolves in the Church: Spiritual Warfare at the Operational Level | War on Love Podcast This week we're continuing our spiritual warfare series -and this episode might step on some toes. I'm going there anyway, because truth spoken in love is still love. Last week we looked at the anatomy of spiritual war. This week we're zooming in on the operational level - how Satan works within nations, cultures, and systems, and specifically how his strategies show up inside the church. If I were the enemy, the church is exactly where I'd plant my moles. In this episode, I cover: * The three levels of spiritual warfare - strategic, operational, and tactical - and why the operational level matters so much for believers today * War Strategy #1: The Mole - false brothers planted within the church to steal freedom, create confusion, and lead people astray (Matthew 7:15, Galatians 2:4) * War Strategy #2: Divide and Conquer - how disunity within the church (and within ourselves) dismantles our shared mission and keeps us from love * The slippery slope of intermingling ungodly practices with Christian faith - and why I personally draw the lines where I do * How to tell the wolf from the sheep when both sides are convinced they're right * Why "just read the Bible" is sometimes used as a weapon, not wisdom * The danger of isolation - and why God said even before the fall, "It is not good for man to be alone" * Why Paul publicly called out deception in the early church - and why we still need to do that today Scriptures referenced: * Matthew 22:37-38 * John 10:10 * Isaiah 14:14 * 2 Corinthians 4:4 * Romans 12:2 * 1 Kings 11:1-4 * Colossians 2:4, 8, 16-18, 20 * Galatians 2:4, 11 / Galatians 3:1 * Ephesians 2 Next week: We move into the tactical level - how the enemy comes after us individually through deception, identity confusion, temptation, accusation, discouragement, and fear. Don't miss it. If this episode blessed you, share it with someone who needs it. And if you've been bound by religion, law, or false doctrine - I'm praying this is the episode that starts breaking that off of you. In Jesus' name. Connect with Dani: 📧 hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com [hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com] 🌐 rootedrefinedrestored.com

Spiritual Warfare: Your Enemy, His Weapons & the Battleground

You were never meant to fight this war blindly. If life has felt like an unrelenting series of attacks - the persistent shame, the fear that hits out of nowhere, the bitterness that won't lift, the lies that somehow feel like truth - there's a reason. You're in a war that started long before you were born, and the enemy is counting on you not knowing the rules of engagement. In this episode, I break down spiritual warfare the same way a military strategist breaks down a battle. Because the truth is, the enemy's tactics aren't new, they aren't creative, and they aren't hidden. Once you can name his weapons and recognize his fingerprints, you stop fighting blind — and you start fighting from the authority you've already been given in Christ. This is Part 1 of my Spiritual Warfare series: Understanding the War. What You'll Discover: * Why the greatest commandment — to love — makes you a target, and why the enemy works to keep you from loving fully * The two opponents, the origin of the conflict, and how this battle began before creation * The enemy's actual weapons: lies, accusation, shame, fear, and division — and why he's "not that creative" * How his primary strategy against believers is erosion, not brute force * The rules of engagement — why Satan operates on a leash God still holds * The warning signs of spiritual attack on a personal, cultural, and global level * Why studying Scripture is intelligence-gathering, not just comfort * The hierarchy of power, and why knowing your rank is not the same as using your weapons * Why authority flows from relationship with Christ, not formula or box-checking (the sons of Sceva, Acts 19) * The real battleground: your mind — and how to take every thought captive Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 22:37-38 · 1 Peter 5:8 · Ephesians 6:12 · John 8:44 · Isaiah 54:17 · 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 · Isaiah 14:12-13 · Revelation 12:7,17 · 2 Corinthians 2:11 · Job 1:12 · 1 Corinthians 10:13 · Matthew 4:1 · Ephesians 4:26-27 · 2 Corinthians 11:14 · Ephesians 1:20-21 · Ephesians 2:6 · Colossians 2:10 · Luke 10:19 · 2 Timothy 1:7 · Matthew 18:18 · Acts 19:13 · Romans 12:2 · Proverbs 4:23 Remember this: You have a real enemy with a real strategy. His weapons are lies, accusation, shame, and the spirit of fear. This conflict predates you — but you're in it. There are rules, God holds the leash, and we already know who wins. The battle is mostly waged in your mind. So renew it. Part 2 drops next week, where we'll tackle this war from a different angle. If this episode challenged or encouraged you, would you share it with someone who needs it — and leave a quick review so it can reach the people looking for exactly this? Connect with me: daniellenicolecoaching.com  hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com [hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com]

BONUS: Why You Can't Love Like Christ Yet and What Your Wounds Have to Do With It (How Fiery Trials Lead Us Into More Christ-like Love)

EPISODE TITLE: Why You Can't Love Like Christ Yet — And What Your Wounds Have to Do With It (How Fiery Trials Lead Us Into More Christ-like Love) This week I'm doing something a little different - I'm sharing a message I gave at church on May 31st, 2026, for our worship night. And it might be the most personal thing I've shared publicly to a congregation (excluding when I share my testimony for recovery meetings!) As a trauma therapist and faith-based relationship coach, I sit across from Christians every week who love Jesus, pray, go to church, do all the "right" things - and still can't seem to access the peace, love, and freedom Christ promised. This episode is my attempt to bridge that gap: between neuroscience and Scripture, between head knowledge and heart transformation. I share my own story - growing up without a father, addiction and abuse in my home, getting saved at 19, and what it's actually taken to heal (not just cope). I also get real about my marriage, attachment wounds, and why the fiery trial you're in right now might be the very doorway God is using to bring you into deeper freedom. In this episode, you'll discover: Why coping strategies alone will never bring true freedom - and what Jesus actually came to do The HHOW acronym: Humility, Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness Four heart conditions that block love: wounded, anxious, bitter, and hardened How your early attachment style is still quietly driving the way you love today Why marriage is "the great exposer" — and why that's actually a gift from God Defense mechanisms we share with the animal kingdom (and how to move past them) The gift of desperation: why fiery trials are often the doorway to transformation Why vulnerability — not strength — is the path to more of what Christ has for you Scriptures Referenced: 1 Corinthians 13 | 1 John 4:7 | Romans 12:1 | Isaiah 61:3 | John 16:33 | Genesis 2:17-18 | Genesis 3 | Genesis 50:20 | Deuteronomy 31:6 | 2 Corinthians 12:9 | Romans 8:28 | Matthew 22:37-39 Note: Next week we return to Episode 3 of our spiritual warfare series - The Strategy of Enemy Attacks. See you then. Connect with Danielle: 🌐 www.daniellenicolecoaching.com [http://www.daniellenicolecoaching.com] 📧 hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com [hello@daniellenicolecoaching.com]