A Pivotal Moment: Entering Heartland Women’s Recovery Program
“Brandie honey, please don’t run. You just might not make it if you do.” These were the words that my mom spoke to me as she and my dad dropped me off at the Heartland Women’s Recovery Program in September of 2021. Little did I know the transformation through faith and recovery that would take place in my life during the next year; running away from my problems (literally) had been somewhat of a profession at this point in my life. Considering that as I looked around me that day and saw nothing but corn fields for miles and miles, I thought, “Well God, you sure know what you’re doing now don’t ya?”
The Heartbreaking Reality of Witchcraft
“I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.” Ezekiel 36:24-25
If someone would have told me something like this four years ago, I would have boldly stated, “There is no way in H-E double hockey sticks!” I was a devout pagan woman living a pagan lifestyle—a “green witch” more or less—consumed with crystals and stones that I truly believed were protecting me, message bamboo that helped me track down my ‘prey,’ and splitting the clouds with one command in order to view my gleaming boyfriend, Moon (yes, the actual moon in the sky). It’s true! Such a lost soul in a world full of utter destruction.
Being so engulfed in witchcraft and deception had turned my life for the worst. I know, I know, who would have ever thought so, huh? (Shaking my head as I look back.) As a pagan, you truly believe that you are the one in control of these deceptive demons, elemental spirits, or what some people may call a ‘god’, but the most heart wrenching part of it al, is that “they” are completely in control of you…some just don’t know it, yet. An evil bitterness engulfs you. That brings us our next verse…
The Life-Changing Power of God’s Word
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove your heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
Friends, that is EXACTLY what Christ did for me! Learning how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ (ex. praying and communicating with Jesus, reading the Bible, trusting in the Red Letters) changed my life completely! It molded my heart into something new and beautiful. I learned to trust and obey. My mourning was FINALLY turning into joy! I was able to give the Creator of the universe my life issues so HE could handle them properly and I laid my struggles at the feet of Jesus. I asked Him to take my burdens, guilt and shame (SO much shame) away from me, and then trust that He did!
Experiencing Transformation: A New Heart and Spirit
“And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” Ezekiel 36:27
Say what?! Me, obey? The old me would have said, “No way.” Just ask those who knew me at the Madison County Sheriff Department.
But all praise be to God for His goodness and mercy! He did it! The LORD put His Holy Spirit inside of me and now I am forever “ruined for Christ”. (That is a good thing if you weren’t sure.) Being “ruined for Christ” is not about perfection, but surrender. It’s about continually giving your heart to God and letting Him lead!
A Call to Hope
Friends, if you or someone you know is struggling with life altering situations, please give Heartland Recovery a call at 573-633-5606 or visit the “Get Help” page this site so we can help guide you into a new way of life; a life with Jesus Christ at the center of it all. We are not perfect, but we do know that our God truly is!
Brandie Brown, HWRP Staff
To hear more of Brandie’s story of transformation through faith and recovery, click here for her video testimony.