The 7 Steps of Self-Deliverance

Self-Deliverance:
How to do it?

The Christian deliverance process is designed to break spiritual oppression and close any "open doors" to negative influences in your life. This journey is deeply rooted in biblical principles and requires your active, conscious participation across seven foundational stages.

Inner healing and deliverance can be done effectively on your own, as the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Counselor and Deliverer. Doing this alone requires a quiet, safe space, a journal, and an intentional, structured approach to invite God into your deepest pain.

"Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” — Timothy 4:18 (NLT)

Self-deliverance is highly effective for daily maintenance, breaking mindsets, and healing standard emotional wounds. However, if you experience extreme manifestations, severe dissociation, or memories of severe ritualistic abuse, do not do this alone. In those cases, seek a trusted, experienced, and emotionally healthy deliverance minister or faith-based trauma counselor to walk through it with you.

#1 Recognize & Repent

The first step is to Recognize, which means honestly admitting that a spiritual problem, recurring sin, or stronghold exists in your life. You cannot heal what you refuse to confront, so you must identify the specific areas where you have lost your peace, joy, or self-control.

Acknowledge the spiritual battle and stop hiding faults, as described in Ephesians 6:12 (no, not against flesh) and Psalm 32:5 (confess transgressions).

Once the problem is identified, you move to Repent. This goes far beyond just feeling guilty; it involves confessing your sins to God, making a definitive U-turn away from those behaviors, and crucially, choosing to genuinely forgive anyone who has hurt you, thereby removing the legal ground that bitterness gives to spiritual oppression.

To properly understand where you might have walked astray from God's will, check out our questionnaire for inner healing and deliverance.

#2 Forgive Others Fully and Completely

Unforgiveness is the most common open door for demonic oppression and spiritual torment because unforgiveness grants the enemy legal grounds. In deliverance ministry, unforgiveness is the single most common legal roadblock that prevents a person from being set free. Demonic spirits cannot be forced out if they still hold a legal right to stay.

In the spiritual realm, demonic oppression operates much like a legal system. Demonic spirits look for "open doors" or legal rights -such as unconfessed sin, occult involvement, or hidden resentment - to anchor themselves to a person's soul.

When you harbor unforgiveness, you are actively choosing to operate outside of God's grace and law. This disobedience gives the enemy a legitimate, legal foothold. A deliverance minister can command a spirit to leave in the name of Jesus, but if that spirit points to the legal right of unforgiveness, it will successfully resist eviction. To cast out the enemy, you must first remove the legal ground they are standing on.

Jesus established a strict, unbreakable spiritual law regarding forgiveness: "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." — Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

Deliverance requires the full application of God’s grace and cleansing power over your life. However, if you withhold forgiveness from someone else, God legally withholds his experiential forgiveness from you. This blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit's power in your life. You cannot use the authority of Christ to break chains while simultaneously locking someone else in a spiritual prison of your own resentment.

#3 Renounce the Enemy and Break Curses

The third step is to Renounce, which consists of verbally breaking out loud any past covenants, alliances, or ties to darkness, the occult, witchcraft, or false practices, even if your involvement was just out of curiosity.

By declaring this with your mouth, you cancel those past spiritual agreements. Actively break old spiritual agreements and choose the light, supported by Proverbs 28:13 (confess/renounce) and Romans 13:12 (cast off darkness).

Verbally renounce every occult involvement, false religion, ungodly soul tie, and sinful pattern from your past. Speak out loud that you belong entirely to Jesus Christ, and break any spoken words or generational curses over your life in His name.

Key scriptures to stand on are:

Galatians 3:13 – "But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing."

Colossians 1:13 – "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,"

Colossians 2:14 – "He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross."

To Get Started: Use this Curse Breaking Prayer

"Heavenly Father, I come before You today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, seeking Your complete freedom and deliverance. I Recognize and admit that I have spiritual battles, strongholds, and open doors in my life that have robbed me of Your peace. I stop hiding my faults and acknowledge that my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness.

Lord, I Repent of all my sins, both known and unknown. I confess where I have failed You, and I ask for Your cleansing blood to wash me white as snow. Right now, by an act of my will, I choose to forgive every person who has ever hurt, rejected, or betrayed me, releasing all bitterness and resentment into Your hands.

In the authority of Jesus Christ, I Renounce and break all ties, covenants, or agreements I have ever made with darkness, the occult, witchcraft, or any false spiritual practices, whether done knowingly or out of curiosity. I cast off the works of darkness and choose Your light. I commit to Removing any Objects from my home and life that are tied to idolatry, superstition, or the occult, refusing to bring anything detestable into my dwelling space.

By the power of the Holy Spirit and the victory won at the cross, I Release Myself from every spiritual chain. In the name of Jesus, I command every evil influence, spirit of fear, oppression, anxiety, or bondage to leave my life right now. You have no legal right to remain, for I belong to God.

Finally, I choose to Resist and Replace. I resist the devil, knowing he must flee from me as I submit to God. I ask You, Holy Spirit, to fill every empty space in my heart, soul, and mind. I commit to hiding Your Word in my heart, filling my thoughts with Your truth, and walking daily in Your absolute freedom.

Thank You, Lord, for saving me, delivering me, and making me completely whole. Amen."

"Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace."
— Romans 6:14 (NLT)

Deliverance Prayer: Longer Version

"Almighty Lord God, Yahweh, Maker of everything in heaven and on earth; You are the only true God. You exist forever as Father, Son - my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - and Holy Spirit.

Father, I believe You sent Your Son Jesus to this earth. He was miraculously conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, arriving as both fully God and fully human. I believe He lived a perfect, sinless life, took the punishment for all my sins on the cross, and conquered death by rising three days later.

I turn away from all my sins today. I commit to following You every day of my life, walking in holiness, righteousness, and honor. Make me a completely new person, adopt me as Your child, and flood my life with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You. In Jesus’ name.

God, Romans 10:9-10 promises that if I truly believe in my heart and declare with my mouth what Jesus did, I will receive the fullness of His sacrifice. Just as I trusted this truth to save me, I trust it now to change and purify me.

I rest on the promise of 1 Thessalonians 5:23, believing You will protect and sanctify my spirit, soul, and body. I know this does not depend on my own efforts, goodness, or merits. You owe me nothing, and You are not forced to heal me; I cast myself completely on Your mercy and grace.

My love for You does not depend on an answer. I love You whether You heal me or not. Still, I humbly request Your total deliverance, freedom, health, and restoration. I ask for Your healing touch today through my faith in the completed work of Jesus, knowing He already paid the price for my total wholeness. Let this bring glory to Your name and become my testimony.

Heavenly Father, I step into Your presence to repent for every wrong choice I have made and for any spiritual doors I have opened to curses. I ask for Your forgiveness regarding the generational sins and curses of my ancestors from both my father’s and mother’s lineages, going all the way back to Adam and Eve.

I also ask You to break any curses tied to the ancestry of my spouse or ex-spouse(s). On behalf of my children, future generations, and descendants, I break the legal hold of these curses right now. I intercede for my family line and declare it washed by the blood of Jesus. Amen."

Sins & Curses

"In the name of Jesus, I renounce every sin and break every curse over my life, specifically breaking the power of:

• False Religion: Legalism, doubt, the spirits of Jezebel and Ahab, slander, idolatry, and all ungodly sacrifices, oaths, or vows.

• False Spirituality: Secret societies, Freemasonry, spirit guides, channeling, ancestor worship, and speaking to the dead.

• Witchcraft: Spells, charms, hexes, occult rituals, divination, psychics, incantations, astrology, horoscopes, yoga, Reiki, kundalini, Ouija boards, sorcery, astral projection, and chakras.

• Destructive Emotions: Pride, rejection, abandonment, blasphemy, anger, hate, rage, violence, abuse, hopelessness, isolation, and paranoia.

• Fear: Terror of God, death, nightmares, night terrors, self-hatred, and self-condemnation.

• Destructive Behaviors: Lust, adultery, perversion, exploitation, and ungodly sexual practices.

• Acts of Harm: Murder, violence, blood covenants, addiction, substance abuse, drunkenness, gambling, profanity, slavery, racism, theft, oppression, and rebellion.

• Physical Infirmities: Chronic illness, autoimmune disorders, heart and skeletal issues, miscarriage, genetic diseases, disabilities, and any sickness causing pain or premature death.

• Mental Infirmities: Conditions causing confusion, memory loss, panic, hyperactivity, or emotional instability.

Lord, reveal any other curse I need to break now. I command every spirit tied to these roots to leave my presence immediately in Jesus' name! Go straight to the Pit and never return!"

Trauma

"In the name of Jesus, I break every curse, witchcraft spell, mind control tactic, or assignment aimed at fracturing my mind and soul.

Lord, bring specific traumatic events to my memory. Walk with me through them, healing the wounded parts of my past with Your perfect love. I ask the Holy Spirit to reintegrate every part of my being into total wholeness. Remove all double-mindedness. I command every spirit exploiting these traumas to pack up and leave now in Jesus' name! Go to the Pit and never return!"

Unforgiveness

"Because God has poured out His mercy and forgiven me, I choose to forgive everyone who has ever wronged me. God is their judge, not me.

Today, I actively choose to forgive .... for... I release them entirely into Your hands, Lord. If they are alive, draw them to repentance and salvation. I command every spirit capitalizing on resentment to leave me now in Jesus' name! Go to the Pit and never return!"

Soul Ties

"In the name of Jesus, I sever every harmful soul tie. I break every ungodly physical, sexual, emotional, mental, spiritual, legal, or professional bond from my past or present. Lord, show me the specific people or institutions I need to renounce. I cut the soul tie with...

I revoke all vows, oaths, pledges, and binding agreements I ever spoke. Holy Spirit, strip their spiritual fragments out of me and send them back. Retrieve every part of my soul left with them, cleanse it, and restore it to me whole. Lord, reveal any physical objects connecting me to them so I can return, sell, or destroy them. I command every spirit attached to these soul ties to leave now in Jesus' name! Go to the Pit and never return!"

False Beliefs

"In the name of Jesus, I declare that God’s Word is my only truth. I renounce every deceptive belief keeping my mind or emotions in chains, including:

• The false religions of: ...

• The ungodly family or cultural traditions of: ...

• Every lie about my identity spoken by psychics, toxic people, or lying spirits: ...

• Every false prophecy, unbiblical word, or word curse spoken over me, even from religious sources: ...

I reject these lies and the spirits behind them. I am a child and heir of God, fully blessed to fulfill my calling. I command every lying, deceptive spirit responsible for these falsehoods to leave me right now in Jesus' name! Go to the Pit and never return!"

Ungodly Partnering

"I renounce every limiting or toxic belief hurting my life, including: ...

I renounce every destructive habit holding me back from my divine potential, including: ...

I break my agreement with them today. I command every spirit that tempts, causes, or worsens these habits and beliefs to leave my life right now in Jesus' name! Go to the Pit and never return!"

Sealing

"Thank You, Father. I surrender my entire soul, heart, mind, body, and strength to You. Holy Spirit, flood and occupy every area of my life. Jesus, anoint, consecrate, and baptize me fresh with Your Holy Spirit. In Your mighty name I pray. Amen."

For an intense and in-depth curse breaking prayer please check this file that prepares you for an online deliverance session: Preparation for Online Deliverance Session

#4 The Root Cause & Inner Healing

Inner healing is about finding the root cause of your trauma, bringing Jesus into that memory, and replacing the enemy's lies with God's truth.

Identify the current trigger: Think about a current emotional pain, fear, or reaction you are struggling with. Hold that feeling in your mind.

Ask the Holy Spirit for the root memory: Close your eyes and ask God: "Holy Spirit, when was the first time I felt this exact way? Bring the root memory to my mind." Trust the first memory, image, or age that surfaces.

Expose the lie: In that memory, look at what happened and ask yourself: "What lie did I believe about myself, about others, or about God because of this trauma?" (Common lies: I am unsafe, I am rejected, it was my fault, God abandoned me.)

Invite Jesus into the memory: Ask Him: "Jesus, where were You in this moment, and what is Your truth about this situation?" Wait quietly. Let Him show you His presence in that memory, or speak truth to your heart.

Write it down: Journal what He shows or tells you to anchor the healing in your conscious mind.

#5 Breaking the Spiritual Strongholds

Repent for ungodly coping mechanisms: If you turned to anger, fear, addiction, or self-hatred to protect yourself, repent for not trusting God.

Say aloud: "Lord, I repent for partnering with fear/anger to protect myself. Wash me clean."

Break word curses and vows: Break any negative promises you made to yourself (e.g., "I will never trust anyone again") or negative words spoken over you.

Say aloud: "In the name of Jesus, I break the vow that I will never trust anyone. I command it to be broken now."

Cast out the spirit: You have the authority as a believer to command spirits to leave your own soul and body. Speak with firm, quiet authority.

Say aloud: "In the name of Jesus Christ, I break my agreement with the spirit of [Fear / Trauma / Rejection / Shame]. You no longer have a legal right to me. I order you to leave me now, go straight to the feet of Jesus, and never return."

Exhale: Deeply exhale. Often, deliverance is accompanied by a physical release, such as a deep sigh, a yawn, a cough, or a sudden sensation of lightness.

#6 Worship. Praise. Love.

To ensure this freedom lasts, you must Resist and Replace. This step focuses on shielding your mind by reading, meditating on, and memorizing Holy Scripture, developing new godly habits, and staying alert, ensuring your life is so filled with the Holy Spirit that no empty space remains for darkness to return.

When a spirit or a lie leaves, it leaves a vacuum. You must immediately fill that space with the Holy Spirit and biblical truth so the old patterns do not return.

• Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you: "Holy Spirit, please fill every area that was just emptied with Your love, peace, and adoption."

• Speak God's word: Read scriptures about your identity aloud. If you broke a spirit of fear, read 2 Timothy 1:7 ("God has not given us a spirit of fear...").

• Rest: Give yourself time to rest afterward. Your brain and spirit have just done heavy work.

Daily fight the enemy and fill your mind with Scripture. See James 4:7 (resist the devil), Psalm 119:11 (hide word in heart), and Matthew 12:43-45 (keep the house filled)

#7 Clear Your House from Spiritual Objects

This process is complemented by Removing Objects, a physical action that requires purging your home of any articles related to idolatry, superstition, good-luck charms, or occult books; these objects act as anchors for oppression and must be completely destroyed or thrown away.

Physically remove items associated with the occult or idolatry, based on Acts 19:19 (burning books) and Deuteronomy 7:26 (do not bring detestable things into your house).