Overcoming

Darkness

A Christian's Guide to Clearing Curses, Hexes, and Spells

Melody Litton

Copyright © 2013 Melody Litton

No part of this book may be reproduced in any way without prior written authorization of the author.

All rights reserved.

For All Who Seek Love and Light

Overcoming Darkness

Table of Contents

1. Recognize

2. Live Worthy

3. Seek Light

4. Pray

5. Command

6. Send Love

7. Keep it Up

8. Positive Affirmations

Recognize

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Ephesians 6:12

Satan is a piece of trash. I look around and mourn for those individuals who have become lost in his darkness. He rejoices as that darkness fills our world, overcoming one soul at a time. But he cannot envelope a soul all at once. He can claim and overpower us only through very small steps. We lose the battle against him when we fail to effectively fight back, when we don't shake the chains away before they are heavy and bound tightly around us. This book focuses on shaking away some of those chains and taking steps further into the Light of Jesus Christ.

Four years ago I would've laughed if someone suggested I might be under the influence of a spell or that my life was being impacted negatively by a curse. I knew nothing about negative energy or how it was accumulated. I knew darkness existed but didn't fully acknowledge its power, especially not its potential for influencing my individual life.

Within the last four years life has given me the opportunity to come face to face with dark forces. I have witnessed evil, in ways I never would've chosen to. In my attempts to come closer to my Savior and to help others do the same, I have seen the power of demons and the effect of dark energy working to stop our progression toward better lives. Without a knowledge of Jesus Christ and an understanding of His power and authority, it would be easy to fall prey to fear and depression in the face of evil. I'm thankful every day for the knowledge we have as Christians. We know that we are not fighting these evil forces alone. The more I've learned about darkness, the more light and truth I've been blessed with as well. The Lord will always give us what we need to combat evil if we diligently seek truth and are open to receive it.

Curses, hexes, and spells are real. They can have a powerful and extremely negative effect upon our lives. They can be the first layer of darkness upon our soul, a layer so thin it often goes unnoticed. It's a layer easy to overlook and consequently we often struggle without understanding why.

The ideas that Hollywood and other media project in regard to witchcraft and dark energy are often so extreme and inaccurate that it is easy to dismiss the idea altogether as being fantasy. The idea that an individual can cast one all powerful spell that completely rules the life of another and puts them at their beck and call, is fantasy. Satan is not allowed to work that way. If so, there would be no one left on earth who would be free of his control. But although he is not allowed to work so forcefully, his influence and the powers of darkness are strong and active in our lives.

Curses, hexes, and spells are three terms which essentially mean the same thing: the active accumulation and projection of negative energy and dark forces upon an individual. I use all three terms to simply cover all the bases, as individuals may refer to them differently and understand them according to these different titles.

When I use the term "hex" or "spell", I think of the intentional dark or negative energy and destructive programming cast upon us via witchcraft and satanic ritual. The one casting the spell is intentionally requesting energy and powers to attend the individual that is being targeted. They are cast with a specific purpose and request. Prayer calls upon the power of God. Ritual and spells call upon the energy and power of darkness. Prayer cannot force an individual and neither can spells. There is no power, good or evil, that can completely remove our agency to act and make decisions for our lives. What hexes and spells can do is create the perfect environment to encourage failure, sin, depression, illness, accident, and devastation. If dark powers in the universe are called upon and working extra hard to bring a particular problem or issue to an individual, that individual will be much more prone to experience and have trouble with those things.

At times individuals even cast spells truly believing they can benefit someone, but despite the good intentions, the result is never positive. We cannot bring peace and light to an individual through spells and ritual because it is not in accordance with God's will to exert this type of authority or power over another person's life. Prayer is the only means by which we can call upon true powers of Light to bless another person's life or change their heart.

I am intentionally not including the specifics of how these rituals and spells are cast. As Christians our focus needs to stay on Jesus Christ and all that is good. Curiosity of evil often leads to evil. When we focus on something, we attract it to us. It is enough that we recognize the existence of these dark forces and their influence in our lives. We must acknowledge the power of evil, but can then focus on Light and Truth in order to protect ourselves from that evil and to clear it.

We don't like to talk about Satan. We don't want to think about the fact that people in this world worship him. We hate to even consider that individuals actually strive to help him achieve his evil goals. But it's reality. The power of the devil is real and those who worship him are bestowed with certain levels of his power.

Members of the occult, however, are not the only ones who are sending negative energy our way. Thinking about curses, hexes, and spells may bring to mind a picture of an individual in the midst of candles and whispering chants, but that's not always the way it goes. Witchcraft and satanic ritual do account for a good portion of the evil that we suffer, but often times we pick up darkness from others, even loving family, friends, and other Christians.

The term "curse" I believe more accurately describes this general casting of darkness through thought, words, and negative emotions. Curses are often unintentional but can be very destructive. We've each felt the weight and darkness some people bring when they enter a room and the light that others bring. At times even wonderful and Christ-like people are weighed down with dark emotions and unintentionally spread that energy to others. Let me explain.

Einstein taught us that everything is made up of energy. This includes our body, mind, and spirit. More than that however, we now understand this even includes our words and thoughts. The Bible tells us that even our thoughts can condemn us. There's very good reason for that! There are ingenious scientific instruments that can actually read the energetic frequency which comes from each of us. For good or bad, what we think and say radiates energy to those around us, affecting our relationships and environment.

For example, Molly is driving down the road and unintentionally cuts off another driver. This driver flies into a fit of rage and verbally assaults her from his vehicle. Molly doesn't hear his words, but the energy of his words and thoughts are carried to her and she will feel their affect throughout the day, although that affect will be subtle. Or, Jessica is sitting in her school class and a group of kids at the back of the room start whispering and saying mean things about her. Jessica doesn't hear their words, but suddenly begins to feel a tiny knot in her stomach or a sadness creeping into her emotions. Or, John walks through the mall focusing on his horrible life and the depressed emotions he is feeling, wishing he could just die and hating everyone around him who appears happy. These negative thoughts and emotions he carries drift to all those who come in contact with him or happen to cross his path. Or, Kayden just lost his mother; she died in a horrible car accident. He is carrying anger, frustration, sorrow, and fear. These emotions radiate from him and rest upon those who are attempting to help him find peace. This darkness lands on others as a type of curse; often unintentional, but still damaging.

We are affected by those around us. We can be lifted and we can be torn down. We can receive a "deposit" of energy at any time. Our words matter. Our thoughts matter. We hold power to influence others and the world around us simply by the words we use and the thoughts we allow into our minds.

Several years ago, Dr. Masaru Emoto conducted a now famous experiment with water molecules. He found that classical music, kind phrases such as "thank you", and even words written on strips of paper had an impact on the formation of water crystals. Positive music, words, and thought affected the molecules in a way which allowed them to develop intricate and beautiful designs and even increased the quality of the water. Words such as "hate" and the phrase "you fool" would so negatively affect the molecules they would collapse into ugly and unsymmetrical shapes or even fail to take shape at all.

Humans are made up of 50 to 80% water. Imagine the implication this study holds for our well-being and health! And yet, even without scientific proof, we've all felt the implication of this truth. Think back on a time when someone yelled something cruel to you. What was your emotional reaction? How did your physical body react? And think of a time you walked into a room right after an intense argument took place. You could literally feel the tension in the room. Or the opposite, think of a moment when you were feeling down and then someone you loved walked in and flashed you a smile. Not only did you feel emotionally lifted, but your physical self also reacted in a positive way. All of this is evidence of energy, of how we are linked physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally to one another. We affect one another both consciously and unconsciously.

This book is designed to help fight against the negative energy we face on a daily basis. By learning to recognize the presence of this darkness and to eject it from our lives, we are allowing ourselves to step closer to our Savior and to better feel the radiant joy of His light.

Clearing these layers will not solve all of our problems. But recognizing the effect of these things upon us and choosing to overcome them will help in the process of coming closer to our Savior and feeling His light with us continually.

Energy is everywhere, it is in everything. Our purpose as Christians is to learn to attract everything that is positive and good into our lives and hearts and to learn to repel every strand of darkness that would try to enter. The energy we radiate to the world matters. Our energetic frequency, or vibration, determines the level of joy we feel, the amount of protection we are afforded, and the gift of love and happiness we will be able to spread to others. We can learn to vibrate at a high enough level that the effects of darkness, both intentional and unintentional, will merely bounce off of our armor of light and not be able to penetrate or cling to us. But it is a continual process, one that takes work and dedication. The war with evil is real. One great and wonderful day, Jesus Christ will call us home. But until then we must battle against darkness continually and with every ounce of strength we have.

Live Worthy

"Wash you, make you clean, put away thy evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 1:16&18

It will do us exactly zero good to spend time clearing darkness from our spirit if we have zero intention of living according to God's laws. We are in control of our vulnerability to evil. It sometimes seems easier to blame Satan, a curse, or negative energy as being the root of the problem. But it's not. Evil is just evil; it exists just like God exists. But evil existing is not the cause of our suffering. The root of our problem is quite simply our own lack of valiance in keeping God's commandments. It is this lack of valiance that allows evil to affect us. If we were valiant 100% of the time to 100% of God's laws, we would be completely invulnerable to even the greatest and most powerful evil forces.

We cannot hope for protection or for healing and grace when we are consciously choosing to defy God's laws. If there are things in our lives that shouldn't be, it's time to throw them out. If we are participating in activities that conflict with what we know to be right, it's time to stop. If we are friends with people who encourage us to say or do things that distance us from God, it's time to walk away. If we are watching movies or listening to music that drives away the Spirit, it's time to turn it off. If we are spending our time or energy or money on things of no eternal value, it's time to re-prioritize. If we have addictions, it's time to overcome them with the help of Christ. Each of these situations give darkness the perfect opportunity to pounce. Evil takes no breaks; it is patient and persistent. It is willing to watch and wait an entire lifetime for even one small moment of weakness.

Repentance is vital for survival. As we purge our lives of things that don't matter and fill them with things that matter most, we begin our journey to greater joy and peace. When we align our lives with the will of God, we wear his armor and keep the door shut to evil. Evil cannot force itself upon us; we are the ones who open the door and allow it in. It cannot force us to put down our shield, rest our sword, or remove our breastplate; but we make the choice to do so when we cave to the temptations or distractions Satan places before us.

For this step to be most effective I encourage the use of a pen and paper. During a quiet moment, clear your mind and ask aloud "What things in my life do I need to address in order to be worthy of Thy continual protection and healing?" And then wait. One by one (or perhaps even all at once) thoughts will come to your mind. List each and every one of them, even if in that moment they don't make sense or you'd like to disagree with why they could possibly matter. Humbly listen and write it all down.

Once you have your list, you have a place to start. Over the course of the next several days and weeks, make a valiant effort to pay attention to how these particular things affect your life and choose to purge them from your life. Do not simply stop the bad habit or quit the particular issue. Instead, actively replace it with something better, something the Spirit prompts you to replace it with. When we merely stop doing something, it leaves a void anxious to be filled. Darkness will easily jump back in, in a slightly different form, unless we consciously fill it with light instead.

Habits can be hard to break. I don't mean to suggest that we can change everything in one moment. Not only are we dealing with energy, but also physical and emotional tendencies. Even when our desire is great and our heart is in the effort, overcoming habits and long standing addictions can take time. Casting out darkness and attached energy is an important thing to do and at times can completely resolve an issue. But more often than not, it is only one step in the process of healing and change. We are mortal and sometimes our mortal tendencies win no matter how badly our spirit wants to overcome them. I have, however, found one extremely powerful and incredibly simple tool. I discovered this tool in Steven Cramer's book "Putting on the Armor of God: How to Win Your Battle's With Satan", one of my all-time favorite books.

This tool is a seven word statement that you need to memorize right now and never forget: "It's not worth it to me anymore." It's important enough for me to repeat: "It's Not Worth It To Me Anymore." And one more time: "IT'S NOT WORTH IT TO ME ANYMORE!"

Sin can be appealing. If it wasn't, we wouldn't have such a hard time resisting it. And when the issues we are trying to change are not blatant sin, it can get even more difficult to resist because darkness will whisper such things as "It doesn't matter, don't give this up. It's not like you're doing (insert greater sin)." For instance, when making your list you may have been prompted to give up a certain television show. The next time you are flipping channels and happen upon it, there will instantly be a demon there whispering "It's fine. Don't worry, it's not like you're watching porn. Don't be such a prude." Or perhaps you were encouraged by the Spirit to give up cigarettes. But then the craving starts and the perfectly reasonable sounding thought comes to mind, "Why struggle against something that is legal? You've done really well to stay away from illegal drugs. Don't deprive yourself of something that brings you such satisfaction, just avoid the really bad stuff." Or maybe you wrote down to give up flirting with a married co-worker. He/she comes into your office the following day and the demons are quick to reassure you "Everything is fine. Just laugh and have fun. Be flattered by the attention. You'll never allow it to go any further."

Now back to our seven word statement, "It's not worth it to me anymore." When we tell ourselves, "I don't want to do that." our brain often doesn't believe us. For one, it's probably a lie. At least some part of us does want to cave to whatever issue it is we are trying to abandon. And two, we've shown our body, mind, and spirit again and again that we do want to do it and that it's worth whatever price we've been paying. Every time we've given in, we've reinforced the subconscious belief that we want to have or participate in whatever it is. "It's not worth it to me anymore" is our master key. It empathizes with the part of us that is tempted to continue participating and it acknowledges that some level of pleasure would be experienced by caving to the temptation. And then it unlocks and reprograms the mind to begin working toward this new idea of leaving it behind and seeking something better in its place.

If food is our issue, we would use something like this: "Man, eating that entire pan of brownies would taste amazing, but it's not worth it to me anymore. I care about my body and choose to treat it better than that, one slice will do." Or if pornography has been a ruler in our life: "Part of me would really like to spend some time on the computer tonight and lose myself in fantasy, but it's not worth it to me anymore. I respect myself more than that now and am working to prove my love to my spouse. I am a disciple of Christ." Or if gossip is our issue, "I'm dying to spread the drama I just heard at the hair salon, but it's not worth it to me anymore. I use my lips only to uplift others and to speak words of kindness."

"It's not worth it to me anymore" is a simple tool, but one worth keeping in your pocket at all times. Or even better yet, plaster it on the mirror, fridge, television, computer screen, steering wheel, toilet, above your bed, and anywhere else you may see it in times of temptation.

When we seek protection and healing, we must be worthy to receive it or our efforts will fail and our defenses will be crushed against the power of the destroyer. God never moves. He stays constant and with arms extended. We are the ones who choose to draw near unto Him or to pull away; each decision we make determines whether we take a step forward or back.

God understands that we are going to make mistakes. Learning and growth is why we are here and so we must not get discouraged when our valiance wavers at times. Lucky for us, God continues to give us a second chance as many times as we need it. When we falter, Satan jumps at the chance to whisper discouraging thoughts and to suggest giving up. This is when we whisper back: "God loves me because I am His child. He will never give up on me so don't think I'm going to give up on me either." Never let Satan win this battle of the mind. We are children of God, and as long as we are continuing to try, He will continue to cheer us on and pick us up when we fall.

It's important to note that sin is not the only thing that weakens us to darkness. Other conditions and emotions can also weaken our shield and allow darkness to seep through; discouragement, fear, anger, and shame are a few examples. Victims of abuse or neglect are also often burdened with intense layers of darkness.

Whether we are weakened via our choices or the choices of others, we can choose to continually redirect our path to create a life in accordance with God's will and continue our journey into greater light. All darkness can be overcome by seeking healing through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Seek Light

"No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light."

Luke 11: 33&36

The very best way to overcome darkness is to fill our lives with light. Darkness cannot exist where light is present. Prevention is always best when dealing with evil forces. As human beings we will mess up and allow evil in sometimes. We are imperfect and consequently can't always avoid darkness. Our shields often drop and negative energy is quick to cling to us. But we can actively work toward becoming beings of light. We can learn to attract positive energy which brings happiness and to repel negative energy which unavoidably brings depression and misery.

- Prayer. Even the weakest and most feeble prayer attracts light. There is nothing we can do that is more important than prayer. Prayer aligns us with God and allows Him to play an active role in our lives. Every night and morning we need to wear out our knees and send our voice to Heaven. And at all times we must carry a prayer in our heart. Our prayers should include petitions to be shielded with love and light at all times and to be surrounded by angels granted permission to protect us from every level of darkness.

- Gratitude. Every emotion carries an energetic frequency. Nothing has been identified that vibrates higher than gratitude. Expressing gratitude at every opportunity literally sends out the highest vibration found on earth. That vibration attracts the best possible sources of positive energy. When we express gratitude it's as though we are taking a spiritual sledgehammer and knocking holes into the layer of darkness around us. When Satan tempts us to focus on our troubles or weaknesses, we must fight back by choosing to recognize and count our blessings. Express gratitude to God, to neighbors, to friends, to your body, to your car, to your home, to your mail man, to the earth, to teachers, to animals, and everything else that crosses your path. You will be amazed at the positive feelings you will begin to have and even physical ailments that will begin to diminish. As I wash each body part in the shower, I tell it "Thank you for being amazing and for helping me through this ol' world. I love and appreciate you." It may feel strange at first, but I promise it's worth it. Every good thing responds positively to gratitude.

- Affirmations. Affirmations are an incredibly wonderful and yet simple tool. They are a tool that we can utilize at any time and for a variety of reasons. An affirmation is a statement of truth. It's something that we are working toward or trying to achieve. It's a reassurance and a motivator all at the same time. When we speak to ourselves, we listen. Every part of us listens. Positive affirmations help to align our energy, mind, and spirit to begin working toward the same goals. When Satan whispers words of discouragement and fear, we must combat them with powerful affirmations of truth and light. I'm including a list of some of my favorite and most powerful affirmations at the end of this book. Repeat them aloud, often and with conviction. Counter every negative attack with positive words of light.

- Service. When we serve others, we serve God. It is hard to live a life of misery and darkness if we are actively participating in serving our fellow man. Some days we may devote hours upon hours of service, actively participating in humanitarian aid or helping a neighbor or friend. Other days we may only be able to offer someone a smile or an encouraging word. No act of service goes unrewarded. Every tiny attempt we make to bless the life of another will bring an added layer of light and joy to our soul. We must be valiant in watching for ways we might be able to bring light to another person and in so doing we will walk away brighter than we were before.

- Physical Health. God gave us our bodies and He desires for us to take care of them. When we abuse our bodies via neglect, addictions, laziness, eating disorders, reckless and dangerous behaviors, etc we are damaging ourselves both physically and spiritually. Our physical body and spirit are linked. When we care for one, we help the other. And when we hurt one, we hurt the other. Exercise, a healthy diet, and proper care of our physical bodies is essential in attracting light into our lives and repelling darkness. Our body is a gift, it's time we treat it accordingly.

- Worship. As we praise our God through song, prayer, and testimony our spirit literally touches Heaven. Each one of us needs to regularly gather with other Christians and offer praises to our God. Together we can uplift, edify, and inspire one another. Surrounding ourselves with others who love God and worshipping Him together is essential to our long term spiritual survival.

- Energy Medicine. There are very simple and yet powerful exercises and movements that we can do each day to better align and balance the energies which flow in and around us. Discovering Donna Eden Energy Medicine has been a life changing experience for me. I recommend finding her "daily routine" on YouTube and incorporating it into your life. Within a short period of time you will notice positive physical and emotional changes including feeling more balanced and peaceful. Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, and other positive energy modalities are good options as well. Anything that we feel led to by the Spirit and that brings better peace and harmony into our life is worth a few minutes of our day.

- Scripture Study. If prayer was compared to brushing our teeth, scripture study would be the floss. The two together afford us the most protection and power. We communicate to our Father through prayer. He often communicates to us through scripture. If we aren't pulling out our Bible, it's likely we're missing the messages He wants to send us. Scripture study affords us strength and a layer of protection from evil. In moments of weakness, the Holy Spirit can bring to mind the exact passage we need to remember. But only if we've put it in our mind beforehand.

- Learning and Growth. God wants a powerful people. As we seek learning and growth, as we actively participate in our communities, as we strive to become educated, and as we reach out to others, we will influence the world for good. The world needs leaders. We must be those leaders. We must continue to develop ourselves physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally so that we will be strong enough to lift others in times of need and to stand strong against the powers of darkness. We must never become complacent, content with the knowledge that we have. Instead, we must actively strive to learn and grow in every capacity.

- Music. I have found nothing more immediately effective in raising our energetic vibration and clearing darkness from our day than uplifting, beautiful, and Christ-centered music. Music is extremely powerful, crank it up and sing along.

When we fill our lives with light, there is no longer room for darkness. Every effort we make to align our lives with God's will and to stay in His light makes the angels in Heaven rejoice and begins to shake the very powers of hell.

Through righteous living and faith in Jesus Christ we have the authority to call down the powers of Heaven to aid us in healing and to afford us protection. We do not need to fear evil or the negative energy it brings, but we must choose to recognize its power and determine to cast it from our lives. There is no darkness stronger than the light of Christ. With His light, we are prepared to face this world of darkness with confidence.

Pray

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21: 36

Despite our most valiant efforts to live worthy and to seek light, at times we will be weakened to darkness. Darkness waits to seep in at any given moment, jumping at the chance to find a tiny crack in our armor. The battle with evil is continual. Darkness never gives up and never wearies of watching for the perfect moment to strike.

We are weak and imperfect beings. Satan would consequently whisper that we are failures. But we are not. We are simply children. We are learning and growing and developing one step at a time, each of us unique in our development. Heavenly Father never condemns us for struggling, He never looks down upon us for being weak or for learning at our own pace. Just as toddlers learning to walk, we often tumble and fall. When this happens, we may land in a puddle of mud or rub against something dirty. Our breastplate may crack or our shield weaken.

When our spiritual armor becomes weak, even for a moment, negative energy including evil spirits, curses, hexes, and spells can get in. This can happen at any time day or night; a moment of anger or frustration, caving to a temptation, speaking unkindly, participating in activities that drive away the Spirit, being a victim of abuse, and a myriad of other things. Each one of us can know at any given moment if our spiritual armor is weak or strong, if we simply pause to consider it. If we are full of joy and peace and are feeling love toward others, we are typically at our best level of protection. Any other emotions are often indicators of weakness at some level. This does not make us bad. This simply means we are human. We are children, learning one step at a time.

Getting rid of accumulated darkness is the purpose of using the clearing commands which will be given in the next chapter. Every person on this earth has been weakened to darkness at some point and time and can benefit from verbalizing these commands. Whether we have been victims of witchcraft or have inadvertently gathered the darkness around us radiating from others, we will benefit by clearing it from our lives. We don't need the weight that any level of darkness brings.

Before engaging in any level of clearing, we must pray. I cannot stress enough how vital prayer is. Without prayer, all efforts will be null and void and the hand of darkness will simply tighten its grasp. Prayer brings us closer to our Father in Heaven and aligns us with His will for our lives. It allows His hand to bless us and His angels to assist in our efforts. It ensures that the powers we call upon during our clearing are the pure and positive powers from Light, and not disguised powers of Darkness. It affords us the protection we need while fighting against the evil that has been cast upon us. The power of the devil is real. He is strong. His followers can literally cause harm. God is always stronger and with His help we need never fear the power of the adversary. But God respects us and has granted us our agency. He will help us and allow us to be helped only when asked; His assistance is never forced upon us. He stands at the door and knocks, but we must invite Him in by turning the knob and swinging open the door; this we do through sincere and heartfelt prayer.

I do not encourage a prayer of recitation; memorization of a set prayer may prove to be counterproductive in this circumstance. A prayer before a clearing must come from the heart and be voiced with sincerity. There are, however, certain things that ought to be included in order to afford maximum protection as well as ensure the best possible environment for a successful clearing.

I will present an outline of a prayer here which touches upon those things that I've found to be vital. As you pray, do not worry yourself with following this guideline exactly. Instead, familiarize yourself with it and then pray from the heart. The Holy Spirit will bring to your mind those things that will be of most importance during your prayer. Rather than worrying if you are saying all the right things, pay attention to what comes into your mind and address each one, even if you don't want to or they seem insignificant. For instance, the Spirit may whisper: "Ask forgiveness for snapping at your spouse during dinner." I suggest not pausing to justify why you were right and your spouse was wrong; just humble yourself and address the transgression. Or if you feel impressed to talk to Father about an event or concern that seems unrelated, talk to Him about it anyway. Never doubt a prompting that comes during prayer. If something comes to mind during humble communication with our Father, it is worth pausing to consider its significance.

Ensure an environment of privacy. You must find a place where you feel comfortable and safe. It's important to not feel rushed; to know that it will be alright to spend as much time as it takes. I know this may sound like an impossible task. I'm a busy woman and mother of four. I rarely experience either privacy or a moment where I don't feel rushed. But I can promise, when we consciously make an effort to clear ourselves of darkness, God will always make it possible to do so. A plan will come to mind as you contemplate on how to make it happen.

I strongly encourage you to kneel before our Father and to speak aloud your prayer. Power comes when we humble ourselves enough to kneel and find the courage to verbally speak the pleadings of our soul.

Prior to a clearing, these are some aspects of prayer that I feel are essential:

- Address our Father in Heaven

- Express the emotions you are experiencing, holding nothing back

- Ask that demons and unclean spirits be escorted away, and removed from your presence

- Express faith in His love and grace

- Address sins and transgressions and seek forgiveness

- Request protection from evil, including being surrounded by a shield of light

- Ask if the clearing is in accordance with His will for your life at this time

- Petition for angels to be allowed to assist on your behalf

- Release burdens and doubt

- Express gratitude

- Close in the name of Jesus Christ (THIS IS A MUST)

To better illustrate, here is an example of a prayer I might offer before a clearing (pausing often to contemplate and listen for promptings):

My Dear Father in Heaven, I come to Thee this night afraid and unsure. I am filled with doubt and worry. I am burdened by anger and resentment. I hurt so badly. I am struggling and depressed. I feel unworthy before Thee. But I trust in Thy love. I desire Thy loving hand to help me, to guide me to healing and grace. At this time I ask that Thine angels be allowed to educate and escort away any and all demons and unclean spirits who may be present with me at this time. I request that they be taken from my presence and blocked from playing any role in my life on this night. I ask for the courage and wisdom needed to align my life with Thy will. Father, I beg Thy forgiveness for my sins. I am so very sorry for being quick to anger, being prideful and contentious at times. I ask forgiveness for overlooking those Thou would have wanted me to serve this day. I ask that Thy grace be extended to me, that I might feel Thy loving arms around me. I ask for Thy protection and loving guidance. I offer to Thee the burdens I've carried this day, and give them to Thee with loving gratitude. I praise Thee and rejoice in Thy goodness and mercy. I release the darkness within me and trust Thee to remove it according to Thy will. I ask permission to perform a clearing at this time and ask to be guided and helped in knowing what is right and in accordance with Thy will for my life (pausing for confirmation). As I progress through this clearing this night, I ask that I be protected with a shield of light, that this shield may surround me and my household completely, that it may extend to heaven and into the depths of the earth, affording impenetrable protection from evil. I ask that I will be accompanied by angels and that they might be granted permission to work on my behalf. I ask that they be allowed to clear my spirit, mind, and body of any and all darkness that is clinging to any part of me. With praise and gratitude I close this prayer and ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer is the essential ingredient to every recipe. There is no substitute for prayer. Anything we try to replace it with will ultimately lead us to failure. But when we recognize the power of prayer and fully exercise our divine right to communicate with and access the help of the Lord, we are ready to do all things. And, we're ready for the next step.

Command

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Colossians 3: 17

There are several commands which I've found to be highly effective. Each of them are relevant in different situations. If we are familiar with the one who is casting spells and negative energy toward us, we may be able to identify which commands are most needed. Also, we can learn through energy testing, prayer, and listening to promptings, which commands may be most relevant at any particular time. However, I would encourage using each of these clearing commands regularly. There is no harm in being extra vigilant in keeping your energy and spirit clear and free from clinging darkness.

It's important to understand that we are not commanding God. We are not conceitedly attempting to exert authority over the Heavens or demanding that our will be acknowledged over God's will. Not only is it impossible for us to do so but the mere attempt would greatly distance us from Him rather than drawing us near Him. Coming closer to God and better aligning our will with His is the intent of these exercises, not the contrary. Our commands are directed toward darkness. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have authority over Satan, his followers, and all negative energy or darkness brought to us by any means. We have power over evil. Even the smallest child has the authority to command the greatest of demons, if done in faith. When we are living in accordance with God's laws and striving daily to increase our faith and exercise obedience, we have great power; power to cast out all darkness.

During each of these commands, hold the palms of your hands pressed together and centered at your chest, with thumbs at the center of the sternum. In Yoga, this position is known as the "Prayer mudra" or "Namaste position." It produces a physiological response that induces calmness and a deeper breath. It connects the two hemispheres of the brain and brings them into balance, allowing us to better connect our body, mind, and spirit. You may sit, stand, or kneel during the commands; I prefer to sit with legs crossed. Each command must be stated out loud and in a calm yet confident voice. Always do the command to clear the negative before requesting the positive. As mentioned before, when we clear negative from our spirit, it leaves a void. This void begs to be filled and darkness will happily jump back in unless we vigilantly act to fill it with light instead. At the end of each command and request is the instruction to tap the sternum three times. Behind the center of the sternum, or breastbone, in line with the nipples, is the location of the thymus gland. This gland helps to regulate health and healing. There is a spiritual thymus gland located in the same place. By tapping the sternum, you are signifying to your body and spirit that it is time to activate healing.

Negative Spirit Gifts. Just as the Lord blesses us with gifts of the Spirit, those who serve the adversary curse us with the opposites. The Lord can bless us with love, faith, patience, charity, endurance, power, healing, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, health, a forgiving heart, self-love, confidence, and an endless list of other positive gifts. These gifts are designed to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and to help us find joy and peace in our lives. Negative spirit gifts, or emotional curses, are cast upon us with the intent to distance us from our Father and to bring us misery. Continual and deep-seated feelings of anger, fear, resentment, unworthiness, abandonment, dependency, doubt, hate, pride, low self-esteem, inadequacy, a victim mentality, or antagonism are a few examples. We often feel these emotions and have these negative tendencies without understanding why or where they are coming from. By clearing negative spirit gifts, we are acknowledging these issues and allowing our spirit to reject them. We are calling upon our Father and the power available to us through Jesus Christ to begin the healing process within us.

Clearing the Negative:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all negative spirit gifts depart, those which I have identified and those which I have not. I reject them and cancel them out, along with every thought form, negative energy, spirit, or darkness associated with them. (While tapping three times the center of the sternum) Cancel, Cancel, Cancel. (Hold your right palm over your lower abdomen) Forever Cancelled."

Requesting the Positive:

"I petition my Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to fill the void within me. I ask at this time to be blessed with love, light, faith, understanding, courage, self-love, patience, and every other positive spiritual gift Thou sees that I need at this time. I accept these gifts with praise, love and gratitude. (While tapping the sternum three times) Accept, Accept, Accept. (Hold your right palm over your lower abdomen) Forever with me."

Ill Health. There are a myriad of reasons why we experience health related issues. I am not suggesting that every cough and sniffle comes from a curse. There are times however, when they do. And not just a cough or sniffle, but chronic illness or a sudden onset of unexplained illness can, and often do, originate with a curse. Clearing a curse of ill health is always warranted when facing any level of sickness. It can often help and it can't ever hurt.

Clearing the negative:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all curses, hexes, or spells affecting my physical body and health be identified and rejected. I cancel them out and reject them without argument and command that they be null and void, along with every thought form, negative energy, or spirit associated with them. (While tapping the sternum three times) Cancel, Cancel, Cancel. (With hand on lower abdomen) Forever Cancelled."

Requesting the Positive:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I petition my Heavenly Father to initiate healing within my body, mind, and spirit. I request that my angels be allowed to clear any remaining darkness, including negative entities, from every part of me and to teach my body how to heal from the infirmities which I have suffered. I ask that my energy be cleansed and aligned according to the will of God. I accept this healing with praise, love, and gratitude. (While tapping the sternum three times) Accept, Accept, Accept. (With hand on lower abdomen) Forever with me."

Danger, Physical Harm, or Accident. Accidents happen, it's part of life. Sometimes we get injured or land ourselves in dangerous situations. These things are to be expected during our time on earth and shouldn't necessarily be seen as the effects of evil. But if we are labeled "accident prone" or we are facing an onset of frequent incidents individually or as a family that have potential to bring us physical harm, it is likely that a curse is in place.

Clearing the negative:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all curses, hexes, or spells which have been cast upon me or my household with the intent of causing physical harm or danger be null and void. I cancel them out and reject them without argument, along with every thought form, negative energy, or spirit associated with them. I reject their effects and the power which they hold. (While tapping the sternum three times) Cancel, Cancel, Cancel. (With hand over lower abdomen) Forever Cancelled."

Requesting the Positive:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I petition my Heavenly Father, to grant me protection and healing. I request the assistance of guardian angels to surround me and to keep danger from entering my path. I ask that I might become as though invisible to those who would choose to cause me harm. I accept these blessings with praise, love, and gratitude. (While tapping the sternum three times) Accept, Accept, Accept. (With hand on lower abdomen) Forever with me."

Financial Stress. Money can be a tough part of life. The strain it puts on individuals and families is real and felt by most everyone at one time or another. Because Satan is aware of how our finances can affect and even destroy lives, it is a common target for curses and spells.

Clearing the negative:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all darkness, curses, hexes or spells affecting my wealth and finances be null and void. I cancel them out and reject them along with every thought form, negative spirit gift, negative residue or energy, and any spirit associated with them. I reject the lies I once accepted and cancel out negative beliefs I've associated with money. I command that these lies depart as well as the energy they hold. (While tapping the sternum three times) Cancel, Cancel, Cancel. (With hand over the lower abdomen) Forever Cancel.

Requesting the positive:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I petition my Heavenly Father to allow wealth and financial success and peace to flow into my life. I request that my energy, body, mind and spirit be cleared of any remaining negative blocks and lingering darkness. I ask to be filled with positive energy which attracts financial success and a desire to share this newfound wealth and peace with others. (With three taps on the sternum) Accept, Accept, Accept. (With palm over the lower abdomen) Forever with me."

General Curses. Negative spirit gifts, financial hexes, curses for ill health, and physical harm are so prevalent that I felt they ought be addressed individually. Many curses however can be cancelled through a general clearing. This is a clearing which I recommend doing once a week, or more often if you feel the presence of darkness lingering near. It is designed to thwart dark forces and negative energy that we are sent by others both intentionally as well as unintentionally.

Clearing the negative:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, I command that all curses, hexes, or spells and all negative residue which are affecting my body, mind, energy, or spirit, across all dimensions of time, space, and reality, or anything else down to a subatomic level, be cancelled out and become null and void. I cancel them out and reject them, along with every thought form, negative energy, or spirit associated with them. I command that all affects of witchcraft or satanic ritual and any other residual darkness which I gained via intentional or unintentional means be rooted from my being and escorted from my presence, including any failsafe mechanisms which may be in place. (While tapping the sternum three times) Cancel, Cancel, Cancel. (With hand over lower abdomen) Forever Cancel."

Requesting the positive:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I petition my Heavenly Father to fill the void within me with light, love, and peace. I ask to be given a physical, spiritual, and mental overhaul, restoring my body and spirit to the glorious being it was created to be. I gladly offer my will to God and acknowledge His will as the proper guide for my life. I accept these blessings with praise, love, and gratitude. (While tapping the sternum three times) Accept, Accept, Accept. (With palm over lower abdomen) Forever with me."

Final Release: "I choose to release any remaining darkness or negative entities, including any spirits who have been bonded to me or which I am clinging to. I ask that angels of light be allowed to educate and escort away those entities who remain. I send them away with feelings of love and peace and ask that I receive a deposit of pure light and love to enter the place they once filled. I make this plea with faith and gratitude in the name of Jesus Christ."

In some cases we have had darkness or a certain negative entity with us for such a long time that our spirit has nearly accepted it as a part of itself. The final release helps our spirit identify that possibility and exercises our agency to let that darkness go.

It's worth noting that the wording of these commands is not magical; there's nothing special about saying them exactly as written. In fact, I strongly recommend altering the wording if you feel prompted to do so. They are merely a guide, a way to help facilitate the healing that God will bring. God is in charge of all healing. These prayers and commands are simply our way of requesting that healing and acknowledging the power available to us through Jesus Christ. If you are led to say or address things differently, follow those promptings with faith.

Also it's important to note, individuals who have been victims of severe and continual ritual abuse must seek help from spiritual leaders and professional counselors. These clearing commands can help to crack the first layers of darkness, but just as certain physical illness and conditions require the aide of specialists and even surgeons, intensely dark spiritual conditions will need professional help as well. We must never hesitate to reach out for help when we have been victims of severe abuse or satanic ritual. Through prayer and fasting, we can be led to find those best suited to help us when facing these difficult situations.

Send Love

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Colossians 3: 12-15

Our clearing is not complete until we take this next step, sending love.

It's a human tendency to seek revenge. Satan has instilled within the human race feelings of entitlement, resentment, and this crazy concept that things must be "fair". The Biblical reference of "An eye for an eye" is lingering within us. Satan stops us from contemplating on the fact that if God treated us "fairly" we would be ground into dust and left to blow wherever the wind would carry us, with no hope of salvation. Without the grace of God, we are nothing. Even the very best person would still be filthy with sin without the redeeming power and saving grace of Jesus Christ.

The world teaches us that our anger is justified. It teaches us that if someone wrongs us, we have a right to retaliate with equal if not even greater force. Evils are often felt justified by this feeling of entitlement and even responsibility to seek revenge. But the Lord does not condone evil. Anger, hate, and retaliation stem from Satan and separate us from our God.

I'm addressing this now because I believe this concept to be very important in aiding our escape from darkness. It's unfortunately common practice, even among Christians, to try to break a curse by "bouncing it back" to the sender. Perhaps the thought is something similar to "I'll show them! That's what they get for trying to curse me." Fighting a curse with a curse is wrong and will not heal you from darkness. In fact, it's exactly the type of behavior that makes Satan and his followers rejoice. When we wish evil upon those who have caused us harm, we are aligning our hearts with the devil and rejecting the open arms of God.

Jesus taught us the two great commandments, recorded in the New Testament. Mark 12:30-31 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

When we choose to hold anger toward anyone, we break both of these commandments. We cannot fully love the Lord while hating or holding ill will toward any of his children. And we cannot love our neighbor while simultaneously wanting him to suffer for his wrongs.

In Romans we receive beautiful counsel, counsel very pertinent to our day. Romans 12:14 "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." And verse 17: "Recompense to no man evil for evil." We are reminded in verse 19 "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." And the most powerful counsel comes in verse 21: "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

With these truths in mind, we can move on to the next step in the process of breaking away from darkness and witchcraft. We have requested light, love, and healing to enter our body and spirit. The third step radiates this light and love from us and sends it to the world, particularly to those who sent us the darkness in the first place.

Sending Love: Choose a position where you are most comfortable and close your eyes. With eyes closed, visualize yourself in a safe and beautiful place. Breathe deeply and enjoy the beauty around you. Then, ask to be shown the light and love which has been instilled within you during your prayers and clearing. In your visualization, your body will begin to radiate and glow, usually with a brilliant white light. If you are not able to see or sense this light, pause to say a prayer, requesting to be filled with the light and love of the Savior.

State aloud, in your own words, "I choose to extend this love and light to all around me. I ask that it be allowed to radiate from my being and surround those who are near and far. I extend forgiveness to all who have caused me harm and ask specifically that they might be touched with this light and love, allowing them the opportunity to heal from the darkness they hold. I accept the healing power of Jesus Christ and extend to them this same healing. I am love. I am light. I am whole."

Enjoy your safe and beautiful environment for as long as you desire. Take several deep breaths before opening your eyes. Take note of the calm and peaceful feeling you have when finished with this step. When we extend light and love to others, we are filled with an amazing sense of peace and joy.

Keep It Up

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

Mark 13: 13

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. It's the very best day to choose to overcome darkness.

As we strive to live worthy and seek light, we will be blessed with lives filled with greater joy and peace. With time and effort, we can learn to recognize darkness as soon as it begins to enter. We can thwart its efforts through prayer, clearings, and our continual valiance in keeping God's commandments.

As followers of Christ, we have power over evil. We have the authority to call upon his power and light to protect us and to cleanse and heal our lives. It's my hope that we will recognize this great blessing and actively seek to become beings of light and love, no matter who or what may attempt to stand in our way.

We have the responsibility to spread light and love to the world. As we seek to cleanse and receive healing for our own body and spirit, we will become better instruments in the Lord's hands; instruments He can use to lift and inspire all those around us.

We can overcome darkness through the healing power of Jesus Christ. It's my hope that we choose to do so today and continue to do so every day until God sees fit to call us home.

Positive Affirmations to Reinforce Truth and Bring Light

repeat them often and with conviction:

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ

I am worthy of light and love.

I am a child of God. Everything I am and everything I do is a reflection of Him. I choose to create a life of love and light which glorifies God.

I can do all things through Christ.

I am more powerful than any temptation. I choose liberty.

I am beautiful, healthy, and kind.

I attract and embrace light.

I am capable, confident, and amazing.

I am filled with the love of Christ and radiate His love and light to the world.

Melody Litton is a happy and energetic woman. She recently celebrated twelve years of marriage to her favorite person in the world. She is the mother of four "totally insane yet awesome" children. She has seven years of formal religious education as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Utah University where she studied Interpersonal Communication and Sociology.

From the time Melody was very young she has been sensitive to the presence of evil and actively involved in spiritual warfare. It is her hope that this book will bring others to a better understanding of the reality of Satan and his power. And, even more importantly, an understanding of our power to overcome evil through the strength and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Recognize

Live Worthy

Seek Light

Pray

Command

Send Love

Keep it Up

Positive Affirmations