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24. How Christian Leaders Can Bring Peace Home This Christmas · Believe & Become | Ministry, Biblical Encouragement, God's Will, How to Change, Holy Spirit

• 0:00
  Speaker A: This week we're talking about navigating spiritual warfare around the holidays. There are so many different environments we encounter in this season. People we see only once a year and stress abounds. But the good news is in Christ, we can walk through this season with the hope and joy that Christmas is all about. We have the victory. So today we've invited a special guest, our friend Becky Wagoner, to share tools and strategies to help you overcome this is going to be a good one.
• 0:32
  Speaker B: Tired of leading others while secretly battling doubt, discouragement and mental warfare.
• 0:36
  Speaker A: And you want practical tools to renew your mind and walk boldly in your calling as a leader.
• 0:41
  Speaker B: You're in the right place. Welcome to Believe and Become.
• 0:44
  Speaker A: We're Josh and Karina, your spirit filled coaches, here to help you overcome those limiting beliefs and lead others confidently.
• 0:51
  Speaker B: If you're ready to hear God's voice more clearly, to step into your purpose and find joy and strength in the.
• 0:56
  Speaker A: Everyday silence those Bible app reminders judging you from your lock screen and let's jump in. Hey friend, before we get started, we've got a quick invite for you. If you're a spirit filled Christian in leadership who's been caring a lot lately, maybe you're tired, overthinking or just wondering how to find your next breakthrough, we would love to help. Sign up for a free 25 minute transformation session where we'll help you get clarity and create a practical plan to move forward in peace. You'll also learn about our one on one coaching program designed to help you renew your mind and lead from presence instead of pressure. Just head to joshandkarina.com coaching that's J O S H-A N D C O R-I-N A.com coaching to book your session. Now let's dive in.
• 1:48
  Speaker B: Oh, welcome to the podcast and we're so excited for this episode. Today we're talking about spiritual warfare around the holiday season. That can be a tough time for a lot of people and there's a lot going on in the atmosphere spiritually and so we want to give you some tools and techniques to tackle that and we wanted to invite our special guest and friend, Becky Wagoner. She's an incredible leader. She runs an amazing ministry in Pendleton, Oregon. She is incredible and she has so much wisdom on this. She's been teaching ladies in her women's ministry about spiritual warfare for a long time and we know she has a lot of wisdom to share with us. We're really excited to have Becky, so welcome. Becky, why don't you just Introduce yourself a little bit and we'll get started.
• 2:35
  Speaker C: Oh, thank you. Just first of all, Josh, Karina, what an honor. I've just been so impacted myself by the two of you, so really special that you would ask me here today. I have the honor of living in eastern Oregon, Pendleton, and it's the dry side of Oregon. We don't get all the rain. We live on a cattle ranch. Raised three kids here. My husband Alan and I, we've been married 37 years. It is such an. A wonderful place of the country. Very much cattle ranches, wheat ranches, that sort of thing. We're very rural, and we both have done men's and women's ministry here in this area for quite a while. And it was in the midst of doing women's ministry that I started actually serving the ministry of Wild at Heart, John and Stacy Eldredge. And that actually led me to join their prayer team, which is where I have really learned a ton about authority, spiritual warfare, and just what is possible in that arena. And thus it affected my own family. Like, it's just been beautiful to raise a son, a daughter, and then, as you guys know, Riley, our youngest, and just the beauty of how that even wove into my family life.
• 3:51
  Speaker A: Wow, that's amazing. I love that testimony, and I love how the Lord leads us into stepping into a new thing, and then this opened up a whole new place for you. So that's really cool. So we would love to talk with you about spiritual warfare around the holidays, because we have felt that ourselves, and we know that there's so much going on in this season, and it can be hard for people.
• 4:15
  Speaker C: So we.
• 4:16
  Speaker A: What do you think are some things we should be aware of around the holidays? Maybe things that you've encountered or that maybe seem to come up for other people a lot.
• 4:23
  Speaker C: I really love this question because I just want to start by saying, God gives God at Christmas. And I feel like this is profound because of the truth that I have all I need right now, and I love starting in the place of abundance and not lack, especially as I head into the holidays. I just felt like this was such a powerful thing to. To ask right away. Karina. Because there's a pull to do it all right. There's a pull to get it all right at the holidays. And it was fun. Just a couple weeks ago, I asked my women, where have you sat with Jesus? And said, do I need to do the holiday cards? Do I need to actually do it like I've always done it, and the stress of it where can I actually take a step back and say, jesus, I wanna do the holidays with you this year if God gives God. And so I even felt like right now we want to start in a place of knowing we don't have to perform, we don't have to get it right. And that in that place of God giving God, I get a place of every spiritual blessing to approach the holidays from.
• 5:30
  Speaker B: Yeah, I love that we have more than enough. He's providing for us what we need. Sometimes it's just having an awareness and, and being intentional to set yourself up for success with the Lord. He provides that for us. I love that. That's so good.
• 5:44
  Speaker A: That's beautiful. So how do you prepare to step into different spiritual environments? Some of us are traveling, we're staying in other people's homes, or maybe you go to your parents home and there's familiar spirits, there's things that you grew up with, you've lived with for a long time. How do you prepare to step into those environments? And what does that look like for you?
• 6:05
  Speaker C: Well, several years ago, as I was learning to actually look ahead with God, he said, we now go on the offensive. I think we approach the holiday so much as being on the defense, and thus it already puts us underneath, if you know what I mean. And right away God started to teach me the truth of Ephesians 6, that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against that principalities, the powers of the demonic. Because there's no way the enemy wants us to walk in joy and peace this Christmas. And yet what, what a powerful thing to know. People are not the enemy. Even, even those that we have had to deal with over the past. They might be grace growers, I like to call em, but not the enemy. And I love the truth then of going on the offensive. So what God started to speak to me about is he's like, what do you have coming up in December? Why don't we form strategy together? And so I do this throughout the year, but especially at the holidays. So I outline what's my office parties, what's my family parties like, even for you guys with young kids. Like, what are the holiday celebrations your kids have coming up? And I start to ask him, how then can we partner together to form the atmosphere ahead of time over those events, over those gatherings. And I can arm myself and pray into them. And it's almost like the picture would be if you and I have seen concrete poured, you know, they build a form and then God pours in the concrete of what you and I prayed partnered with family gatherings, as you guys know, have their own atmosphere. And I was just reminded of 2 Corinthians 2:11, that we should not be unaware of the enemy's schemes, including those familiar spirits. And you and I know that places that I'm unhealed that I take into those family events, and thus places that the family members or people we work with are unhealed, can so then affect us. So then I began to ask Jesus, how do I pray? How do I pray over these events? Let me give you an example. At Thanksgiving, we had a huge family gathering. And so I asked him ahead of time, teach me to pray. What do you want me to pray over that event? And he instantly gave me Psalm 133, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters and cousins and aunts and uncles together in unity. And I started just to pray the glory of Psalm 133. And it really was. It was huge family gathering and it was literally a beautiful day just to get to see the power of partnering with him in that. And I would say the other thing is, I also start to declare what I wanna see. So I would ask those listening, what do you wanna see at Christmas? What do you want to see at your office party? Because for so many years I came underneath of what has happened in the past. So how can I flip it? And so then I start to partner with, I'm going to walk in love. Let there be such peace at Christmas. And especially I love the power of speaking. Only the love of God can pass between me. And I name every single person at my Christmas event, or I name the key people at my office party, et cetera. And it is so powerful to start to speak into the atmosphere, the opposite of maybe what we have seen or what we really want to see happen. I love that Today Igniting Hope sent out fabulous declarations for the holiday season. I mean, seriously, Josh and Karina, what is the timing of that? Just for you guys? And then one of the things I really want to say is if you're having a holiday event at your house, you have all the authority. So I get to say in the name of Jesus, I take full authority over Christmas Day at my house, and I pray through the day's events and just speak the truth of I have all authority and every person coming into my home has to come under the truth of love, joy, peace, patience, all the fruit of the spirit. And every single time, I get to watch it play out, especially in my own home. And then lastly, I love to pause before I walk into any Christmas event. And I even used to do this before my kids, like, you know, Christmas concerts and just take a step back and go, one person walking with God is in the majority. As I step into this gym, as I step into this office party, as I step into Aunt Martha's home, I am walking with God, and I'm going to push love, joy, and peace out in front of me. And we get to just shift those rooms because we carry that much authority.
• 10:53
  Speaker A: Wow.
• 10:54
  Speaker B: Yeah. Becky, I just love how intentional you are to. To go after these things and to. I mean, you're setting everybody in your atmosphere up for success. Like, they don't have a choice that they're going to have a good Christmas, they're going to have a good Thanksgiving, a good holiday season, because you've already laid the table for them. That's just so incredible. And I love this idea of we are seated in heavenly realms already. We're seated with Christ, and so we're above all of the noise, we're above all of the strife and the chaos. And so, so much of it is just taking our position as believers and being seated and operating out of that. And I also love what you talked about. Just. It just takes the pressure off. Like, we don't even have to know what to pray necessarily. We just follow the Holy Spirit's leading and pray what he's praying. And I love how you said, I just ask him, what should I pray for this that's so simple. I love that I have such a.
• 11:49
  Speaker C: Fun story because I use this when I'm putting on events. For instance, as simple as a bridal shower. And it was a nonbeliever, who I dearly loved. And I said, God, what can I pray over this? Because she's so giving, gives and gives and gives. And he took me to this interesting passage where the Queen of Sheba visits Solomon. Back in 2 Chronicles, it says that after she saw all the tales, table decorations and the servants, the word she used is, I am overwhelmed. And so God said, I want you to pray that. I want you to pray that that young woman walks into the place you're going to build as a wedding shower and start to pray that this is what's fun. This is how fun it is to play with God as you go into your holidays. I prayed this for weeks. And halfway through, this girl comes up to me. She's just radiant. And she goes, becky, I am overwhelmed. Yes. And I'm like, okay, God, you just can't make this up. And it was just the kindness of God that she used the exact word out of the Bible. Right. Partnering with scripture and the fact that there is nothing more powerful than praying the word of God. And he just loves to have fun with us like that. And so I love that story because of that.
• 13:06
  Speaker B: That's great.
• 13:06
  Speaker A: That's amazing.
• 13:07
  Speaker B: Yeah. Spiritual warfare always feels like, oh, it's kind of spooky and scary, but we get to have fun with God. And once you realize that the battle's already won, the enemy's been defeated, you know, then. Then you can say, okay, God, let's go after it. Let's have some fun together.
• 13:23
  Speaker A: And I just really love the intentionality to pray over every single person coming to the party to say, well, I believe you said, only the love of God can pass between me and each of these people. Oh, that's so beautiful. And to recognize, I think we often go in going like, I know what they're going to say. I know how they're going to be. They're going to push all my buttons, right. Instead of going, what do I have to bring? I get to bring the love of God. I get to bring, like you said, I get to push love and joy and peace before me into the room. That's so beautiful. Okay, so you've given us so much good stuff already. But what tools or strategies have been most helpful to you to engage in spiritual warfare? You've given us several.
• 14:05
  Speaker C: I have just sat with God on three things. And I think, I mean, they all dovetail together, but they're really important. Intimacy, identity, authority. Yeah, and you have to start with intimacy. My time with God every day is non negotiable. And what I mean by that is it is life source, it is breath. And so that is key on an everyday basis for me. And I love that it looks so different every day. I so often just sit and thank him just as I get up in the morning, or just take time to write down what dreams I had because it was intel. And then I really love the fact that the first thing I read is literally the word of God, even before any kind of devotional. And he always speaks. So the intimacy for me is just beautiful. And then identity, because I need to remind myself every day because I love what the old poet George MacDonald says. He said, lo, I wake and I forget. So just the beauty of going, oh, yeah, this is who you are. This is who I am. And the beauty of speaking out loud, who I am, connecting back to my prophetic words, going back to the specific Promises God has given me. And on any given day, it may be something different that God's given, but to just anchor myself back into the power of who I am, who God has said I am is huge. And then from identity and intimacy, then I war, because those things have to be my foundation. And I love the song of Songs four, eight, that says, now you're ready, my bride, to come with me as we climb the highest peaks together. Come with me through the archway of trust we will look down. In other words, like you said earlier, Josh, we are seated in heavenly places, so with God, we wage war. It says here song of songs 4, 8, it says, above the lion's lair and the leopard's den. And I love that this truth, then from intimacy and identity, now I step into my authority and I get to partner with God. And so often this is going to look like, and I think this is key for the holidays, is literally putting the armor of God on every day. And it's such a critical thing. And I do it. Like, I put on the helmet, I draw the sword of the spirit and put on my shoes of peace. Like, I want to remind myself, myself that this is not just physical, but it is literally a spiritual armoring with God. And I love the truth of then from that place, I'm not going to take my eyes off God unless the enemy gets in my path. And then it's just to, like Wendy said, right, we have the sword to kill something with, and then from that place get to defeat the enemy from the truth of who I am. So I just. I love those three things and how powerful it is when we're actually stepping into spiritual warfare. Yeah.
• 17:07
  Speaker B: Yeah. So good. Intimacy, identity, and authority. I love that. That's like a formula almost, but that's incredible. And when we operate out of that, we can't be defeated. We're going to be victorious.
• 17:19
  Speaker C: Yes. Yeah.
• 17:21
  Speaker A: And I think most people would, like, you ask a question like this, and most people are expecting an answer like, well, first I speak in tongues, and then I grab my Bible, you know, and it's like this thing that, you know, all of these outward things, but it's so special and important. I think that we go right to the source that we. I mean, we talk about identity all the time on our podcast, how important it is that we believe rightly about God and we believe rightly about ourselves. And so when we start with the intimacy and the identity, then the authority, then everything else flows from there. And I don't have to try to wage war on My own. I don't need the five steps of whatever, whatever, because I have already seated in heavenly places. I'm sitting in that. In that seat with Jesus. And from there, the battle looks totally different.
• 18:10
  Speaker C: Right?
• 18:11
  Speaker A: It's so true.
• 18:12
  Speaker B: How important do you think it is to operate out of peace?
• 18:16
  Speaker C: So important. I love that the word shalom is a word that literally means to destroy chaos. I just love it. And it's always been that beautiful picture of in the beginning of Genesis 1, 1 and 2, where, you know, spirit's hovering. So in other words, the spirit's hovering over every situation in our lives, including Christmas and all of the things coming up. It's just gonna take the glory of you and I speaking and agreeing with peace, like, and just the power of that, right? Like, okay, God, I carry peace. I'm going to partner with peace. Let there be peace. Right? Let there be. So there was just the glory of creative sons and daughters speaking light, peace, joy, love. But carrying and partnering with that peace is absolutely a powerful weapon of war.
• 19:08
  Speaker B: I love that. So good.
• 19:10
  Speaker A: So, so good. I love it all. Okay, so what advice would you give to somebody who has maybe some painful holiday memories? Maybe they're alone, the holidays feel heavy. What advice would you give to help them navigate this season?
• 19:24
  Speaker C: Ah, this is such an important question. I mean, honestly, it. It just so hits home. I really thought and prayed about this, and I feel like it's so important that we first speak the truth, that we're never alone. And the truth of something powerful God taught me a couple years ago when I approached a table of people and felt incredibly left out. I'm sure I'm not the only one. And I went home, and I'm like, okay, God. Like, I. I know that that's not true. And he goes, let me show you something that I want to take with you for the rest of your life. And he instantly showed me the truth that I am always surrounded by father, son, and spirit. And he said to me, so clearly, the truth is you carry the inner circle everywhere you go.
• 20:09
  Speaker A: Wow.
• 20:11
  Speaker C: And it so shifted things for me. I don't always remember, but I love this profound truth. And then he went on to just push it out further, and he goes, and around us is the angelic. And he said, everywhere you go, you carry the inner circle. And he goes, the truth is they actually want to be in your circle. They just don't know it yet. And there's something so beautiful about that and that I get to not just carry it, but to know that actually I'M releasing this now into the room also, because the truth is, you would really love to be with me in this and I would love you to be there. So that was huge. And I feel like for people to start to turn to that even as you approach those painful memories, the holiday areas, and also to look at Christmas and ask Jesus, okay, how can I approach the holidays with that intentionality in these places? And I think about how important again it is to speak into those upcoming events, especially if you are quote, unquote alone on the holidays, to ask Jesus into then any painful memories, places of feeling that you're really missing family members. And I was just so struck with this this week because I miss my dad just almost like tangibly at Christmas. And he. He just died unexpectedly about 10 years ago. He was this larger than life cowboy. And this time of year, miss him so much. I realized how much that you and I need to stop and feel to not push that aside. I think that is so important. And so I let the tears come. And I feel like all of us and our listeners need to realize you need to let those tears come afresh.
• 21:53
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 21:54
  Speaker C: But to grieve it with God and to say, jesus, I invite you into these tears. I invite you into this place where I miss my dad so much. And at that moment just a couple days ago, I felt the angelic come and take every tear.
• 22:10
  Speaker A: Wow.
• 22:11
  Speaker C: And say they mean so much to me, that my angels are gathering them in that bottle of tears. And it made me realize how important it is to ask him afresh into those spaces and places where we can feel lonely, where we're missing our loved ones. And I even felt like at this very moment, Jesus is coming at this moment for those that have just recently lost a loved one, for those who have lost a loved one in this year that is starting to realize you're going to face the holidays without them. And at this moment, I want to release the comfort of Holy Spirit, the glory of Jesus, releasing, ministering angels to every single person that is feeling this so deeply. And I see a new place for each of you that Jesus is preparing a table. And I hear him say, it's not the same table, it's a new table where he is going to abundantly minister, comfort and provide as you walk through the holidays. And I just wanna release that right now. In Jesus name.
• 23:14
  Speaker B: Wow, Becky, that was so good.
• 23:17
  Speaker C: Beautiful.
• 23:17
  Speaker A: I'm like, I received it. I didn't lose anybody, but I received it. Me too. It's so sweet.
• 23:22
  Speaker B: I love that we're filled and surrounded with his presence. Wherever we go, the Angelic is always ministering to us. And that, that is just a beautiful picture. As we enter into any holiday celebration, we take them with us. And so how could the atmosphere not shift when we enter a room, when we're bringing the fullness of the Godhead and all of the Angelic hosts with us? Like, it's kind of we atmosphere doesn't stand a chance. I just love that. Becky, thank you so much for just spending some time with us and just pouring out all the wisdom that you have for our audience. You're such an incredible teacher and leader and just love all the wisdom that you carry. And would you just want to let our audience know that Becky is the real deal? She lives what she preaches every single day. And we actually don't even know probably half the things that she's doing in the spirit realm just to release peace and to release all that God has for the people around her. You're such a wonderful mother. Wherever you go, you just take such good care of everybody.
• 24:22
  Speaker A: Yeah. Becky, before we jump off, we wanted to just give you an opportunity to talk a little bit about your books because you have recently written a couple of books and we would love to hear just a little bit about that and where our listeners can find those.
• 24:37
  Speaker C: Awesome. Thank you. That's so kind. Yes, I had the honor of writing the hundred year history of Happy Canyon, which is the Wild West Show Indian Pageant of the Pendleton Roundup, and then just recently wrote its sister book, a souvenir book due to Backland Leadership Academy, which I have the honor of being a part of this year. Again, highly recommend, and it was my project and it's been such a joy to get to see that book as well. And it's a beautiful book that has full color pictures and really tells a beautiful, iconic story of the last Wild west show left in the world right here in Pendleton, Oregon. So both of those books are available on Amazon and anywhere online actually. So thank you for that plug too.
• 25:26
  Speaker A: Amazing. Well, thank you so much. Thank you for giving us such good tools to use. And I am definitely walking away with intimacy, identity, authority. I think that if we can just grab a hold of that, we can face pretty much anything and walk right on through with victory. So thank you so much. We really appreciate you and thank you to our listeners for coming along.
• 25:50
  Speaker B: Yeah, everybody have an amazing Christmas holiday season and go forth and you can wage war from peace and with fun with God. Come on, let's do it.
• 26:06
  Speaker A: Hey, friend. We hope you enjoyed today's episode. If so, would you take 30 seconds to share this podcast with someone who may need encouragement or practical tools for fighting their battle?
• 26:16
  Speaker B: Then rate and review this podcast. Help us spread the message of transformation far and wide.
• 26:22
  Speaker A: All right, time to walk back into the noise with peace, purpose, and maybe a tiny bit of guessing.
• 26:27
  Speaker B: We'll meet you back next Thursday for another episode.
• 26:30
  Speaker A: Bye.