Occult In The Bible And My Story Of Spiritual Deception
Occult in the Bible
When we study the occult in the Bible, we find consistent warnings against seeking supernatural power, guidance, or knowledge apart from God. I wrote this post because I have personally experienced how easily curiosity about occult practices can become a pathway into spiritual deception.
I will never forget the day I held a book in my hands with the word occult printed in the upper corner. One question ran through my mind:
“Occult? Wasn’t that something bad?”
Occult practices involve seeking supernatural power, guidance, or knowledge apart from God. Mentions of the occult in the Bible point to a practice that opposes God’s command. Throughout the Old Testament, God clearly warned His people against practices such as divination, sorcery, consulting mediums, and attempting to contact the dead. These commands were given to protect His people from spiritual deception and from being drawn away from the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:9–14).
That day, however, it only took me a moment to dismiss my questions and quiet my uneasiness. I assured myself that the book did not really matter. It was nothing more than curiosity.
My story is more than an illustration of the Bible's warnings against the occult. It is my personal testimony that God's warnings are not meant to restrict us—they are meant to protect us from evil, deception, and spiritual harm.
The story of my spiritual deception wasn't one of knowingly jumping into the occult. It was a slow slide. It all began rather innocently. I was curious and that was it. That curiosity eventually led me to a very compromised place in my spiritual life where I was blinded by the lies I had believed.
Spiritual Deception is Real
I played with Ouija boards, paid fortune tellers, and had them read tarot cards for me. It was interesting and exciting. What I did not realize initially is that I was actually entering a spiritual realm. As a young adult, curiosity drew me into another wrong path—the New Age Movement. I learned to pursue personal power rather than trusting the Lord. I failed to understand that these were occult activities that opened doors to a spiritual realm and exposed me to evil spiritual influences.
Recently, I spoke with a lifelong friend who knew about my past involvement in the occult. I told her I never really taught from that aspect of my testimony because I didn’t know what to do with it. One week later, a podcaster with no connection to that conversation asked if I would share my testimony about the occult because he believed his audience needed to hear it. I said yes because I knew my story could provide the warning—and perhaps the push—someone needed to protect herself from the devil’s deception.
Deception is real and dangerous, and it is one of the devil’s primary strategies to steal, kill, and destroy in human lives. That is and always has been his agenda toward human beings.
Biblical Warnings About the Devil
It is important to understand where spiritual deception comes from, who is behind it, and how it comes to us. These bible verses show us that there is a spiritual enemy who is a thief, a liar, a murderer, and a deceiver—characteristics rooted in the evil within him.
The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy.
John 10:10
He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
John 8:44
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:8
So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.
Revelation 12:9
I have found myself deceived and dangling at the end of his rope in some very dangerous places, spiritually speaking. I want to warn you against the deception running rampant in our world today. As I considered how to communicate this biblical warning, I was reminded of the many Scriptures that address the danger of spiritual deception.
Jesus, His brother James, and Paul spoke these warnings.
New Testament Warnings of Spiritual Deception
Jesus repeatedly warned us.
“Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Matthew 24:4; Mark 13:5-6
“Take heed that you not be deceived.”
Luke 21:8
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22
Jesus repeatedly warned about the danger of being deceived, especially in the last days. Matthew, Mark, and Luke recorded Him teaching His closest followers about the level of deception that would characterize the end times and that no one should presume immunity from spiritual deception.
Jesus’ brother James warned us.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
James 1:16
The context of James' warning is temptation and acknowledges that each person is drawn away by his own desires. Desire gives birth to sin, and sin grows until it brings forth death. James reminds us not to be deceived about how subtle and progressive that process can be.
The apostle Paul also repeatedly warned us.
Do not be deceived.
1 Corinthians 6:9; 15:33; Galatians 6:7
Let no one deceive you with empty words…
Ephesians 5:6
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.
1 Timothy 4:1
Let no one deceive you by any means…
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Paul’s warnings parallel those recorded in the Gospels because he was also speaking to followers of Jesus. We often think of someone who doesn’t know Jesus as the one most prone to being deceived, but this shows us that even believers have the potential to fall into the devil’s trap. Paul also associated much of his message with the heightened potential for deception in the end times.
How Occult Deception can Begin with Curiosity
My journey into deception didn't begin with rebellion. It began with curiosity. I wasn't looking for the devil or darkness. I simply became interested in books that slowly pulled me toward ideas God had clearly warned against. They weren’t frightening or alarming—just suggestive enough to stoke my curiosity.
The books increasingly grew darker and more bizarre. But I kept reading. Eventually I found myself standing in a bookstore holding a book with the words, “How to Practice Witchcraft” on the cover. The good news is that God intervened and I left the book on the shelf in the store that day.
The temptation and deception didn’t start with rebellion, but it ultimately led me to it. My mindset at that time was so off base that it is difficult for me to fathom how I could have believed and thought as I did. Now I can see evidence of the demonic forces that helped lead me down that wrong path.
If you are interested in hearing more details of my testimony related to the occult, you can listen to my guest appearance on David Leadbetter’s podcast, Crazy Amazing God Stories:Escape From the Occult-New Age Deception to Holy Spirit Transformation The Pat Domangue Story.
One of the lessons I hope you take from my story is that if you don’t guard your heart and mind, you can likewise be dangerously deceived. You may never be drawn into the occult, but deception can take on many forms. Many times when sharing my testimony, I have said, “The devil is fine with you taking one step at a time.”
That is exactly how deception works.
One small step.
One book.
One conversation.
One podcast.
One social media account.
One movie.
One "harmless" interest.
The Bible’s message is clear and strong: even the elect are in danger of being deceived.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12
How to Protect Yourself from Spiritual Deception
The psalmist wrote, I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. (Psalm 101:3) In 1 John 4:1, the apostle John wrote, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” First Corinthians 15:33 reminds us that the people and influences we allow into our lives matter.
Do not be deceived. Evil company corrupts good habits.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Notice that 1 Corinthians 15:33 is a declarative statement. It does not use “might” language; it uses “will” language. Evil company corrupts—not maybe—but it does. At the same time, we know that not everything in our world is wicked, deceptive, or harmful, but we should never underestimate the influence of what we repeatedly allow into our minds and hearts. While the Bible’s warnings about the occult protect us from specific spiritual dangers, God’s Word also calls us to guard our hearts diligently because what fills them eventually shapes how we think, believe, and live.
Therefore, we need God’s Word and we need His Spirit. Knowing God’s truth protects us and helps us recognize deception. We cannot guard our hearts from error unless we stay in His Word. Equally, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live with the unwavering standard of God’s Word so that we know when something needs to be rejected and not allowed access. God’s Word is part of our spiritual armor, the sword of the Spirit, and a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Bible Verses about Protection and Discernment
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
God has given us His Spirit to spiritually discern truth from error and the gift of prayer to ask Him for discernment. First Corinthians 2:14 points out that without the Holy Spirit human beings can’t have spiritual discernment.
Maybe you find yourself in a place right now where you need discernment. In the Old Testament, Solomon prayed a prayer that pleased God, and God gave him the wisdom and discernment he needed. Always remember that God’s Word gives us powerful prayers we can pray for ourselves. When you need discernment, personalize and pray the prayer Solomon prayed in 1 Kings 3:9.
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
1 Kings 3:9
However, through His Spirit and His Word, God has given believers everything we need to recognize deception, to stand firm in the truth, and to resist the schemes of the devil. Even so, it still comes down to a decision we must make for ourselves. What will we decide? Will we access and implement all that He has given us? Will we protect ourselves by guarding what we allow into our minds? Will we fill our minds with God's Word until it becomes the standard by which we evaluate every influence?
Here are the key steps to protecting yourself.
Know God's Word.
Guard your mind.
Test everything by Scripture.
Walk closely with the Holy Spirit.
Pray for discernment.
I pray that you recognize that deception is real and dangerous and that you never underestimate curiosity as a pathway into something that can cost you far more than you expected. And always remember that the devil is perfectly willing to lead you into a deeper deception one step at a time.
But God…
God is our Defender, and He has not left us helpless against deception. He has given us His Word so that we can know the truth, and He has given us His Spirit to teach us and guide us into truth. As we remain close to Him and grounded in Scripture, we can stand firm against the lies of the enemy.
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Deception doesn't always come through the occult. Sometimes it sounds like the lies we tell ourselves every day. The enemy's strategy is deception, but God's answer is always truth. Learn how God's Word renews our minds in our latest HER Podcast.
Listen to the podcast: How to Overcome Negative Self-Talk and Renew Your Mind
Frequently Asked Questions About the Occult and Spiritual Deception
What does the Bible say about the occult?
The Bible consistently warns against occult practices because they involve seeking supernatural knowledge, guidance, or power apart from God. Practices such as divination, sorcery, consulting mediums, and attempting to contact the dead draw people away from trusting the Lord and can open the door to spiritual deception (Deuteronomy 18:9–14).
What are occult practices?
Occult practices include activities that seek supernatural information, guidance, or power from a source other than God. Examples may include fortune-telling, tarot cards, Ouija boards, mediums, witchcraft, divination, and certain New Age practices. Scripture calls believers to seek wisdom, truth, and spiritual guidance from God through His Word and His Spirit.
Can curiosity lead to spiritual deception?
Yes. Curiosity may seem harmless, but it can gradually expose us to ideas and influences that contradict God’s truth. Deception often develops one small step at a time as curiosity becomes interest, interest becomes acceptance, and acceptance leads to participation. That is why Scripture tells us to guard our hearts and carefully consider what we allow to influence our thinking.
Can Christians be spiritually deceived?
Jesus, James, and Paul repeatedly warned believers not to be deceived. These warnings remind us that following Jesus does not mean we should presume we are immune to false teaching, temptation, or spiritual deception. Christians must remain grounded in Scripture, test what they hear, and depend on the Holy Spirit for discernment (Matthew 24:4; James 1:16; Ephesians 5:6).
How can I protect myself from spiritual deception?
Protection begins with knowing God and His Word. Believers should guard their minds, test every teaching and spiritual influence by Scripture, walk closely with the Holy Spirit, and pray for wisdom and discernment. God has given us His Word as truth, the sword of the Spirit, and a means of recognizing what is contrary to His character (Ephesians 6:11–17; Hebrews 4:12).
What should I do if I have participated in occult practices?
Bring it honestly before God, turn away from the practice, and ask Him for forgiveness and wisdom. Remove influences that continue to draw you toward occult beliefs or activities, and replace them with Scripture, prayer, and sound biblical teaching. It may also be helpful to speak with a trusted pastor or mature Christian who can pray with you and help you remain grounded in God’s truth.
Is there hope for someone who has been involved in the occult?
Yes. Jesus Christ is greater than every lie, spiritual influence, and work of the enemy. God is able to forgive, restore, renew the mind, and lead a person into freedom through His truth. As 1 John 4:4 reminds us, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
