For most of my life, I was lost. Not in a metaphorical sense, but literally. I was a runaway, a homeless teen walking the streets, feeling as though I had no direction and no purpose. I was raised in a way that left me confused, a way I didn’t understand. My mom practiced things that seemed strange to me, clear glass cups of water behind our apartment doors, and tying red ribbons on me and my sister.

I grew up thinking it was somehow connected to Catholicism because we would occasionally go to Catholic church services. I was naive, and I wore that red ribbon for years. When I was homeless, it was a constant on my body, a little piece of red that was a means of protection. I don’t know what it was about that ribbon, but in some strange way, I felt it protected me. I was never hurt, never kidnapped, and never on drugs during those years. It was as if the evil around me knew my mother’s power, and it steered clear.

My mother was always a mean and creepy woman, and now I understand why. It was only recently, when I watched a documentary called “Los Sures,” that I saw what her “religion” truly was. It’s called Santería. And discovering this has left me at a loss for words. How did my mother find such an oddity? And how is it that my family lineage is embedded with this practice? Even today, my mother continues her rituals and uses her relics.

I didn’t want to believe it when people told me what she was doing. But now I know for certain who I am up against, and I am not alone. For years I wore that red ribbon. After so much trauma, I cut it off in my thirties. When I did, I felt a weight come off me and a lift in my spirit I couldn’t explain. I ended up in the psych ward, and when I came out, I was fresh and ready for a new start.

It was then, at the age of 36, that I met my Savior, my Crown and Glory, Jesus Christ. He stripped me of my pride and my suffering. I am truly blessed and highly favored for this everlasting life I have found.

This is a new chapter for me, a battle of faith against a dark past. But with my Savior by my side, I am prepared to fight for a new future.

I ask for your prayers as I stand firm in my faith and turn my back on this inherited past.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a similar situation, remember that you are not alone. There is power in faith, and there is a community of people who want to stand with you.

A Prayer for Freedom

Heavenly Father, I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ.

I lift up my loved one who has been bound by the generational stronghold of Santería. Lord, they have carried a heavy weight, a legacy not of Your choosing. They have sought You, their Crown and Glory, and now they desire to be set free.

I pray for every tie, every cord, and every spiritual influence of this practice to be broken and dissolved in the mighty name of Jesus. Where there was confusion, bring Your clarity. Where there was darkness, let Your light shine brightly. Where there was bondage, let there be true, everlasting freedom.

Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life. You are the only one who can strip away all pride and suffering. I pray that you would stand with them, fortifying their spirit and protecting them from any backlash or lingering oppression. Cover them with Your precious blood and fill them with the Holy Spirit.

Give them the courage to turn their back on this past and to walk confidently into the new life You have for them. Strengthen them to resist any temptation to look back and to fully embrace their identity as a child of God, blessed and highly favored.

We declare that the power of Your name is greater than any other. We thank You for the victory that is already won.In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray.

Amen.

You Are Not Alone

My journey has been one of struggle and, ultimately, of finding freedom in Christ. I know there are others out there who are dealing with similar spiritual battles or trying to break free from generational strongholds. If my story resonates with you, please feel free to comment below. I am here to help and would love to support you in any way I can.