With a Subtitle: A testimony of abuse, spiritual warfare, repentance, and God’s restoring power

A brief Excerpt: This article reflects on abuse, spiritual bondage, repentance, and the hope of restoration through God’s power, prayer, obedience, and spiritual discernment.

The Author is: Ogo Cathern

A Sister’s Cry for Help

There was a sister in my local assembly whose marriage was failing. Over time, her husband had become more and more abusive. Even though she came to church faithfully and served as a worker, she returned home every day to some form of abuse.

Like most people do, she reported her situation to the pastor and elders — desperately looking for a way out of the abuse but not a way out of her marriage. She didn’t want a broken home. And for this, I commend her (and I’ll tell you why soon).

Counsel That Did Not Reach the Root

She was advised by the elders on how to behave and what to do. One lady even told her, “If you choose to stay, just know it may never get better.” So much for having confidence in what God can do. Basically, this sister was receiving the “It is well” cliché — our common church lingo when people genuinely don’t know what to do.

A Prayerful Conversation Opens the Door

But as God will have it, she and I became acquainted, and she invited me out to lunch.

During our time together, she began to tell me everything she had been going through. At first, I was overwhelmed by the information. My flesh began to rise because as a domestic abuse survivor, I had so many responses stored up in my head. But I knew giving her my head knowledge would be a disservice. Praise God, I also knew One who knows all things — and I know my way to Him.

Seeking the Lord for Wisdom in the Moment

As she spoke, I prayed quietly in the Spirit — speaking in tongues under my breath — my heart saying, “Lord, I don’t know how to help this sister. Please tell me what to say or do.”

She kept talking, pouring her heart out, when suddenly she mentioned, “I used to do tarot cards and the Ouija board ….” Immediately, the Holy Spirit said to me, “That is your way in.” My understanding opened. She had invited demons into her home long before the abuse began, and now those same demons were tormenting her family through her husband.

A Spiritual Root Is Revealed

When she finished speaking, I told her what the Holy Spirit revealed and that she would need to cast those demons out of her home.

A few days later, she came over to my house because the Holy Spirit had given me clear instructions on how to cast out the demons from her space.

Why Her Commitment Mattered

Remember how I said she didn’t want a broken home? That was fundamental to the victory she later experienced.

No one achieves victory in anything they are not fully committed to. “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

She was all in. She followed the instruction the Holy Spirit gave, and God restored her marriage. And the most astonishing part? It happened in just 7 days. I was blown away by how swiftly the Holy Spirit moved.

He is so awesome!

Recognizing Spiritual Open Doors

You may not have dabbled in tarot cards or Ouija boards, but there may be an area of your life that is inconsistent with God’s reality — especially if you’ve seen the same pattern repeat in your family line. You may be dealing with a bloodline curse, a curse brought by ignorance, or even an open demonic portal in your home. You must tell yourself the truth and partner with God to expel whatever is not of Him.

Repentance Comes Before Deliverance

Demons are subtle, and they thrive on your ignorance. So to overcome them, start by asking God to forgive your sins. Then invite Him into your heart: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” (Revelation 3:20). After that, ask God to reveal any place where demons may be cohabiting with you. When things begin to rise in your spirit, do not quench them. Remember — a double-minded person receives nothing from God.

Write down anything the Holy Spirit brings up.

Practical Steps for Cleansing the Home

Then take action: throw away any articles connected to darkness. After that, go to a grocery store and purchase a bottle of olive oil. You can consecrate it yourself if you have confessed Christ as Lord and believe in His power to deliver you.

Read these verses on anointing oil and its purpose (Exodus 30:25–30, James 5:14–15).

When you’re ready, pray over the oil like this:

“Dear Lord, according to Your word that says the anointing breaks the yoke, I bring this oil to You. Everything offered to You becomes consecrated. Let Your power come upon this oil to make it pure and anointed — to break every yoke of bondage in my life. Let it also be a seal of protection over whomever or whatever I lay it upon, against demons, to cast them out of my space. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Do Not Return to What God Has Freed You From

Remember — you pray this with the intention of never returning to demonic practices. Scripture warns us about going through deliverance and not allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell in us afterward. Jesus said that when an unclean spirit leaves a person, it seeks rest. If it returns and finds the house “empty, swept, and garnished,” it brings seven spirits more wicked than itself (Matthew 12:43–45).

Anointing the Home in Faith

After praying, begin anointing your home — your doors, windows, and rooms — using Psalm 91 for at least 7 straight days. Seven is the number of completion, and I believe God will do something powerful in your space.