By Gena Barnhill @BarnhillGena
Dabbling in the occult can allow the enemy a legal right to influence us. Sometimes we step into the area of the occult not understanding the possible risks—being attacked spiritually. Other times, people knowingly seek the occult to gain information about the future or for power and domination.
The Bible tells us our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to destroy (See I Peter 5:8.). John 10:10 tells us the devil, referred to as the thief, comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy. He does this by causing us to doubt God and isolate ourselves from the Lord. Our enemy reminds us of our mistakes and failures and plants thoughts in our minds. He twists a kernel of truth so that we believe his lies. His tactics result in oppression and feeling tormented by the recurring thoughts in our minds. Oppression can lead to fear, anxiety, insomnia, a sense of heaviness, anger, and lack of motivation.
The Risks of Dabbling in the Occult #occult #spiritualwarfare #prayer
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Examples of Occult Practices
Occult practices often considered harmless and entertaining include reading horoscopes, visiting fortune tellers, and séances, playing with the Ouija board, and using Tarot cards. However, they may open a door for the enemy to torment us. People who came for inner healing prayer told us they felt drawn to these practices but did not know why. During inner healing prayer, the Lord showed them someone in their family lineage opened the door to the occult, and this pulled them to dabble in the occult passed down their generations.
Some individuals involved in occult practices have cast spells or curses to seek revenge or to manipulate others. Although this practice may seem far-fetched in our Western culture, it does happen. I was surprised to learn that a close friend’s mother cast spells on others, including her children. These spells and curses continued to impact her children into adulthood with fear and insecurity.
#occult #prayer #spiritualwarfare”
Dabbling in the Occult with the Ouija Board
When I grew up in the Sixties, a popular Christmas gift was the Ouija Board, also known as the talking board or spirit board. This game included a board marked with letters of the alphabet, numbers, and the words “yes,” “no,” and “good-bye.” Participants asked questions and placed their fingers on a plastic or wooden object that moved around the board to spell out the answers. My parents bought this game as a Christmas gift for me and my brother to share.
Playing with the Ouija Board seemed like innocent fun then, and no one recognized this naïve curiosity could open the door to darkness. We were dabbling in the occult and did not realize this. Fortunately, my brother and I only used the Ouija Board a couple of times. Later, as an adult, when I learned this could open the door to negative spirits and influences, I renounced it, asked the Lord for forgiveness, and requested Jesus to close this door. I felt a sense of peace afterward.
Dabbling in the Occult with Horoscopes
In my teens, my friends and I read our horoscopes for fun. Again, we had no idea this practice was not wise. The horoscopes in the newspaper naturally piqued our interest in learning each day’s prediction. As with the Ouija Board, I later renounced this.
These occult practices seek information about the future through means other than asking the Lord. The enemy loves to take advantage and have us seek power and authority through him rather than God. The devil tried to coerce Jesus into following him by promising him all the kingdoms of the world. (See Matthew 4: 1–11.) As believers in Jesus, we have power and authority in our Lord. We need to recognize this power and authority and exercise it by leaning to him for direction in every area of our lives. If we have opened the door to the enemy, knowingly or unknowingly, we can ask the Lord for forgiveness. He promises to forgive us if we repent and ask for forgiveness.
New Age, Cults, and Secret Societies
Involvement in false belief systems, cults, secret societies, and contact with unholy objects are other avenues the enemy uses to access a person’s life.
New Age teachings are examples of a false belief system based on partial truths. These teachings can be compelling because they frequently use some Christian terms and refer to Jesus. They do not describe Jesus as the Son of God but rather as an esteemed spiritual teacher. Their deception comes when they emphasize the person’s spiritual authority comes from within the individual. Christians believe their power and authority are based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Thus, a Christian’s identity is rooted in Christ, not in the belief in their divinity.
Cults have deceived and misled people throughout history. Charismatic leaders, such as Reverend Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Marshall Applewhite, used false teachings and manipulation to control and exploit their followers. Their doctrines did not line up with the character of God.
Freemasons
Membership in secret societies is another way darkness can enter a person’s life, and members can come under the authority of false teaching. These organizations and associations have appealed to people who found their identity and connection with others through membership in these exclusive groups.
One well-known organization active today that requires initiation rituals and has its members swear to secrecy is the Freemasons. We have known individuals who claimed they only received business contracts because they were Masons. Former Masons have written about Freemasonry’s deception which begins at the candidate’s initiation and continues as they move up in the organization.
My husband and I have prayed to break curses associated with Freemasonry with people whose parents or ancestors were Freemasons. They suffered because of covenants and agreements their ancestors made years before, which manifested in their current lives in physical ailments, as well as intense fear. Some people did not personally know their ancestor who was a Freemason. In the prayer session, they renounced the oaths and curses associated with the various degrees of Freemasonry.
Unholy Objects
Contact with unholy things, including diverse types of media and objects, can allow darkness access to operate in our lives. Exposure to pornography, horror movies, and violence can invite spirits of fear, lust, or aggression.
My family may have unknowingly been exposed to unholy objects when my brother brought home souvenirs from his overseas naval career travels. He gave our mother a set of shields and other items from a trip to Africa. My mother hung them on the wall in her family room. We were unaware of the impact of evil forces at that time.
Over a decade later, when my mother removed the shields and other souvenirs, she said she noticed a definite peace in her home that had been absent for years. She asked me if I thought the presence of the shields had caused the perceived tension. Although not all items from Africa have occult attachments, my mother’s souvenir shields may have carried some negative influences.*
How to Effectively Pray Against Dabbling in the Occult
When we are aware of occult influences in our lives, including our dabbling in the occult, we can reject and renounce them and ask for forgiveness for any part we may have played in holding on to these effects. If we identify a generational pattern, we can pray against these negative ancestral influences, forgive our ancestors and ourselves for yielding to their influences, and then declare the words below from Simple Effective Prayer: A Model for Inner Healing:
I completely sever all contact with the occult, and I break the power of (Name the specific form(s) of the occult here) over my life and the lives of my current family and future generations, based on the finished work of Christ on the cross.**
Then we ask for blessings from the Holy Spirit in place of these negative occult influences and request an infilling of the Lord’s truth, peace, and power.
Now it is your turn. What evidence of occult influences have you seen?
Be sure to share your thoughts in our Facebook Group Healing Prayer Discussion.
We are all stronger when we learn from each other—looking forward to your input.
Blessings,
Gena
*Content in this blog is from Freedom from Brokenness-Lessons Learned through Inner Healing Prayer (Birmingham, AL: Brookstone Publishing Group, 2022), 35-39.
**This is an excerpt from Simple Effective Prayer: A Model for Inner Healing (Birmingham, AL: Brookstone Publishing Group, 2022), 26.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, Bible verses are from the English Standard Version (ESV).
Editor’s Note: This post, originally published on March 6, 2023, was revamped for comprehensiveness.
In case you missed the rest of the Healing Ancestral Wounds Series, here are the links:
https://simpleeffectiveprayer.com/category/healing-ancestral-wounds/
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