Anna Rose Aguirre, Director

Youth Edition of the Steps to Freedom in Christ

The only way to solve personal and spiritual problems is through our belief in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He alone can meet our deepest needs of life—acceptance, identity, security and significance.

Rather than being another counseling technique, these Steps are meant to be an encounter with God. They are a tool to help you submit to God and resist the devil so you can live a fruitful life by recognizing who you are in Christ.

Many Christians will be able to work through these Steps on their own, but even this experience would be greatly enhanced if you first read Stomping Out the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker Youth Edition. This will help you understand the reality of the spiritual world and your relationship to it, something with which our western world is often unfamiliar.

Others will need assistance in working through these Steps because of the battle that is going on for their minds. The process of taking others through the Steps to Freedom in Christ is explained in the book Leading Teens to Freedom in Christ. Another person can support you in prayer as you work through the issues of applying the wisdom of James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Spiritual freedom is meant for every Christian, young or old. Being “free in Christ” is to have the desire and power to worship God and do His will. It is to know God’s truth, believe God’s truth and live according to God’s truth. It is to walk with God in the power of the Holy Spirit and to experience a life of love, joy and peace. It is not a life of perfection, but progress! All these qualities may not be yours now, but they are meant for everyone who is in Christ.

If you have received Christ as your Savior, He has already set you free through His victory over sin and death on the cross. However, experiencing our freedom in Christ through repentance and faith and maintaining our life of freedom in Christ are two different issues. Establishing people free in Christ makes it possible for them to walk by faith according to what God says is true and live by the power of the Holy Spirit and not carry out the desires of the sinful nature (see Galatians 5:16). But if freedom is not a constant reality for you, it may be because you do not understand how Christ can help you deal with the pain of your past or the problems of your present life. It is your responsibility as one who knows Christ to do whatever is needed to maintain a right relationship with God and others. Your eternal life is not at stake; you are safe and secure in Christ. But your daily victory is at stake if you fail to understand who you are in Christ and live according to that truth.

We’ve got great news for you! You are not a helpless victim caught between two nearly equal but opposite heavenly superpowers, God and Satan. Only God is all-powerful, always-present and all-knowing. Sometimes, however, the presence and power of sin and evil in our lives can seem more real to us than the presence and power of God. But that is part of Satan’s tricky lie. Satan is a deceiver, and he wants you to think he is stronger than he really is. But he is also a defeated enemy and you are, in Christ, the victor. Understanding who God is and who you are in Christ are the two most important factors in determining your daily victory over sin and Satan. The greatest causes of spiritual defeat are false beliefs about God, not understanding who you are as a child of God and making Satan out to be as powerful and present as God is.

The battle is for your mind. You may experience nagging thoughts like, This isn’t going to work or God doesn’t love me. These thoughts are lies, implanted in your mind by deceiving spirits. If you believe them, you will really struggle as you work through these Steps. These opposing thoughts can control you only if you believe them.

If you are working through these Steps by yourself, don’t pay attention to any lying or threatening thoughts in your mind. If you’re working through the Steps with a youth pastor, pastor or counselor (which we strongly recommend), then share any opposing thought with that person. Whenever you uncover a lie and choose to believe the truth, the power of Satan is broken.

You must cooperate with the person who is trying to help you. Do this by sharing what is going on inside your mind. Also, if you experience any physical discomfort (e.g., headache, nausea, tightness in the throat, etc.), don’t be alarmed. Just tell the person you are with so he/she can pray for you.

As believers in Christ, we can pray with authority to stop any interference by Satan. Here is a prayer and declaration to get you started. All prayers and declarations throughout the Steps should be read aloud.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We know that You are always here and present in our lives. You are the only all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God. We desperately need You, because without Jesus we can do nothing. We believe the Bible because it tells us what is really true. We refuse to believe the lies of Satan. We stand in the truth that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the resurrected Christ. Because we are in Christ, we share His authority in order to make followers of Jesus and set captives free. We ask You to protect our thoughts and minds and lead us into all truth. We choose to submit to the Holy Spirit. Please reveal to our minds everything You want to deal with today. We ask for and trust in Your wisdom. We pray for Your complete protection over us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Declaration:

In the name and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command Satan and all evil spirits to let go of (name) in order that (name) can be free to know and choose to do the will of God. As children of God, seated with Christ in the heavenlies, we agree that every enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ be bound to silence. We say to Satan and all of his evil workers that you cannot inflict any pain or in any way stop or hinder God’s will from being done today in (name’s) life.

Here are seven steps to help you be free from your past. You will cover the areas where Satan most often takes advantage of us and where strongholds have been built. Christ purchased your victory when He shed His blood for you on the cross. You will experience your freedom when you make the choice to believe, confess, forgive, renounce and forsake. No one can do that for you. The battle for your mind can only be won as you personally choose truth.

As you go through these Steps to Freedom in Christ, remember that Satan cannot read your mind; thus he won’t obey your thoughts. Only God knows what you are thinking. As you go through each Step, it is important that you submit to God inwardly and resist the devil by reading aloud each prayer—verbally renouncing, forgiving, confessing, etc.

You are going to be taking a thorough look at your life in order to get radically right with God. If it turns out that you have another kind of problem that is negatively affecting your life and is not covered in these Steps, you will have lost nothing. If you are open and honest during this time, you will greatly benefit anyway by becoming right with God and close to Him again.

May the Lord greatly touch your life during this time. He will give you the strength to make it through. It is essential that you work through all seven Steps, so don’t allow yourself to become discouraged and give up. Remember, the freedom that Christ purchased for all believers on the cross is meant for you!

Step One: Counterfeit vs. Real

The first step toward experiencing your freedom in Christ is to renounce—to reject and turn your back on all past, present and future involvement with—any participation in satanic-inspired occult practices, things done in secret or non-Christian religions. You must renounce any activity or group that denies Jesus Christ, offers direction through any source other than the absolute authority of the written Word of God, or requires secret initiations, ceremonies, promises, pacts or covenants. Begin with the following prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask You to guard my heart and my mind and to reveal to me anything that I have done or that anyone has done to me which is spiritually wrong. Reveal to my mind any and all involvement I have knowingly or unknowingly had with cult or occult practices, and/or false teachers. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Even if you took part in something as a game or as a joke, you need to renounce it. Satan will try to take advantage of anything he can in our lives. Even if you just stood by and watched others do it, you need to renounce it. Even if you did it just once and had no idea it was evil, still you need to renounce it. You want to remove any and every possible foothold of Satan in your life.

Non-Christian Spiritual Experiences Checklist

(Please check all those that apply to you.)

q   Out-of-body experience (astral projection)

q   Bloody Mary and other occult games

q   Table or body lifting (Light-as-a-Feather)

q   Magic Eight Ball

q   Ouija board

q   Using spells or curses

q   Chants/mantras

q   Mental control of others

q   Automatic writing

q   Spirit guides

q   Fortune-telling/tarot cards

q   Palm reading/tea leaves

q   Astrology/horoscopes

q   Hypnosis

q   Seances

q   Black or white magic

q   Dungeons and Dragons or other fantasy role-playing games such as Magic

q   Video or computer games involving occult powers or cruel violence

q   Blood pacts or cutting yourself on purpose

q   Objects of worship/good luck charms

q   Superstitions

q   Sexual spirits

q   New Age medicine (use of crystals)

q   Idolizing rock stars, actors/actresses, sports heroes, etc.

q   Other __________

q   Masons

q   Christian Science

q   Science of the Mind

q   Science of Creative Intelligence

q   The Way International

q   Unification Church (Moonies)

q   The Forum (EST)

q   Church of the Living Word

q   Children of God (Children of Love)

q   Mormonism

q   Jehovah’s Witnesses

q   Scientology

q   Unitarianism

q   Roy Masters

q   Silva Mind Control

q   Transcendental Meditation (TM)

q   Yoga

q   Hare Krishna

q   Hinduism

q   Bahaism

q   New Age

q   Islam

q   Muslim/Black Muslim

q   Martial arts involving Eastern mysticism, meditation or devotion to sensei

q   Buddhism, including Zen

q   Rosicrucianism

q   Native American spirit worship

NOTE: This is not a complete list. If you have any doubts about an activity not included here, renounce your involvement in it. If it has come to mind here, trust that the Lord wants you to renounce it.

List below those things that especially glorified Satan, caused fear or nightmares, or were gruesomely violent.

1.  Have you ever heard, seen or felt an evil spiritual presence in your room or somewhere else?

2.  Do you or have you had an imaginary friend, spirit guide or angel offering you guidance and companionship?

3.  Have you ever heard voices in your head or had repeating negative, nagging thoughts such as I’m dumb, I’m ugly, Nobody loves me, I can’t do anything right, etc. as if a conversation were going on in your head? Explain.

4.  Have you ever consulted a medium, spiritist or channeler?

5.  What other spiritual experiences have you had that would be considered out of the ordinary—know something supernaturally, special spiritual gifts, contact with aliens, etc.?

6.  Have you ever been involved in satanic worship of any kind or attended a concert at which Satan was the focus?

7.  Have you ever made a vow or pact?

Once you have completed the above checklist, confess and renounce each item you were involved in by praying aloud the following prayer, repeating the prayer separately for each item on your list:

Lord, I confess that I have participated in __________. I renounce any and all influence and involvement with __________ and thank you that in Christ I am forgiven.

Step Two: Deception vs. Truth

God’s Word is true, and we need to accept the truth deep in our hearts (see Psalm 51:6). What God says is true whether we feel it is true or not!

Jesus is the truth (see John 14:6), the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (see John 16:13), and the Word of God is truth (see John 17:17). We ought to speak the truth in love (see Ephes. 4:15). The believer in Christ has no business deceiving others either by lying, exaggerating, telling little lies or stretching the truth. Satan is the father of lies (see John 8:44) and he seeks to keep people in bondage through deception (see Rev. 12:9; 2 Tim. 2:26), but it is the truth in Jesus that sets us free (see John 8:32-36).

We will find real joy and freedom when we stop living a lie and walk openly in the truth. King David wrote, after confessing his sin, “Blessed is the man…in whose spirit is no deceit” (Psalm 32:2).

How can we find the strength to walk in the light (see 1 John 1:7-9)? When we are sure that God loves and accepts us, we can be free to own up to our sin, face reality and not run or hide from painful circumstances.

Start this step by praying the following prayer aloud. Don’t let any opposing thoughts such as, This is a waste of time or I wish I could believe this stuff but I just can’t keep you from praying and choosing the truth. Belief is a choice. If you choose to believe what you feel, then Satan, the father of lies, will keep you in bondage. You must choose to believe what God says, regardless of what your feelings might say. Even if you have a hard time doing so, pray the following prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I know You want me to face the truth, and that I must be honest with You. I know that choosing to believe the truth will set me free. I have been deceived by Satan and I have deceived myself. I thought I could hide from You, but You see everything and still love me. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, asking You to rebuke all of Satan’s demons that are deceiving me. By faith I have received You into my life and am now seated with Christ in the heavenlies (see Ephes. 2:6). I acknowledge that I have the responsibility to submit to You and the authority to resist the devil and when I do, he will flee from me (see James 4:7).

Since You accept me just as I am in Christ, I can be free to face my sin. I ask for the Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth. I ask You to “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23, 24). In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

There are many ways in which Satan, the god of this world (see 2 Cor. 4:4), seeks to deceive us. Just as he did with Eve, the devil tries to convince us to rely on ourselves and to try to get our needs met through the world around us, rather than trusting in our Father in heaven. Place a check beside each type of deception that applies to you:

Ways You Can Be Deceived by the World

q   Believing that accumulating money and possessions will bring happiness (see Matthew 13:22; 1 Tim. 6:10)

q   Believing that eating food and drinking alcohol without restraint will make you happy (see Proverbs 20:1; Proverbs 23:19-21)

q   Believing that a sexy, attractive body and personality will get you what you want or need (see Proverbs 31:10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4)

q   Believing that gratifying sexual lust will bring true fulfillment (see Ephes. 4:22; 1 Peter 2:11)

q   Believing that you can sin and get away with it and not have it affect your heart and character (see Hebrews 3:12, 13)

q   Believing that your needs cannot be totally taken care of by God (see 2 Cor. 11:2-4, 13-15)

q   Believing that you are important and strong, you can do whatever you want and no one can touch you (see Obadiah 3; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 16:18)

Use the following prayer of confession for each item that you have believed. Pray through each item separately.

Lord, I confess that I have been deceived by __________. I thank You for Your forgiveness and I commit myself to believing only Your truth. Amen.

It is important to know that in addition to being deceived by the world, false teachers and deceiving spirits, you can also fool yourself. Now that you are alive in Christ, forgiven and totally accepted, you don’t need to live a lie or defend yourself like you used to. Christ is now your truth and defense. Check each of the following statements that apply to your life.

Ways You Can Deceive Yourself

q   Hearing God’s Word but not always doing it (see James 1:22; James 4:7)

q   Saying you have no sin (see 1 John 1:8)

q   Thinking you are something you’re not (see Galatians 6:3)

q   Thinking you are wise in the things of the world (see 1 Cor. 3:18, 19)

q   Thinking you can be a good Christian and still hurt others by what you say (see James 1:22)

q   Thinking your secret sin—such as pornography, voyeurism, hatred, etc.—will only hurt you and will not hurt others (see Exodus 20:4, 5)

Use the following prayer of confession for each item above that you have believed. Pray through each item separately.

Lord, I confess that I have deceived myself by __________. I thank You for Your forgiveness and commit myself to believing Your truth.

Wrong Ways of Defending Yourself

q   Refusing to face the bad things that have happened to you (denial of reality)

q   Escaping from the real world through daydreaming, TV, movies, computer or video games, music, etc. (fantasy)

q   Withdrawing from people to avoid rejection (emotional insulation)

q   Reverting (going back) to a less threatening time of life (regression)

q   Taking out frustrations on others (displaced anger)

q   Blaming others for your problems (projection)

q   Making excuses for poor behavior (rationalization)

Use the following prayer of confession for each item above that you have participated in. Pray through each item separately.

Lord, I confess that I have defended myself wrongly by __________. I thank You for Your forgiveness and commit myself to trusting in You to defend and protect me.

If you are not experiencing that close relationship with your heavenly Father, it may be because of lies that you have believed about Him.

Choosing the truth may be difficult if you have been living a lie and have been deceived for some time. The Christian needs only one defense, Jesus. Knowing that you are completely forgiven and accepted as God’s child sets you free to face reality and declare your total dependence upon Him.

Faith is the biblical response to the truth, and believing the truth is a choice we can all make. If you say, “I want to believe God, but I just can’t,” you are being deceived. Of course you can believe God because what God says is always true.

Faith is something you decide to do, whether or not you feel like doing it. Believing the truth doesn’t make it true, however. It’s true; therefore, we believe it.

The New Age movement twists the truth by saying that we create reality through what we believe. We can’t create reality with our minds. We face reality with our minds. Simply “having faith” is not the key issue here. It’s what or who you believe in that makes the difference. You see, everybody believes in something and everybody lives according to what he or she believes. The question is: Is the object of your faith trustworthy? If what you believe is not true, then how you live will not be right.

For centuries, Christians have known that it is important to tell others what they believe. Read aloud the following Statements of Truth, thinking about the words as you read them. Read it every day for several weeks. This will help you renew your mind and replace any lies you have believed with the truth.

Statements of Truth

I believe there is only one true and living God (see Exodus 20:2, 3) who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is worthy of all honor, praise and glory. I believe that He made all things and holds all things together (see Col. 1:16, 17).

I recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Word who became flesh and lived with us (see John 1:1, 14). I believe He came to destroy the works of Satan (see 1 John 3:8), that He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public display of them, having triumphed over them (see Col. 2:15).

I believe that God showed His love for me by having Jesus die for me, even though I was sinful (see Romans 5:8). I believe that God rescued me from the dark power of Satan and brought me into the kingdom of His Son, who forgives my sins and sets me free (see Col. 1:13, 14).

I believe I am spiritually strong because Jesus is my strength. I have authority to stand against Satan because I am God’s child (see 1 John 3:1-3). I believe that I was saved by the grace of God through faith, that it was a gift and not the result of any works of mine (see Ephes. 2:8, 9).

I choose to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (see Ephes. 6:10). I put no confidence in the flesh (see Phil. 3:3) because my weapons of spiritual battle are not of the flesh but are powerful through God for the tearing down of Satan’s strongholds (see 2 Cor. 10:4). I put on the whole armor of God (see Ephes. 6:10-20), and I resolve to stand firm in my faith and resist the evil one (see 1 Peter 5:8, 9).

I believe that apart from Christ I can do nothing (see John 15:5), yet I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (see Phil. 4:13). Therefore, I choose to rely totally on Christ. I choose to abide in Christ in order to bear much fruit and glorify the Lord (see John 15:8). I announce to Satan that Jesus is my Lord (see 1 Cor. 12:3), and I reject any counterfeit gifts or works of Satan in my life.

I believe that the truth will set me free (see John 8:32). I stand against Satan's lies by taking every thought captive in obedience to Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:5). I believe that the Bible is the only reliable guide for my life (see 2 Tim. 3:15, 16). I choose to speak the truth in love (see Eph.. 4:15).

I choose to present my body as an instrument of righteousness, a living and holy sacrifice, and to renew my mind with God’s Word (see Romans 6:13; Romans 12:1, 2). I put off the old self with its evil practices and put on the new self (see Col. 3:9, 10). I am a new creation in Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:17).

I trust my Heavenly Father to direct my life and give me power to live by the Holy Spirit (see Eph. 5:18), so that He can guide me into all truth (see John 16:13). I believe He will give me strength to live above sin and not carry out the desires of my flesh. I crucify the flesh, choose to be led by the Holy Spirit and obey Him (see Galatians 5:16, 24).

I renounce all selfish goals and choose the greatest goal of love (see 1 Tim. 1:5). I choose to obey the two greatest commandments: to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind and to love my neighbor as myself (see Matthew 22:37-39).

I believe that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (see Matthew 28:18) and that He rules over everything (see Col. 2:10). I believe that Satan and his demons have been defeated by Christ and are subject to me since I am a member of Christ’s Body (see Eph. 1:19, 20; Eph. 2:6). Therefore, I obey the command to submit to God and to resist the devil (see James 4:7) and I command Satan, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave my presence.

Step Three: Bitterness vs. Forgiveness

When you fail to forgive those who hurt you, you become a wide-open target for Satan. God commands us to forgive others as we have been forgiven (see Eph. 4:32). You need to obey this command so that Satan can’t take advantage of you (see 2 Cor. 2:10, 11). Christians are to forgive others and show them mercy because our heavenly Father has shown mercy to us (see Luke 6:36). Ask God to bring to your mind the names of those people you need to forgive by praying the following prayer aloud. Remember to let this prayer come from your heart as well as your mouth!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You for Your great kindness and patience which has led me to turn from my sins (see Romans 2:4). I know I have not always been completely kind, patient and loving toward those who have hurt me. I have had bad thoughts and feelings toward them. I ask You to bring to my mind all the people I need to forgive (see Matthew 18:35). I ask You to bring to the surface all my painful memories so I can choose to forgive these people from my heart. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus who has forgiven me and who will heal me from my hurts. Amen.

On a sheet of paper, make a list of the people who come to your mind. At this point, don’t question whether you need to forgive a certain person or not. If a name comes to your mind, write it down.

Finally, write “myself” at the bottom of the list. Forgiving yourself means accepting God’s cleansing and forgiveness. Also write “thoughts against God.” We sometimes harbor angry thoughts toward God. We can expect or even demand that He act in a certain way in our lives, and when He doesn’t do what we want in the way we want, we can get angry. Those feelings can become a wall between us and God, and even though we don’t actually need to forgive Him because He is perfect, we do need to let those feelings go.

Forgiveness is not forgetting. People who want to be able to forget all their pain before they get around to forgiving others usually find they cannot. God commands us to forgive now. Confusion sometimes arises because Scripture says that God will remember our sins no more (see Hebrews 10:17). But God knows everything and can’t forget as if He had no memory of our sin. His promise is that He will never use our past against us (see Psalm 103:10). The key issue is this: We may not be able to forget our past, but we can be free from it by forgiving others. When we bring up the past and use it against others, we are showing that we have not yet forgiven them (see Mark 11:25).

Forgiveness is a choice, a decision of the will. Since God requires us to forgive, it is something we can do. Forgiveness seems hard because it pulls against our sense of what is right and fair. We naturally want revenge for the things we have suffered. But we are told by God never to take our own revenge (see Romans 12:19). You might be thinking Why should I let them off the hook? And that is exactly the problem! As long as you do not forgive, you are still hooked to those who hurt you! You are still chained to your past. By forgiving, you let them off your hook, but they are not off God’s hook. We must trust Him to deal with the other person justly, fairly and mercifully—something we cannot do.

You say, “But you don’t know how much this person hurt me.” But until you let go of your hate and anger, they will continue to be able to hurt you. You finally stop the pain by forgiving them. You forgive for your sake, so that you can be free. Forgiveness is mainly an issue of obedience between you and God. God wants you to be free; this is the only way.

Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another person’s sin. Forgiveness costs you something. You choose to pay the price for the evil you forgive. But you will live with the consequences whether you want to or not. Your only choice is whether you will do so in the bondage of bitterness or in the freedom of forgiveness. Of course, Jesus took the eternal consequences of all sin upon Himself. God “made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). We need, however, to accept the temporary consequences of what was done to us. But no one truly forgives without suffering the pain of another’s sin. That can seem unfair and we wonder, where is the justice? It is found at the Cross, which makes forgiveness legally and morally right. As those who crucified Jesus mocked and jeered, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

How do you forgive from your heart? You allow God to bring to the surface the mental agony, emotional pain and feelings of hurt towards those who hurt you. If your forgiveness does not reach down to the emotional core of your life, it will be incomplete. Too often we try to bury the pain inside us, making it hard to get in touch with how we really feel. Though we may not know how to or even want to bring our feelings to the surface, God does. Let God bring the pain to the surface so that He can deal with it. This is where God’s gentle healing process begins.

Forgiveness is the decision not to use their offenses against them. It is not unusual for us to remember a past, hurtful event and find the anger and hate we felt returning. It is tempting to bring up the issue with the one who hurt us in order to make that person feel bad. But we must choose to take that thought of revenge captive to the obedience of Christ and choose to maintain forgiveness. This doesn’t mean that you must continue to put up with the future sins of others. God does not tolerate sin and neither should you. Nor should you put yourself in the position of being continually abused and hurt by the sins of others. You need to take a stand against sin while continuing to forgive those who hurt you.

Don’t wait to forgive until you feel like forgiving. You will never get there. Your emotions will begin to heal once you have obeyed God’s command to forgive. Satan will have lost his power over you in that area, and God’s healing touch will take over. For now, it is freedom that will be gained, not necessarily a feeling.

As you pray, God may bring to mind painful memories that you had totally forgotten. Let Him do this, even if it hurts. God wants you to be free; forgiving these people is the only way. Don’t try to excuse the offender’s behavior, even if it is someone close to you.

Remember, forgiveness is dealing with your own pain and leaving the other person to deal with God. Good feelings will follow in time. Freeing yourself from the past is the critical issue right now.

Don’t say, “Lord, please help me to forgive.” He is already helping you and will be with you all the way through the process. Don’t say, “Lord, I want to forgive” because that bypasses the hard choice we have to make. Say, “Lord, I forgive.” As you move down your list, focus on each individual until you are sure you have dealt with all the remembered pain, everything the person did that hurt you, and how it made you feel: rejected, unloved, unworthy, dirty, etc.

It’s time to begin. For each person on your list, pray aloud:

Lord, I forgive (name the person) for (say what they did to hurt you; be specific), even though it made me feel (share the painful memories or feelings).

Once you have dealt with every offense that has come to your mind and you have honestly expressed how that person hurt you, then conclude by praying:

Lord, I choose not to hold any of these things against (name) any longer. I thank You for setting me free from the bondage of my bitterness toward him/her. I choose now to ask You to bless (name). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Step Four: Rebellion vs. Submission

We live in rebellious times. Often young people today don’t respect people who God has placed in authority over them. You may have a problem living in submission to authority. You can easily be deceived into thinking that those in authority over you are robbing you of your freedom. In reality, however, God has placed them there for your protection.

Rebelling against God and His authorities is serious business. It gives Satan an opportunity to attack you. Submission is the only solution. God requires more of you, however, than just the outward appearance of submission. He wants you to sincerely submit to your authorities (especially parents) from the heart. Your commanding general, the Lord Jesus Christ, is telling you to “get into ranks and follow Me!” He promises that He will not lead you into temptation, but will deliver you from evil (see Matthew 6:13).

The Bible makes it clear that we have two main responsibilities toward those in authority over us: to pray for them and to submit to them. Pray the following prayer aloud from your heart.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have said in the Bible that rebellion is the same thing as witchcraft, and being self-willed is like serving false gods (see 1 Samuel 15:23). I know that I have disobeyed and rebelled in my heart against You and those You have placed in authority over me. I thank You for Your forgiveness of my rebellion. By the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that all doors that I opened to evil spirits through my rebellion would now be closed. I pray that You will show me all the ways I have been rebellious. I now choose to adopt a submissive spirit and servant’s heart. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

Rebellion will often be expressed through an uncooperative attitude and a critical spirit. The following actions are some possibilities of rebellion. Check those that apply to the different authorities in your life.

q   Refusing to obey or follow legitimate instructions

q   Ignoring instructions or requirements or adjusting them to suit myself

q   Believing it is my right to criticize those in authority over me

q   Making critical statements about authority figures

q   Rejecting the advice of others who have experience and wisdom

q   Finding fault easily with a person, group or organization, particularly those in authority

q   Reading a negative bias into things that others say or do

q   Passing along negative information to others who are not part of the problem or solution

q   Withdrawing from communications with others (often shown by short, clipped responses or silence)

q   Speaking disrespectfully to another person or about another person

q   Having to have the last words in a conversation

Lord, I agree with You that I have been rebellious by __________. Thank you for forgiving me for my rebellion.

We are all told to submit to one another as equals in Christ (see Ephes. 5:21). In addition, however, God uses specific lines of authority to protect us and give order to our daily lives. Being under authority is an act of faith! By submitting, we are trusting God to work through His lines of authority. Place a check beside any of the following to which you have been rebellious:

q   Civil government, including traffic laws, drinking laws, etc. (see Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17)

q   Parents, stepparents or legal guardians (see Ephes. 6:1-3)

q   Teachers, coaches and school officials (see Romans 13:1-4)

q   Your boss (see 1 Peter 2:18-23)

q   Husband (see 1 Peter 3:1-5) or wife (see Ephes. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:7). Note to husbands: Take a moment and ask the Lord if your lack of love for your wife could be fostering a rebellious spirit within her. If so, confess that now as a violation of Ephes. 5:22, 23.

q   Church leaders: pastor, youth pastor, Sunday School teacher (see Hebrews 13:17)

q   God (see Daniel 9:5, 9)

Use the following prayer to ask the Lord to forgive you for those times you have been rebellious in attitude or actions:

Lord, I agree with You that I have been rebellious toward (authority) by (action). Thank You for forgiving my rebellion. I choose to be submissive and to treat others with kindness and respect. In Jesus’ name, amen.

At times parents, teachers, employers and other authority figures may abuse their authority and break the laws which are ordained by God for the protection of innocent people. In those cases, you need to seek help from a higher authority for your protection. The laws in your state may require you to report such abuse to the police or other protective agencies. If there is continuing abuse—physical, mental, emotional or sexual—at home or anywhere else, counseling may be needed to change the situation. If someone abuses their authority by asking you to break God’s law or compromise yourself, you need to obey God rather than man (see Acts 4:19, 20).

Step Five: Pride vs. Humility

Pride is a killer. Pride says, “I can do it! I can get myself out of this mess without God or anyone else’s help.” Oh, no, we can’t! We absolutely need God and we desperately need each other. Paul wrote, “For it is we…who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3).

Humility is confidence properly placed in God. We are to be “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephes. 6:10). James 4:6-10; and 1 Peter 5:1-10 tell us that spiritual problems will follow when we are proud. Use the following prayer to express your commitment to live humbly before God:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have said that pride goes before destruction and an arrogant spirit before a fall (see Proverbs 16:18). I confess that I have been thinking mainly of myself and not of others. I have not denied myself, picked up my cross daily and followed You (see Matthew 16:24). As a result, I have given ground to the enemy in my life. I have believed that I could be successful by living according to my own power and resources.

I now confess that I have sinned against You by placing my will before Yours and by centering my life around myself instead of You. I renounce my pride and my selfishness and close any doors I’ve opened in my life or physical body to the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. I choose to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance so that I can do Your will.

I give my heart to You and stand against all of Satan’s attacks. I ask You to show me how to live for others. I now choose to make others more important than me and to make You the most important Person of all in my life (see Romans 12:10; Matthew 6:33). Please show me specifically now the ways in which I have lived pridefully. I ask this in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Having made that commitment in prayer, now allow God to show you any specific areas of your life where you have been prideful, such as:

q   I have a stronger desire to do my will than God’s will.

q   I rely on my own strengths and abilities rather than on God’s.

q   I too often think my ideas are better than other people’s ideas.

q   I want to control how others act rather than develop self-control.

q   I sometimes consider myself more important than others.

q   I have a tendency to think I don’t need other people.

q   I find it difficult to admit when I am wrong.

q   I am more likely to be a people-pleaser than a God-pleaser.

q   I am overly concerned about getting credit for doing good things.

q   I often think I am more humble than others.

q   I often think I am smarter than my parents.

q   I often feel my needs are more important than other people’s needs.

q   I consider myself better than others because of my academic, artistic or athletic abilities and accomplishments.

q   Other _____________________

For each of the above areas that has been true in your life, pray aloud:

Lord, I agree I have been prideful in the area of __________. Thank You for forgiving me for this pridefulness. I choose to humble myself and place all my confidence in You. Amen.

Step Six: Bondage vs. Freedom

The next Step to Freedom deals with the sins that have become habits in your life. If you have been caught in the vicious cycle of sin-confess-sin-confess, realize that the road to victory is sin-confess-resist (see James 4:7). Habitual sin often requires help from a trusted brother or sister in Christ. James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Seek out a stronger Christian who will lift you up in prayer and hold you accountable in your areas of weakness.

Sometimes the assurance of 1 John 1:9 is sufficient: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Remember, confession is not saying “I’m sorry”; it’s openly admitting “I did it.” Whether you need the help of others or just the accountability to God, pray the following prayer aloud:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have told us to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and not to think about how to gratify sinful desires (see Romans 13:14). I agree that I have given in to sinful desires which wage war against my soul (1 Peter 2:11).

I thank You that in Christ my sins are forgiven, but I have broken Your holy law and given the devil an opportunity to wage war in my body (see Romans 6:12, 13; James 4:1; 1 Peter 5:8). I come before Your presence now to admit these sins and to seek Your cleansing (see 1 John 1:9), that I may be freed from the bondage of sin. I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have broken Your moral law and grieved the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

There are many habitual sins that can control us. The following list contains some of the more common sins of the flesh. Look through the following list and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your mind which ones from the past or the present you need to confess. He may bring to mind others that are not here. For each one God reveals, pray the following prayer of confession from the heart.

q   Stealing/shoplifting

q   Lying

q   Fighting

q   Quarreling/arguing

q   Hatred

q   Jealousy/envy

q   Anger

q   Complaining/criticism

q   Depression/hopelessness

q   Impure thoughts

q   Eagerness for lustful pleasure

q   Cheating

q   Gossip/slander

q   Procrastination—putting things off

q   Swearing

q   Greed/materialism

q   Apathy/laziness

q   Other __________

Lord, I admit that I have committed the sin of __________. I thank You for Your forgiveness and cleansing. I turn away from this sin and turn to You, Lord. Strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit to obey You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

It is our responsibility to take control over sin in our bodies. We must not use our bodies or someone else’s as an instrument of unrighteousness (see Romans 6:12, 13). If you are or have been struggling with sexual sins such as pornography, masturbation, heavy petting, heavy kissing, oral sex, same-sex relationships, voyeurism, phone sex, computer/internet sex or sexual intercourse, pray as follows:

Lord, I ask You to reveal to my mind every sexual use of my body as an instrument of unrighteousness. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

As the Lord brings to your mind every sexual use of your body, whether it was done to you (i.e., rape, incest or any other form of sexual abuse) or willingly by you, renounce every occasion:

Lord, I renounce (name the specific misuse of your body) with (name the person involved) and I ask You to break that sinful bond with (name).

After you have completed this exercise, commit your body to the Lord by praying aloud from your heart:

Lord, I renounce all these uses of my body as an instrument of unrighteousness and ask you to break all bondages Satan has brought into my life through my involvement. I admit my participation. Lord, I choose to present my eyes, my mouth, my mind, my hands and feet, my whole body to You as instruments of righteousness. I now present my body to You as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You, and I choose to reserve the sexual use of my body for marriage only (see Hebrews 13:4).

I reject the lie of Satan that my body is not clean or that it is dirty or in any way unacceptable to You as a result of my past sexual experiences. Lord, I thank You that You have totally cleansed and forgiven me and that You love me just as I am. Therefore, I can accept myself and my body as cleansed in Your eyes. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Step Seven: Curses vs. Blessings

The last step to freedom is to renounce the sins of your ancestors and any curses which may have been placed on you. In giving the Ten Commandments, God said, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:4, 5).

Demonic or familiar spirits can be passed on from one generation to the next if you don’t renounce the sins of your ancestors and claim your new spiritual heritage in Christ. You are not guilty for the sin of any ancestor, but because of their sins, Satan may have gained access to your family.

Some problems, of course, are hereditary or acquired from an immoral environment. But other problems can be the result of generational sin. All three conditions can contribute toward causing someone to struggle with a particular sin.

Ask the Lord to show you specifically what sins are characteristic of your family by praying the following prayer. Then list those sins in the space provided below.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask You to reveal to my mind all the sins of my ancestors that are being passed down through family lines. I want to be free from those influences and walk in my new identity as a child of God. Amen.

As the Lord brings those areas of family sins to your mind, list them below.

You will be specifically renouncing them later in this step.

1.

2.

3.

4.

In addition, deceived and evil people may try to curse you, or satanic groups may try to target you. You have all the authority and protection you need in Christ to stand against such curses. In order to walk free from the sins of your ancestors and any demonic influences, read the following declaration and pray the following prayer aloud. Let the words come from your heart as you remember the authority you have in Christ Jesus.

Declaration

I here and now reject and disown all the sins of my ancestors. I specifically renounce the sins of (list here the areas of family sin the Lord revealed to you). As one who has been delivered from the domain of darkness and placed into the kingdom of God’s Son, I cancel out all demonic working that was passed down to me from my family. As one who is crucified and raised with Jesus Christ and who sits with Him in heavenly places, I renounce all satanic assignments that are directed toward me and my ministry. I cancel out every curse that Satan and his workers have put on me. I announce to Satan and all his forces that Christ became a curse for me (see Galatians 3:13) when He died for my sins on the cross. I reject any and every way in which Satan may claim ownership of me.

I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who purchased me with His own blood. I reject all the blood sacrifices whereby Satan may claim ownership of me. I declare myself to be eternally and completely signed over and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. By the authority that I have in Jesus Christ, I now command every familiar spirit and every enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ that is influencing me to leave my presence. I commit myself to my Heavenly Father to do His will from this day forward.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You as Your child, purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Lord of the universe and the Lord of my life. I submit my body to You as an instrument of righteousness, a living sacrifice, that I may glorify You in my body. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit to lead and empower me to know and do Your will. I commit myself to the renewing of my mind in order to prove that Your will is good, perfect and acceptable for me. All this I do in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Maintaining Your Freedom

Now that you have gone through these seven steps, you may find demonic influences attempting to gain control of your mind again days or even months later. One person shared that she heard a spirit say to her mind, “I’m back” two days after she had been set free. “No, you’re not!” she proclaimed aloud. The attack stopped immediately.

The devil is attracted to sin like flies are attracted to garbage. Get rid of the garbage and the flies will depart for smellier places. In the same way, walk in the truth, confessing all sin and forgiving those who hurt you, and the devil will have no place in your life to set up shop.

Realize that one victory does not mean the battles are over. After completing the steps, one happy girl asked, “Will I always be like this?” I told her that she would stay free as long as she remained in right relationship with God. “Even if you slip and fall,” I encouraged, “you know how to get right with God again.”

One victim of incredible abuse shared this illustration: “It’s like being forced to play a game with an ugly stranger in my own home. I kept losing and wanted to quit, but the ugly stranger wouldn’t let me. Finally I called the police, a higher authority, and they came and escorted the stranger out. He knocked on the door trying to regain entry, but this time I recognized his voice and didn’t let him in.”

What a beautiful illustration of gaining freedom in Christ. We call upon Jesus, the final and most powerful authority, and He escorts the powers of darkness out of our lives.

Freedom must be maintained. We cannot emphasize that point enough. You have won a very important battle in an ongoing war. Freedom will remain yours as long as you keep choosing truth and standing firm in the strength of the Lord. If new memories should surface, if you become aware of lies you have believed or other non-Christian experiences you have had, renounce them and choose the truth. If you realize that there are some other people you need to forgive, Step Three will remind you of what to do. Most people have found it helpful to walk through the Steps to Freedom in Christ again. As you do, read the instructions carefully.

We recommend that you read the book Stomping Out the Darkness to strengthen your understanding of your identity in Christ. The Bondage Breaker Youth Edition will help you overcome spiritual problems. If you struggle with sexual bondage or desire to learn more about friendships and dating, we recommend Purity Under Pressure. To maintain your freedom, we strongly suggest the following as well:

•  Get involved in a loving church youth group or Bible study where you can be open and honest with other believers your age.

•  Study your Bible daily. There are many great youth Bibles around for you to use. Begin to get into God’s Word and memorize key verses. Remember it is the truth that sets you free and it is the truth that keeps you free! You may want to say the Statements of Truth aloud daily and study the verses. In addition, the youth devotionals Extreme Faith, Reality Check, Awesome God and Ultimate Love have been developed especially for you.

•  Learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Assume responsibility for your thought life. Don’t let your mind go passive. Reject all lies, choose to focus on the truth and stand firm in your identity in Christ.

•  Don’t drift away! It is very easy to become lazy in your thoughts and slip back into old habits or patterns of thinking. Share your struggles openly with a trusted friend who will pray for you.

•  Don’t expect others to fight your battles for you. They can’t and they won’t. Others can encourage you, but they can’t think, pray, read the Bible or choose the truth for you.

•  Commit yourself to daily prayer. Prayer is dependence upon God.

In Christ

I Am Accepted

I Am Secure

I Am Significant