Revelations 12: 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;  and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The following letter is from a lady who was delivered from self-torture and substance abuse:

Dear Pastor:

I attended your Sunday sessions, but while waiting to talk to you after the Sunday evening meeting I suddenly felt ill. I was burning up like I had a fever, and I got so weak I thought I was going to faint so  I went home.

I need help.  I’ve had more trouble in my life since I became a Christian. I’ve overdosed on alcohol and drugs so many times I can’t count them. I’ve cut myself several times with razor blades, sometimes very seriously. I have thoughts and feelings and ideas of suicide weekly, like stabbing myself through the heart. I’m a slave to masturbation; I’m out of control, and I don’t know how to stop.

On the outside I appear very normal. I have a good job, and I live with an outstanding family in our community.  I even work with junior high students at my church. I can’t really explain my relationship with God anymore. I’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for two years. Sometimes I think I’m this way because of a messed-up childhood, or maybe I was born this way.

How can I tell if my problems are in my mind, or the result of sin and disobedience against God, or the evidence of demonic influence? I would like to talk to you during the conference. But I don’t want to try another thing that doesn’t work.

After meeting with the lady who wrote this letter, the Pastor realized that she wanted to serve God with all her heart, and that she had the same power and authority to resist Satan as any other believer; however, she wasn’t sure how to resolve conflicts.

She had to realize that she was NOT powerless or defenseless in the battle, and that she could MAKE choices to change her situation.  Upon this realization, the chains dropped and she walked in freedom.

A year later after experiencing this wonderful freedom through Christ Jesus, she wrote the following letter:

I was hesitant to write you because I could not believe that my life would be changed or different for any length of time. I’m the girl who tried to kill herself, cut herself, destroy herself in every possible way. I never believed that the pain in my mind and soul would ever leave so that I could be a consistent, productive servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.