In April, I made a life-changing decision: I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. This moment marked the end of a turbulent chapter in my life—one that I now recognize as a journey through spiritual bondage. I was deeply entrenched in practices I thought were harmless, like using crystals charged during the new and full moons to “energize” my intentions. I engaged in rituals that included burning bay leaves, carving my desires into candles, and even cleansing my space with sage. I was also exploring astrology and angel numbers, and I nearly created an altar to worship African deities after beginning to read the book *Sacred Woman*. Thankfully, I never bought the supplies for it, and I now see that was God's protection.
After attending church for the first time in a while, I was struck by the pastor's sermon about witchcraft. It stirred something within me, prompting questions: Can I be religious and spiritual? Had I been deceived about everything I practiced? (Spoiler alert: the answer was yes!) I discovered Stephanie Ike’s (a wonderful woman of God) YouTube playlist, “Modernization of Witchcraft,” which opened my eyes to the truth. Despite this newfound clarity, I still wrestled with confusion and denial. I prayed for God to reveal the areas where I had been misled, and within hours, I felt a powerful urge to purge my belongings. I discarded paintings, crystals, and countless self-help and spiritual books.
God swiftly removed my cravings for smoking weed, lust, and many other issues I had faced. I was on fire for Him, eager to learn more about my faith. I even felt compelled to take down my best-selling items on Etsy, products that had earned me $10,000 in just eight months. Unfortunately, that income had funded my weed and alcohol habits, leading me to seek validation in the wrong places. I spent many weekends out, searching for attention, often losing control and blacking out. (You may be asking what's different this time. The answer is simple, JESUS!)
By August, it was time for my baptism, a significant step in my faith journey. Yet, I found myself slipping back into old habits. I began smoking again—more than before—consuming up to three blunts a day while convincing myself it would be the last time. My spending spiraled, and one frightening evening, I experienced a terrifying moment in a 7-Eleven. Overwhelmed by an intense high, it felt as though my soul was leaving my body; I thought I was shutting down, on the verge of passing out. Thankfully, my boyfriend was there to support me during that terrible experience.
Despite my struggles, I continued to pray, questioning why God chose me when I kept disappointing Him. I fell back into old patterns, including sexual relationships and lustful dreams about my past. Yet, in those moments of weakness, I cried out to God, asking Him to reignite my passion for Him. Through this turmoil, I realized I was in spiritual warfare because of my commitment to baptism and my faith.
The path to recovery was challenging, but prayer and fasting made a significant difference. Slowly, I began to feel like God’s daughter again. Although it took time to overcome my smoking habit, I found that my cravings diminished to just once a week. God also inspired me to rebrand my business to focus on faith-based products, and I even started recording the process for YouTube.
As I prepare to relaunch my business on October 18th, I am excited to share my decision to rebrand on social media. This won't be my full testimony just yet, but it’s a glimpse into my journey. I recently finished reading the book of Isaiah, which felt perfectly timed. The final chapters spoke to my heart, reminding me of God’s unwavering presence.
Today, I’m proud to share that I am almost a month sober from smoking, and during a recent meeting with my Christian Girl Group (CGPOV), I decided to recommit to my abstinence journey (which has been difficult but with God all things are possible), fully dedicating everything to God. I look forward to what He has planned for me next!
All glory goes to God Almighty!
If you are interested in watching the YouTube Playlist that God used to help set me free, check it out below:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjFKP_xkron-jbUz1k85LtOWpOpEQFSQP&feature=shared