Dhitlor

Beloved Servant
Please pray that God would lead me to a Christian mentor (or help me find one wisely) who can be supportive as I am dealing with spiritual warfare I'm still experiencing as a result of being involved in the occult years ago. I am unsure that my church members/pastor would understand these struggles although I have tried to go to them about them. As far as I know, none of them have this kind of background of having dealt with anything like this before. I had a mentor online a few years ago but stopped working with her. I'm unsure if I should reach out to her. Thank you.
 
We hear the burden you are carrying and we join with you in seeking the Lord for wisdom, protection and deliverance. Dealing with lingering spiritual warfare after involvement in the occult is a serious and real struggle, and we commend you for wanting to walk in the light and for seeking a wise, biblical mentor rather than trying to face this alone.

Scripture is very clear that involvement in the occult is not a small matter but is an abomination before God. There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh Deuteronomy 18:10-12. We say this not to condemn you, but to encourage you to fully renounce and repent of that former involvement. If you have not already done so, confess it openly to the Lord, turn away from it completely, and remove and destroy any remaining objects, books or materials connected to it, as the early believers did when many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all Acts 19:19. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.

The spiritual warfare you describe is real, for our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places Ephesians 6:12. Yet we do not need to live in fear, because You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world 1 John 4:4. Our victory is not in our own strength but in submission to God and resistance through Christ. Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you James 4:7. We encourage you to daily put on the whole armor of God, to stay rooted in the Word, to pray continually and to walk in obedience, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds 2 Corinthians 10:4.

We understand your uncertainty about whether your pastor and church members understand this kind of background. Even if they have not personally dealt with the occult, God has placed you in the body of Christ for a reason, and we encourage you not to withdraw from fellowship. We should not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing Hebrews 10:25. Your pastor is called to shepherd you, pray for you and help guard sound doctrine, even if he may need to seek additional wise counsel alongside you. At the same time, Scripture affirms the value of godly counsel, for where there is no counsel, plans fail, but in a multitude of counselors they are established Proverbs 15:22 and Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens his friend's countenance Proverbs 27:17. A mentor should be a mature believer who is grounded in Scripture, exhibits the fruit of the Spirit, is under the authority of a local church, and can meet with you consistently and with accountability.

Concerning the online mentor you worked with before, we urge you to seek the Lord with great discernment before reaching out again. Test the spirits whether they are of God 1 John 4:1 and you will know them by their fruits Matthew 7:16. Was she faithful to Scripture, did she point you always to Christ and repentance, did she encourage involvement in a local church, and was her counsel biblically sound and not mixed with any worldly or mystical practices. An online relationship can be a supplement but it cannot replace in person, consistent, accountable discipleship, and for deep spiritual struggles it is generally wisest to have a mentor of the same gender who can walk with you face to face and who your pastor knows and affirms. If after prayer and seeking counsel you sense the Lord leading you to reconnect with her, do so with clear boundaries, with pastoral awareness, and with a willingness to step back if her counsel does not align fully with Scripture. Also pray for the Lord to provide someone locally, and ask your pastor if he can recommend a mature believer, perhaps an older woman or man according to Titus 2:3-5, who can meet that need.

We also want to gently address something we noticed in your request. You asked that God would lead you, but you did not mention the name of Jesus Christ. We want to remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6 and There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, His blood has already secured your forgiveness and deliverance, and you can come boldly before the throne of grace in His name. If you have not yet fully surrendered your life to Him, we encourage you to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, for with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation Romans 10:9-10.

We pray together for you now.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who has triumphed over all darkness at the cross. We thank You for this dear one who desires to walk in Your light and be free from the lingering effects of past involvement in the occult. We ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing where there has been sin, and we renounce every work of darkness in Jesus name. Fill this heart with Your peace and assurance that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. We ask that You would clothe Your child daily with the whole armor of God, that they may stand firm against the schemes of the enemy, rooted in Your Word and in prayer. Lord, in Your wisdom lead to a godly, biblically faithful mentor, someone mature in faith, humble, discerning and grounded in Scripture, who can provide supportive, accountable discipleship. Give clear discernment about whether to reach out to the former online mentor or whether You have someone new, perhaps within the local church, whom You have prepared. Grant wisdom to the pastor and church to love, understand and shepherd well, and help our friend to remain connected to the body of Christ and not walk in isolation. Teach us all to submit to You and resist the devil, trusting that he will flee. We ask for complete freedom, healing and joy in Christ, and for a growing hunger for Your Word and Your presence. We pray all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and deliverer, amen.

We encourage you to remain daily in Scripture, to pray in the name of Jesus, to stay in fellowship, and to ask God for wisdom, for If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him James 1:5. The Lord is faithful to guide you step by step and to complete the good work He has begun in you.
 
Lord Jesus please richly bless, protect and guide them. Please help them in accordance with your perfect will Father. Thank you and praise you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.
 
We are grateful you shared this so honestly. Wanting a steady, biblically grounded mentor after involvement in the occult is a wise desire, and it makes sense you would feel unsure about who will really understand what you are still carrying.

It is understandable to worry your church may not grasp this background. Even if your pastor has not walked through the occult himself, he can still be an important part of helping you find someone trustworthy and keeping you connected to local community. A healthy mentor will keep pointing you to Christ, respect clear boundaries, be accountable to a local church, and not make the battle sensational or make you dependent on them.

A next step that may help is to get clear on what you are looking for before you commit to anyone. You could jot down what weekly support would actually look like for you, what boundaries matter, and what you hope a mentor will do and not do. That list can be a filter as you pray and ask the Lord for guidance. If you are considering reaching out to the mentor you worked with before, it may help to pause and reflect on why that relationship ended and whether it felt safe and Christ centered. If you do reach out, go slowly and let a pastor or another mature believer know so you are not navigating this alone.

We encourage you to stay rooted in prayer, Scripture and fellowship, and if the distress feels heavy, to talk with a trusted pastor or Christian counselor alongside prayer.

Father, we lift this dear brother or sister to You and ask for Your protection, peace and clear direction. Guide them to safe, humble help that keeps pointing them to Jesus, and give them discernment for each next decision. Strengthen them to walk closely with You. In Jesus name, amen.
 
We have heard your burden with much care and we bring it before the Lord with you.

There is grace in your desire to walk in the light after having walked in darkness, and to seek wise and godly counsel as you do so. To have been involved in the occult in former years is to have opened a door to that power of darkness from which only Christ can deliver, and it is not strange that the Evil One should still shoot his arrows and seek to make you doubt your Father and fear that God has forsaken you or that His ear is shut. Look it in the face and see the cloven foot peeping out, for it is the devil's own child to make a child of God question the love of his Father.

Yet hear what the Scripture declares, that our deliverance from the power of darkness is as much the work of God as deliverance from the guilt of sin. Where we look for justification, there must we also look for sanctification, and for every victory in this warfare. He has delivered us, and He alone has found a ransom. The prisoner ready to go down to the pit finds undeserved deliverance because the King's own Son has borne the penalty. That ransom has been found and paid in the blood of the Lamb, and therefore your deliverance does not rest upon your strength or your past, but upon His finished work. When the lamb was slain, He brought His people forth, and He makes their deliverance effectual. He will not leave you in Giant Despair's castle, for the key has been turned in the lock by Christ Himself.

We pray for you now.

Our Father in heaven, we thank You that You have delivered Your people from the power of darkness and translated them into the kingdom of Your dear Son. We thank You that You have found a ransom and that Jesus Christ has borne all the penalty for those who trust in Him alone for salvation. We ask in His name that You would give our brother and sister a deep and abiding sense of that deliverance, that the accusations and fears which the enemy would whisper would be answered by Your voice saying, Fear not, for I am with thee. Grant that the history of what You did in days of yore and what You have done on Calvary would be at hand to this soul in every hour of assault.

Lord, we ask that You would in Your wisdom lead to a faithful Christian mentor, one who is mature in the Word, sober, prayerful, and grounded in the gospel, who can walk alongside with patience and truth. Give discernment to find such a one wisely, whether within the local church or through other godly fellowship You provide. Give grace to test all counsel by Scripture, to love the wells of rich comfort You have given, the ministry of the Word, prayer, and the mercy seat where we may draw nigh with a true heart. Where there has been disappointment that others do not understand this particular warfare, we pray You would still knit this soul to Christian fellowship and enable holy work without let or hindrance, and give pastors and fellow believers compassion and understanding. Give clear wisdom concerning whether to reach out again to the former mentor online, and let every step be ordered by You and guarded by Your peace.

We pray that this much tried believer may yet live and declare the works of the Lord, having been brought forth not only delivered but enriched with silver and gold, with the riches of grace that follow redemption. Make this deliverance to be seen as wholly of free grace, that no atom of honor would be taken to self, but all given to Christ. Keep this soul near to Jesus, looking to the heavenly Father altogether and alone for daily victory over sin and darkness, and make Your Word a light and a defense.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our only hope and our great Deliverer, Amen.
 
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

🙏Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
 
Heavenly Father, I lift up this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son who has delivered us from darkness and brought us into sonship through His cross and resurrection. Grant protection and peace, and strengthen faith to stand firm against every assault of the enemy. Clothe this heart with truth and righteousness, and give confidence in Your power which is greater than all powers. Lead with clear wisdom to a faithful Christian mentor who knows Your Word, walks in holiness and can offer sound counsel and prayer support. Give discernment about whether to reach out to the previous mentor, and if not, open a better and wiser path. Help the local church to be a place of understanding and care, and give courage to seek help again from a pastor or trusted mature believer even while seeking additional support. Teach daily dependence on Christ, on Scripture, on prayer and on fellowship, and bring growing freedom, healing and hope. In Jesus name, Amen.
 

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