Neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.... Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
(Leviticus 19:26b, 31)

In the sixties, horoscopes (prophesying a person's future through the use of astrology) were on the rise.

Everyone wanted to know what astrological sign you were born under. It was the topic of conversation during coffee breaks and at lunch tables. Everywhere you went, people were talking about their "signs."

I was no different. I worked in an office where we all discussed each other's signs. Some read books about astrology or followed their daily horoscopes in the newspaper. Many had faith in them.

I personally did not believe that anyone or anything could chart my course in life but God. Even so, horoscopes were fun to play with and an interesting conversation piece.

How foolish, deceived, and spiritually ignorant I was!

I was deceived to the fact that prophesying the future through horoscopes was of the devil. I rationalized that if everyone was born around the same time of the month, it stood to reason they might have certain personality traits in common. And after all, the wise men followed a star to find Jesus.

No one had ever showed me Scriptures that said this practice was of the devil. I even told my pastor what his sign was and read his horoscope to him. He just smiled really big and had me look up his wife's! He was a godly man, but he did not know what the Bible said about it either.

After my husband Happy got saved and we started attending a Bible study, my eyes were opened. Some of the couples would get together for dinner before the meeting. One night as we were eating, I said to one of the ladies, "Beverly, what sign are you?" Her mouth dropped open, her eyes popped out, and she said, "Jeanne, that stuff is of the devil."

I immediately looked away, embarrassed and angry. I didn't say anything (praise the Lord). I thought to myself, "See if I talk to you anymore." And of course, I did. She was a precious lady whom I still love and respect.

Shortly afterward, Happy and I went to a service where Hilton Sutton was teaching on the subject of familiar spirits. He went into great detail, reading Scriptures on witchcraft, astrology, and sorcery, pointing out God's warnings against them.

He read from Deuteronomy:

There shall not be found among you any one that...useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord...For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.
(Deut. 18:10-12a, 14-15)

When I saw in the Word that horoscopes were an abomination to God, I was shocked and convicted to my toes. Brother Sutton asked those who needed deliverance from any of these things to come to the front for prayer.

Needless to say, I made haste to get down there. I renounced any participation or involvement with the occult, because astrology is a part of it. I was delivered from it all. From that day forward, I have avoided anything having to do with astrology.

The New Age movement that has swept America is steeped in occult-based practices. It is a mixture of Eastern mysticism and Western occultism. Its deep involvement in practices like divination, witchcraft, sorcery, consulting mediums, spiritism, and numerous other ungodly customs causes demonic forces to be unleashed in our classrooms, on television, on lecture circuits, in print, art, music, business management, children's toys, games, and movies.

It is nothing less than a major branch of the prophesied latter-day rise of the antichrist forces.

If you are playing around with horoscopes or any of the things I have mentioned, you are playing with fire and you will get burned. You are opening the door for the enemy to come into your life and you are dishonoring God.

Renounce it now, repent of your involvement in the occult, and God will forgive you. He forgave me!

Pray this prayer of deliverance now:

"Father, in the Name of Jesus and according to Your Word, I believe in my heart and say with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord of my life. I repent from and renounce any involvement I have had with the occult, horoscopes, or New Age movement. I confess that from this day forth I am set free and delivered from all dealings with anything that is an abomination to You, in Jesus' Name! Thank You, Lord, for delivering me right now. Amen."

Source: Learning To Trust God's Faithfulness by Jeanne Caldwell.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers