Curses are often the result of negative words spoken over us. When an authority figure or even a peer speaks negatively over us, we may internalize the negative statement by repeating it to ourselves over and over. Doing so can result in this negative statement seeping deep into our spirit, thus becoming an integral part of our belief system. This sarcastic or negative comment has the power of a curse. Then the curse is part of our belief system, as it attaches to our spirit, affecting our personality, our behavior, and even our health. “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:8–10, NASB)

The following are examples of “curses of death” spoken over children who had no knowledge of the power that drove them to a destructive lifestyle.

“I wish you had died on the operating table.”

I met a boy in a homeless mission in New Orleans whose mother had told him this. He spiraled into alcohol and drug abuse and ended up as a resident in the mission. We walked him through forgiving his mother and breaking the curse. When we left the mission a few weeks later, he was leading events at the mission and on his way to being a confident young man.

“If it weren’t for you kids, I could have had a career.”

A mother spoke this over her six and seven year old children. When I met the daughter, she was twenty-six. She was confused and insecure and believed she was unworthy of any blessing life had to offer. We ministered to her for several weeks. She was able to rebuild her foundation and discovered the confidence to continue her education, eventually graduating from medical school.

“Your brother should have lived”

We did ministry with a woman years ago whose father stated more than once. “It should have been your brother that lived instead of you.” She came to us so we could pray through the curse. She began by forgiving her father for speaking this curse of death over her. Then she renounced the curse in the name of Jesus and chose to believe what God’s Word says about her.

“You’ll never amount to anything.” “You were an accident.” “You are fat.” “You would make a terrible mother.” “No one would want to marry you.” “You’re a slut, just like your mother.”

A woman we worked with had been gang-raped, and her father told her it was her own fault. She was in bondage to compulsive behaviors such as eating, shopping and repeatedly found herself in immoral relationships. We lost contact with her, and we pray she has discovered the love of the Father’s heart.

“You should have been a boy.” “You’ll never learn.” “You are going to end up just like your father.”

The effects of some curses are not easily discovered. God has a way of arranging conflict in our relationships for the sole purpose of bringing healing to us. When the irrational feelings surface, it means something is wrong under the hood. It may be time to take a look.

This can be a self-induced curse. Negative self-talk can stem from our perception of a certain event. Example: when parents get divorced, the children may believe it was their fault or that

Negative Self Talk

This can be a self-induced curse. Negative self-talk can stem from our perception of an event Example; when parents get divorced, a child may believe it was their fault or that something is wrong with them. Negative self-talk may occur when we don’t meet our own standards. Not meeting personal standards, combined with a low self-esteem, produces statements like “I’m tired of living”; “Nothing ever goes right”; “I give up”; “I’m a mess”; “I’ll never amount to anything”; “I’m not good enough”; and “What’s the use?” Now the person is in a state of hoplesness.

Implied Curses

These are nonverbal actions that show disapproval. The origin of a curse may be difficult to identify because it comes from nonverbal actions. These can be very subtle and difficult to define. The implied curse is the result of what we interpret from someone else’s expressions of disapproval (frowns, scowls, rolling the eyes, or other negative body language). Some people in positions of authority have an uncanny ability to control or manipulate others with their actions or expressions of disapproval. Sometimes this comes from the way they ignore us or not acknowledge our presence when they walk into a room. We are compelled to make our own interpretation of what these behaviors mean, and those interpretations can hardly be positive. We receive these signals and draw conclusions that can have significant power over us.

Studies show that 70 percent of our communication is nonverbal. Disconnect and lack of interest in a relationship can signal rejection. When a child is not being admired by an adult, that child is being injured. Children need healthy attention from the adult; if they don’t receive it, they will find the attention in unhealthy ways.

Sarcasm the Deceptive Killer

Sarcasm is often used in a joking manner as an attempt to bring humor into various scenarios such as group events or family gatherings. While such comments about a person are spoken in a joking tone, it is often hostility disguised as humor. The perpetrator is having fun at another person’s expense. In truth, sarcasm always has a victim. Sarcasm is a subtle form of bullying, and most bullies are angry, insecure cowards. This is another tool the enemy uses to tear someone down emotionally.

Many of us tolerate this for years from co-workers or family members. We laugh it off with the group but later suffer the effects of humiliation, shame, and rejection. The damage done by this deceptive act of humor can be long-lasting and devastating. It is another cause of a curse.

The word sarcasm comes from the Greek root sarkasein, which literally means “to tear or strip the flesh off.”English professors distinguish sarcasm from irony by defining sarcasm as “cutting in nature.” In the Greek language, sarcs are the bits of sharp metal objects bound in a whip’s lashes. The sarcs (which were used on Jesus) were employed in torture and used to cut into the person’s flesh until the organs were exposed. Sarcasm is used as humor in our culture, but it really isn’t very funny, is it?

Redemption from Curses

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”). (Galatians 3:13)

There are several steps to breaking these kinds of curses.

• We help people acknowledge the lies they have believed.
• We help them pray and forgive the person for what was said, asking them to be specific in the exact phrase, even if it is profanity.
• They must repent of believing the lie that was spoken and ask the Lord to forgive them for believing the lie.
• We help them pray and renounce the words spoken over them as a curse.
• We help them replace the lie with the truth.

What might be some of the negative words spoken over you by an authority figure?

What are some of the lies you have believed because of the circumstances in your life or from other nonverbal expressions?

CURSES