The other day I was talking to a friend about spiritual transference and spiritual sensitivity. The latter essentially being when someone is dealing with something and you can sense it, even when you are not near them. It’s like the Lord brings someone to your mind and you start to feel what they are feeling. I have experienced this so many times. It’s typically someone you might have a relationship with – friend, coworker, someone from church, but sometimes it’s someone that you don’t even know. You suddenly just start feeling the Lord’s heart for the person and it can be quite an emotional thing. It’s easier with people you know. I’ve felt that someone was dealing with something, or had oppression over them, and then I saw them later that day and it was immediately obvious that was the case. Body language, facial expression, downcast eyes, etc. It’s not hard to read people who are carrying a burden. But I have had days when I have felt a strong weight on me, especially for a specific person and I am like good grief, where’s this coming from? So I will just pray for them. Often I will try and connect with them or write an encouraging text telling them that The Lord has really impressed them on my heart and I am praying for them, etc. Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night with a strong urge to pray for a specific person. I may never know why, but it’s important to just pray. I have had nights where I was awakened and actually would go walking at 2am and pray because it was more than a mumbled prayer that was needed… it was warfare. Those moments are meaningful in the spirit even though the person may never know that someone was praying for them and warring for them at 2am.
Regarding spiritual transference, “We have probably been in the close presence of a person of positive, uplifting attitudes, who radiates enthusiasm, zeal, confidence, gentle humor, and determination. On the other hand, it is likely we have also been in the presence of someone who wears a sour countenance, seethes with anger, trembles in fear, wallows in lethargy, or whines about their “victimization” at the hands of unseen people or forces. What happens to our attitude in either situation? Unless we resist, we tend to respond to the strength of the other’s attitudes. A literal, spiritual transference of attitude takes place.” Gosh, how true this is! So many times I can be having a great day and get around someone who isn’t. Suddenly, I find an oppressive weight come over my spirit and my day goes from good to bad. It’s a choice to continue in that negative place, but it is a literal reality that can happen if you allow it. Conversely, I love when I am around positive, energetic people and find myself smiling, laughing, talking faster and becoming more passionate because their zeal for life is contagious.
There is a whole swirl of stuff in the unseen realm that can affect us in ways we may not even realize. Sometimes it can be subtle and other times very evident! For me, I just want to keep my spiritual eyes and ears open, and walk in a place of sensitivity!