I thought that I should write my testimony to give glory to God for rescuing me and for giving those who are currently involved in Witchcraft and or drugs, hope and truth, which is found in the Lord Jesus.
My testimony is a bit of a long one and I am praying that the Lord will lead me to give the most salient points as the time we are living in is short, there may not be much time left for those who are living in darkness.
I knew a little about Jesus when I was growing up, as a child I went to an Anglican Church school and I also went to the church as a young child. I was attracted to Jesus but I didn’t come from a Christian home and there were things which gradually led me into the occult and I didn’t really see them as wrong and I didn’t know that they would gradually seduce me and lead me away from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first thing was probably horoscopes books. Now most people involved in the occult would even laugh at this for being called part of the occult, but as a Christian I now realise that this was the first step away from God. I wanted to know what the future held and I wanted some control over my destiny, and the horoscopes and star and sun signs gave me that predictability and they also held a strange fascination to me. By this time I had no contact with church or Christians. I bought books and snapped up anything about my star sign in the newspapers.

At school one of my friends “L” had been given an old book by one of her relatives. Everyone was intrigued because you could ask the book a question and flick through, finding an answer to what you wanted to ask.... a form of divination. We thought the little book was cool as the answers were nearly always right, and we gradually became obsessed with finding answers. Not long after this we found out about the Ouija board. The first time we did it we could feel the force of the spirit moving the cup around, it was obvious that it wasn’t one of my friend’s fingers, it was a real force. The spirit had a “real” name apparently and a history, we actually believed that the spirit was the dead spirit of a young man and we got very sucked in, thinking it was fun and feeling a bit freaked out at the same time. Shortly we moved onto automatic writing, believing that the spirit would come into us and move the pen. The obsession grew and the 3 of us, who were good friends, became obsessed with this spirit when we should have been revising for our exams. Little did we realise that we were being deceived – there are no good spirits, this is a lie. Once you are dead you either go to heaven, if you accept Christ, or you go to Hell, if you reject Him. There is no purgatory, this was fabricated by the Catholic church. The spirits involved in Ouija and so on, are demonic spirits.

At some point our parents found out and my mother took the 3 of us to see a Catholic priest. We showed him the automatic writing and he was intrigued and it was rather odd that he didn’t condemn what we were doing. So we kept on exploring the world of the occult.
I stole some tarot cards from a shop with another friend, again we felt that this was cool as we’d stolen them too. The deck was a medieval one and I felt powerful and gifted because when I drew out a card randomly, I always drew the same one out – the beauty. Now you can probably appreciate the appeal to a teenage girl being able to do this and I was sucked in even more. I would read the cards at school and other girls were very interested, but I found out that some had prayed for me at Christian union, so I felt insulted and to get them back, I wrote out the Lord’s prayer backwards and stuck this around the place to annoy them. At this time I was gradually feeling more and more obsessed with the occult and angry at God, as my friend who’d had the divination book, had been run over by a car and died. I burnt my school bible in a fit of rage.

On the evening of my friend’s death I felt a strong sense that I should leave the group and go home. I walked home and now I look back and realise that it was the leading of God to keep me from that accident, even though I wasn’t following him, even though I was actively rejecting him. That night I woke up, very alert and could see visions of an ambulance, it was as if I’d died and I couldn’t stop crying. That morning, a friend and her father came round to tell us the news, that L was dead, that the group had crossed the Freeway and that another guy had died attempting to rescue her.
At this time I didn’t see God’s hand in my life, I was grief stricken and depressed; my friends and I got further into the Ouija board and I tried astral projection. I only tried it once and felt my spirit rise from my body and press against the ceiling, which freaked me so much that I said the Lord’s prayer and felt myself return to my body. I also tried scrying.

Now I feel that I need to be very careful not to glamorise the occult but at the same time I need people who are involved in it to realise that the way you can be drawn is very seductive and gradual. I pray that the reader will see continue to read on and begin to appreciate that through all this, God was waiting for me to turn to Him.

At this time I also started to dabble in drugs and met my DH. I was taking LSD with friends and getting stoned – why not when you have nothing to live for and life seems so short anyway? Well, that’s what we thought, we were all grieving the loss of our two friends and dealing with teenage angst. We were labelled as loosers by other students at school and there were rumours going around about our friend’s deaths, which was so unfair because at that point we weren’t into drugs... we turned to drugs afterwards and used them to numb the pain.

Gradually with going to uni I also got into doing ecstasy and speed, tried cocaine... had friends who’d do meths... but I had this emptiness, I was never truly happy. I totally rejected God and was a committed atheist. I had lots of clever arguments against God and enjoyed belittling Christians at uni, despite the fact that underneath it I knew there was good in them. I had a tumultuous relationship with DH and we settled down and got married, I gave up the drugs and fell pregnant. During my pregnancy, as I carried this new life inside me, I began to wonder if there was a God. I began to have hope. I gave birth in hospital, the delivery room looked out over a graveyard which I felt very creepy, and as I haemorrhaged and the medical staff fussed about and booked me in for a CSection, I felt so very frightened and alone. The worst thing was that I didn't know where I was going to, if I died in labour.

Our daughter was the most beautiful baby, but very hard work, she had reflux and I was determined to breast feed her and she'd puke everywhere! At 4 months old, DH and I split up. I tried calling friends and even DH's sister, and got through to her Christian friend instead, who witnessed to me about the Lord and told me to ask Him into my heart. So that first night alone, in the big bed with my baby beside me, I asked this Jesus if he would come into my heart. I remembered bits and pieces which Christians had told me, and I scrabbled down under the bed for a bible I had tucked under there... and I began to read. From only having my baby to live for, I sensed the “peace which passes all understanding and the thought of suicide and fear left me. I slept soundly and that month boarded a plane to be with my parents for Christmas.

That month I frequently turned to my mother's bible, the one my sister in law had given to us for a wedding present, with gold leaf, which mum had saved from the bin and peeled spaghetti off. I found comfort in that book, I found out that God was different to who I thought he was and he cared about me. He was into looking after widows and children and he cared about the broken hearted. I read about Jesus and I kept going back, kept reading little bits and finding out more, my appetite was growing and hope was building in me. My broken heart was healing and I was growing into a stronger woman. After that month, it was time to go home. When I went through the front door, I saw DH and the house was a mess, he was shocked that I looked alright.

One day I got a phone call from a complete stranger, who said that she would come round and see me, she also had a young baby and someone at church had passed on my number. She was quite pushy so I accepted and she came over. She was friendly and said that she would take me to church as I had no car... she would even take me to the supermarket so I could do the shopping and not have to carry the bags back. At the church I went around asking complete strangers if they would pray for my DH, I knew that with prayer there was hope. I hadn’t told him that I was going to church as we were living separately, but he was visiting the baby and myself regularly. One Sunday morning, I opened the door with a wide smile on my face, to find him in my house and he couldn’t believe how good I looked and how happy I was, so I spilled the beans and told him that I’d been to church. To my surprise he was interested... over the next few weeks I would stare up at the big empty cross on the wall of the church and I would pray that God would bring him there with me. I heard the gospel in a way I had never heard it before, it all made sense and I could see my need for Jesus, I understood that he bore my sins on the cross and I turned away from my old life and from sin. DH moved back in and we were baptised together a few months later. We actually fell in love again, which isn't surprising as we were both new creations in Christ.

I took an alpha course and bombarded my Christian friend with many questions. She was always great at discussing things, which was good because I’d always assumed that Christians just blindly believed. If she didn’t know an answer she would say so and go off and research and come back to me. Thankfully there were a number of very educated Christians in my church and this satisfied my intellectual curiosity. I realised that Christianity wasn’t just for the brain washed hoards and it certainly wasn’t the opium of the masses.

One afternoon I remember realising there was a tarot book and cards plus other occult books in the house, so I took them outside and burnt them on the pot bellied barbecue. DH, who'd been brought up with the bible told me that Christians in the bible had done this when they’d turned away from the occult and it felt great to be doing something that other Christians had done. At night I would struggle, I had a strong sense of fear and felt an evil presence nearby; I was freaked sometimes. So DH and I prayed and by the side of my bed, we put up this verse from scripture –
Romans 8 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I also learnt that as I drew near to God, he would draw near to me, and that the enemy (the devil/evil spirits) would flee from God’s presence. I began to slowly realise the authority I have in Christ, but this took time.

I had a few struggles with whether God really forgave me, and whether I was really saved. I used to freak out that maybe I wasn’t saved, but thankfully God put some lovely retired missionaries in our path and they gradually counselled us and ironed out all the problems. They constantly pointed me to the Lord Jesus, they always told me how good God is and how faithful He is... 12 years later, I am still discovering new things about the Lord and new depths to His love. God is totally different to the way the world portrays Him, there is nothing “boring” about Him, and I am just so thankful that he was waiting for me to reach out to him, on that bed, with my little baby. Even when I was dabbling in the occult, doing things which offend Him and deny Him, God was waiting for me. I am walking a firm path now, I have the Holy Spirit to guide me and strengthen me, I have a great marriage and wonderful kids.... and this has all been given to me by God, I haven’t had to earn His love, it has been a free gift to me.

So as I finish my testimony, I would just like to point out that this free gift is available to anyone. God is faithful and he will never leave you if you turn to Him. Whatever you have been involved in can be overcome by the blood of Jesus, even if you have sold your soul to the devil, it can be redeemed. God’s arm is not short to save, he cannot be confined, the final battle is yet to happen but is already won. The Devil can appear seductive and fascinating, you can be easily drawn in. But he will not save you and he won’t be able to save even his own skin. He is the father of lies and he is seeking to devour whoever he can, so turn to Christ, while you still have time. The Christian life is far better than the alternative and it begins now, we aren’t just hanging on here until heaven, when you have Christ in your life, your life is full and has meaning. Don’t be deceived any longer, just call out to God as he has sent Jesus (from Isaiah 42 7)
“to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

The bible has in it everything you need to know to live this abundant life which awaits you. Sometimes life can be hard, but with God going through it with you, you will not need to fear or despair again. You see, the bible is a living book, and the word of God is sharper than a double edged sword... how cool is that? Way cooler than the flashy counterfeits of the enemy. Turn to God and live your life in true freedom and in peace.
May my testimony bless those who read it and give glory to God!

I must say that this is the first test. that I have fully injoyed reading. You are a very good writer as well. G-d has blessed you, as well as your husband, and I have a feeling that He might use this wonderful test. of yours. Through pain comes life, throught him!
amen!

Shine,
Thanks for sharing your testimony! It sounds very similar to my own...(drugs/witchcraft).
I had a familiar spirit from my occultic activity which forced some astral projection type experiences on me...although I wasn't directly seeking astral projection. Scared the heebies out of me! I can also totally relate to what you're saying about astrology. I grew up in a home that was not practicing christianity...my Mom had Linda Goodman's books on the bookshelf and I was very fascinated by them. When talking to my friends, I'd reference those books quite a bit. It was a step in the wrong direction, yes. I didn't delve too much about my occultic experiences in my testimony but touched on some rather profound experiences. (My testimony is in this section).

I hope the Lord uses you to lead many from the occult!

God bless you,
Kim

Fantastic testimony!! I am printing it out to give to my youngest sister. She is not into the occult, but has been a drug addict since her teens.

That is a beautiful testimony and so awesome to see how God's hand was in your life even when you tried to push him out! LOL

Very beautiful.

That was an awesome testimony Shine. Thank you so much for sharing it.

People that dabble in the occult don't know just what they are dealing with.

But our GOD is more powerful.

Hi Shine,

Thank you for sharing how the Lord is delivering you...Here you said;



I was an Astrologer for 8 years and was deeply involved in other areas of the occult including numbers, letters, colors, coins, meditation, martial arts and other things you mentioned..The main theme of my life was Astrology..My ephemeris was my bible for that period of time. It was well worn, marked and lined. I never went any place with out it.

Shine, You said "Now most people involved in the occult would even laugh at this for being called part of the occult, " Astrology is the backbone of all the occult sciences..It is the science of divination..It's tendrils stretch into Judaism...even into gematria...the Hebrew alphabet. Does that mean that all gematria is wrong? No. But it is mostly used wrong today.

God withholds information from us for a reason... 'Curiosity killed the cat' is no cute saying.

When God wants to reveal something to us it's by means of the Holy Spirit.

It comes in the form of revelation not calculation...

Does that mean that everyone should try to avoid finding out what God said in his word about the numbers involving the end times? No..He calls some into this...but most of us just get lost in the dust for lack of knowledge and it becomes dangerous territory to try to divine the meaning of the numbers or using gematria for most people.

There is a science to divination, that when discovered is difficult for most to let go of. But as you know, nothing is impossible with God. Outwardly you've burned your books. Praise God for this victory in your life. But inwardly Shine...we must burn the mental bridges that bind us to the past as well.

There is a desire to know...to be tempted beyond what the Lord gives us. But the clue is..he does give us..when we are ready... and in his timing.... by His Spirit... and not by the hand of man through calculation...the things we need to know...He gives us this by his Spirit.... gifts... for the purpose of helping others...for example;

A word of knowledge

A word of wisdom

Speaking in another language;

Interpretation of that language..Now with this gift we must be wise. Here is where the enemy tries to sneak in and offer his techniques as a substitute.

I see this area as the DMZ..Better known as the demilitarized zone. This is a stretch of land between two countries that is supposedly unoccupied...as between N and S Korea. Wolves roam there...

It's in this is gray area that many become confused. God places watchmen on the towers to shout out the warning. People that have been to the other side that God has seen fit to rescue because of a truly broken heart and or his purposes.

So my warning to others would be in this gray area of interpretation... how much...Numbers, letters, colors and music. It all belongs to God...even the planets have God's story...but as mere humans God protects us from a power so much greater then the fleshly mind of men the it is truly mind boggling. The fleshly mind of men is absolutely no match for the enemies knowledge and manipulating forces. It's why God protects us by giving us certain rules like "don't eat"...

Now we know the enemy is no match for God...but when we aren't obedient to God's Spirit and the Word and stray into these areas despite the warnings... then we operate in our carnal minds and have absolutely no hope of finding our way out. No hope in manipulating knowledge for our purposes nor bringing sound revelation or predictions to the other side for personal exaltation power or glory.

We are hopelessly lost...

God allows us to stumble and become ensnared.

He will accept nothing less than complete brokenness and obedience in this area from here on out...

Why? Because we have opened a door...God will close it and seal us but we must listen and wait for Him to reveal what he will..not seek it out for ourselves.

He is very strict in this area for those coming out of the occult. I've had to learn this... and in someways am still learning it...these bridges from the past that need to be burned. This is a healthy and Godly fear that should be within each believer that has trespassed in this way.

It's my prayer that in your continued journey you will hear the promptings of the Spirit and receive confirmation according to the word. I pray for your divine protection in Jesus name as you walk in obedience to his call. Amen

Thank you so much for sharing! What a GREAT testimony. Just like you, it is one of a kind!

Hey Shine,

Thank you so much for that post.

I think that you are a blessing to me because some family members of mine have been involved in witchcraft, wicca...whatever you want to call it. I find it very hard for me as a Christian and as a family member as to whether or not I should accept an invitation to celebrate Yule or Christmas. Actually it is not hard at all to answer the invitation because it is so easy....I simply wouldn't go. But I would miss my niece and nephew and the way we used to celebrate Christmas. I'm really trying to put myself in that situation and how I would react and feel, but I couldn't last long there because I could clearly pick up the evil in all of it. It is very strong too. It is by no means a celebration of Christ and His birth, but of some unknown dieties which I would love to confront them because I feel a lot of hatred for them by deceiving my family. Apparently, Christmas is not celebrated by them anymore and I seriously can't see myself going over to their home on the 21st of December for Yule? It sickens me, and it would be very hard for me to be there knowing that what they are celebrating is not about Christ and has nothing to do with Christ but has everything to do with their god and goddess.

I simply can't participate or be a part of it.

Who exactly are the names of this god and goddess that they worship? I believe it is the Gardenarian Wiccan belief which involves some kabbalistic aspects intertwined with their cult. The have a coven of 13 members and that is about all I know...........everything is a secret.

You know I almost fell in that trap that they did? I thought they were both Christian because they had accepted Christ. But did they really? I don't know? Only God knows their hearts and how far will they go before they do stare death in the face and what will Jesus Christ say to them? "Depart from me you workers of inequity for I never knew you." They never knew Him.

I could use some advise because it is bittersweet. While I see them fall further and further into this deception, my faith has grown stronger and stronger because of it all.

Need some advice,
Thanks

Marta

crap I gotta go ,,,,but,,,what a story,,,,,I only got to the 3rd paragraph but so so interesting I will finish reading later,,,but just so you know its,, ok to view the stars,,,they were givin for signs,,,but everything must be done in moderation and with common sense always putting God first,,,cant wait to get back to it.....

Very good testimony! Thank you Lord for bringing our sister to the table. May you fan the flame of her heart to an inferno of passion for Jesus! thank you thank you hallelujah