When I was in primary school, I stole twice and was caught. After one of those times, my classmates didn’t let me be. When any teacher preached during the morning devotion held in school against stealing, some of my classmates would say, “Daniella, have you heard?”
I used to steal edibles at home like fish, meat, milk, drinks, a lot. And when my mother had a shop, I stole from the shop almost every day. I would also take some amount of money almost every day to buy stuff at school.
Whenever I was caught, I wished I had never taken the thing. I would admire other people when they said, “I’m not the one,” when asked. I wished back then that when something was stolen, I would be able to say like them, “It wasn’t me.”
As I grew up and began to know God, these traits started dropping. I remember a significant experience I had that showed that there was a supernatural power in me that stopped me from stealing. During my ten-month programme at the University of Uyo School of Basic Studies, I attended a church on campus, and for the first time, I had a closer relationship with God and the Holy Spirit. I prayed in tongues a lot during that time. Although I was baptised with the Holy Spirit when I was about to enter SS2, I didn’t have an opportunity to pray in the Spirit much or be consistent in church meetings.
When I came back home for the holiday after the programme I was running, I went into the kitchen. Behold, a pot of boiled chicken! I stretched my hand to take a piece, but I couldn’t put it in my mouth. It felt so wrong to steal. So, I dropped the meat, covered my mother’s pot, and left the kitchen.
I also walked in victory over stealing other items. I spent time at my mother’s shop, but I didn’t take any money or food items. At other times, I was given business money to hold, and I kept it faithfully. I also had a chance to learn at a tailoring shop, and I faithfully gave my madam all her money when I sold something for her.
Fast forward to some time later, I joined God’s Lighthouse. During the prayer session at an all-night meeting held in January 2025, I got the impression that I needed to rebuke the spirit of stealing. I didn’t know I still had such a spirit, because like I said, I had been walking in a lot of victory over stealing
Imagine if that spirit just stayed in there, quiet, as though all was fine, and I got to work in a big company or anywhere else, and then boom! I just started stealing out of nowhere. What would be my fate?
Pastor led us to rebuke various spirits, and I rebuked the spirit of stealing as was impressed upon my heart. I prayed along as Pastor led, believing that I would be delivered completely as the Lord cleaned out whatever may be left of it. I thank God for opening my eyes and for revealing this lingering oppression through His Holy Spirit. I am also immensely grateful for the understanding of how oppressive spirits work, and the deliverance-type prayers held in church.
May the Name of the Lord be praised. Amen.
© GAM 2025
