I’ve been thinking about curses and blessings. Each Tuesday night for the last 3 or 4 months Marilyn and I have been involved with a international prayer ministry lead by an African Pastor originally from Kenya. Pastor David will sometimes mention the practice of African “witch doctors” being hired to curse someone’s enemies and how to overcome the curse with faith.

Since most of the participants in our gathering are African there seems to be general agreement that these curses have their effect on the community. Born sometimes out of enmity and strife, jealousy and status, people are cursed to hinder progress or even to eliminate them as rivals.

Setting aside any spiritual effect of a true curse, the mental effect is tremendous. Knowing someone has cursed you can be very traumatic.

When I was single I spent some time volunteering for a prison ministry. As part of my experience I was paying a lot of attention to information about the psychology of prisoners. A common theme among the incarcerated was an abused childhood. One of the startling facts I found was the commonality of a prisoner being told he or she was no good, worthless, and that he (or she) would end up in prison. In my view that represents a curse.

In the book of James Chapter 3 verses 8-10 says “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude (Image) of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

How do you recognize a curse? If you are a grown Man or Woman and you can think back to times in your life where you were shamed, berated, embarrassed, humiliated, ridiculed, and you still have resentment, those are good signs. What were the words used? Can you remember them? If they were framed as a prophecy over your life they were a curse.

So how do we overcome the curse of men? Using Gods Word we can find peace and healing of those wounds even long after they were delivered. For the serious, deep-rooted, life curses it takes some work.

Step 1. List the curse, write it down in as much detail as you can remember.

Step 2. Think about its effect on your life: how has it influenced you? How have you let it define you?

Step 3. Most important, repent of believing the curse and use God’s Word to affirm yourself, speak the truth of those affirmations out loud, be bold and apply your faith in Christ.

Step 4. Perhaps the most difficult step: forgive those that cursed you. They may even have been delivered by people that love you, sometimes a curse is unintentional, but the effect is real, e.g. “you’ll never find a husband /wife,” “You’ll always be overweight, its the family curse.”

Step 5. Build an awareness of curses and deal with any new ones as they arise. They may disguise themselves as jokes or teasing comments, but don’t let them take root; deal with them immediately. Stay in the Word. Remember Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.“

Don’t hesitate to enlist the help of a friend or counselor in this process. Meditate on positive affirmations: that’s what we do in our Tuesday night sessions. Pastor David leads us in prayer and affirmation corporately. Overcome the power of evil with the power of good.

Here are some starter references:

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Isaiah 54:17  “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me,” saith the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Wherefore if any man (human) is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.

Romans 12:14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

Psalm120:2 Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.