Issues with the Occult...

[browndogmom]

I know that this might seem like a heavy topic for a newer member, but it is something that has been troubling me for a while.

I was raised and baptized as a Lutheran, but as a child/teenager I had what I would describe as a unhealthy fascination with the occult. In elementary school it started out with playing "light as a feather" on the playground (we were not incredibly well supervised), and evolved into spending a lot of time reading about the occult and messing with tarot cards, an Ouija board, etc. I also was a big fan of bands like Marilyn Manson, etc.

In September of last year, I sincerely asked Christ into my heart. However, I find that I tend to withdraw from God when I am stressed or am having trouble in my life--I also have mental issues that I deal with--bi-polar, OCD, and ADD (I hit the trifecta apparently). When I am having unrest in my mind I find that I tend to be drawn back to that world--not becoming involved in it but looking through books at the book store, etc.

I worry sometimes that the stuff I dabbled in in high school stained my soul to the point that it is following me still, or that maybe I am aflicted with the mental stuff I deal with because I did what I did and let the devil not just get a foothold but go for a hike. It's troubling.

Does that sound crazy? Any thoughts or advice?

 

[Bryanfromiowa]

I think you are seeing a combo of the two things. I suffer from depression so i do know something of what i'm speaking about. Mental illness can make us feel horrible emotions and feel distant from god. This gives the enemy the opening to temp us bak into a sinful life style. my best advice pray and read the bible esp when you're not feeling your best mentally.

blessings

 

[JerryChristian]

I know that this might seem like a heavy topic for a newer member, but it is something that has been troubling me for a while.

I was raised and baptized as a Lutheran, but as a child/teenager I had what I would describe as a unhealthy fascination with the occult. In elementary school it started out with playing "light as a feather" on the playground (we were not incredibly well supervised), and evolved into spending a lot of time reading about the occult and messing with tarot cards, an Ouija board, etc. I also was a big fan of bands like Marilyn Manson, etc.

In September of last year, I sincerely asked Christ into my heart. However, I find that I tend to withdraw from God when I am stressed or am having trouble in my life--I also have mental issues that I deal with--bi-polar, OCD, and ADD (I hit the trifecta apparently). When I am having unrest in my mind I find that I tend to be drawn back to that world--not becoming involved in it but looking through books at the book store, etc.

I worry sometimes that the stuff I dabbled in in high school stained my soul to the point that it is following me still, or that maybe I am aflicted with the mental stuff I deal with because I did what I did and let the devil not just get a foothold but go for a hike. It's troubling.

Does that sound crazy? Any thoughts or advice?

First thing you must do is to renounce all practices into the occult as sin Then declare to Satan that you will no longer serve sin. That you are a child of God and that he is to release his hold on you. Let him know that you have made a choice to serve Jesus Christ. I would advise doing that out loud as Satan cannot read your thoughts. Then pray and ask God to fill you with his Holy Spirit and to guide you away from every occultic influence! God wants to do that, the question is, do you want His help?

Now, you may still be tempted, but if you withstand the temptation long enough you will look back and realize that it has left you. But, realize that there is something about those occultic practices that you find enticing. Maybe trying to visualize yourself in hell will make it so that it is not so enticing.

 

[browndogmom]

That you both for the advice. I do appreciate it!

This might seem like a stupid question, but if the devil cannot read our thoughts then how does he know what our weaknesses are?

 

[DavidPresently]

That you both for the advice. I do appreciate it!

This might seem like a stupid question, but if the devil cannot read our thoughts then how does he know what our weaknesses are?

First I want to say the advice of the two previous posters were great, and I confirm you should listen to such advice.

We do not know, as a scriptural teaching, that Satan is unable to read any thoughts humans have.

So, we do not have that thinking on authority from God. I personally don't believe it is true due to my own experience and the fact that the war Satan wages with us is primarily in the mind. He even throws suggestions into our minds to tempt us. If he has access to our minds to some level to be able to tempt us there and wage war against us in that arena, I find no reason to believe he cannot know our thoughts, at least our surface thoughts.

It came in handy once for me that a devil knew my thoughts, when I was attacked by one physically that actually manifested to try to physically choke me. I could see it face to face and its hands were around my neck. It was a spirit as it came down through the ceiling to do this, while I was laying in bed one night. Yet it was able to manifest physically and start chocking me. I could not speak out loud, so I did what I could and rebuked it from my mind. It left me and I'm glad that worked, as I was unable to speak out loud.

However, I do recommend that when you can you do so out loud. This is not so much for the devil's sake as because you want the earthly to line up with what you are saying also. There could be influence in your flesh he has tied in to that need effected by your creative words of faith. I'm speaking of the power of the spoken word spoken in faith such as Jesus taught in Mark 11:23. We were created to have dominion over the earthly realm, in God's image. Like our God had, he gave us the powers of creativity and speech. Whether modern man realizes or not, our speech that is from faith in the heart is creative, within our sphere of authority that God has given us.

So be encouraged and get in the Bible, study, pray, worship with other believers and fellowship with them, give God thanksgiving and praise throughout each day, and trust God to deliver you from all of Satan's devices against you, as you stand against the devil, resisting him, and fighting the good fight of faith.

 

[OnMyWaytoFreedom]

browndogmom,

It's important to know that Satan is not omnipotent like God is. He is a fallen angel, and he and his legion are constantly watching and tempting us. I believe that 'thought insertion' is a tactic used by demons to try and tempt us, and make us think that it is our own thoughts when it isn't. They know what our actions have been in the past, and will take advantage of opportunities for this in the future.

Without getting too much into it, in 2003 something happened to me in an 8 month period in which all my friends thought I had lost it. I was kicked out of my home, living on the streets like a crazy man, then was institutionalized for extended 'vacations' on 3 separate occasions with the final diagnosis as having schizophrenia, bi-polar, with psychotic tendencies. I was not a Christian when this happened, and had opened myself up to things through drug use, and facination with occultic things, although not actually practicing. I was put on all sorts of medication cocktails for the forementioned conditions, only getting worse and worse (hearing voices, being attacked by an unseen force, etc.)

Making a long story short, eventually I was jailed for a violent attack, and a few weeks into jail, I had a brief moment of clarity in which I cried out to the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver me, because I knew that this was a spiritual problem, and not a mental one (I'm not saying there are no mental disorders, just in this particular case). Over the next few weeks the voices diminished and left completely, and the physical attacks subsided. I remained under physcological care after being released from jail in December of 2003, and in early 2004 my case workers could not figure out why I was on medication at all, and took me off them. I have no problems like this today, and have had a good job with a computer company for the past 2 years. I have also had a deliverance since that time, but that is another topic altogether.

It is important to take each thought captive, and give it to God. Pray often, let Christ Jesus take on your stressful problems for you, and let the Holy Spirit comfort you. It's not easy, by any means, but it is a spiritual fight to not give into our old self.

Renouncing past involvement in occult/sinful involvement is an important part of leaving behind old bondage. Helpful books to look into are 'Victory Over Darkness', and 'The Bondage Breaker' by Neil T. Anderson. I actually should read them again, myself. Spiritual warfare is very real, and Satan knows that he is losing big time when we decide to give our lives to Christ.

My apologies if I have hijacked your thread, but I felt led to share my experience with you. Many prayers go out to you.

 

[RedPhoenix]

I know that this might seem like a heavy topic for a newer member, but it is something that has been troubling me for a while.

I was raised and baptized as a Lutheran, but as a child/teenager I had what I would describe as a unhealthy fascination with the occult. In elementary school it started out with playing "light as a feather" on the playground (we were not incredibly well supervised), and evolved into spending a lot of time reading about the occult and messing with tarot cards, an Ouija board, etc. I also was a big fan of bands like Marilyn Manson, etc.

In September of last year, I sincerely asked Christ into my heart. However, I find that I tend to withdraw from God when I am stressed or am having trouble in my life--I also have mental issues that I deal with--bi-polar, OCD, and ADD (I hit the trifecta apparently). When I am having unrest in my mind I find that I tend to be drawn back to that world--not becoming involved in it but looking through books at the book store, etc.

I worry sometimes that the stuff I dabbled in in high school stained my soul to the point that it is following me still, or that maybe I am aflicted with the mental stuff I deal with because I did what I did and let the devil not just get a foothold but go for a hike. It's troubling.

Does that sound crazy? Any thoughts or advice?

Well, I have gone through the same thing as well. I definitely played around with a little too much Wicca than I should have, but that is in the past. First things first, when you say that "to the point that it is following me still," you are probably right. Our sins of the past can plague us for only God knows how long. We should mourn for our sins, but they should not hold control over us. Yes you sinned in the past. As did I. But look at what God has saved us from! He has again showed his wanted Love. Also, the devil does not hold power over mankind. Christ changed all of that. All that the devil can do is throw a tantrum like a five year old who does not get what he wants. And that's literally what he does. He whispers in your ear about the occult, and tries to persuade you towards it. Well, that's obviously not a good thing. When you start to think about the occult again, pray. If you still have tarot cards, burn them (I burned mine, and the smoke itself looked like a demon- it was scary as hell). If you have a Ouiji board, throw it away. If you think about going to the bookstore to look at occult books, have someone you love hide your car keys. Do all that you can to remove yourself from it. That's really all the advice that I can give. I hope it helps

In Love
Red