A soul tie is a spiritual connection between our soul and that of another person. Soul ties are important to address in walk with God because they can hinder us from getting free from habitual sin (ex. sex & porn addiction). They can act like an anchor to our sinful past that prevents us from walking in true freedom today.
There are good soul ties and bad soul ties. Good soul ties are commonly created in marriage and healthy friendships (Malachi 2:15; Genesis 2:24, 1 Chronicles 12:17, Colossians 2:2). Bad soul ties are created through sinful relationships and/or activities. Examples of situations that could create bad soul ties:
Sex sin: Sex unites people physically, emotionally and spiritually. If we have sex with people other than our spouse, we create soul ties that cause all kinds of problems (spiritual confusion, emotional confusion, sex addiction, compulsivity, obsession, etc.).
Lusting after sex images, memories, objects and fetishes: These activities can establish a soul tie with an evil spirit. An example of this is found in Hosea 4:17 when Ephraim became joined with his idols. A tie may not be established in every instance, but it is certainly possible. Example objects: a favorite porn depiction, a garment worn by a former lover, pictures of former lovers, a cherished sexual memory.
Sexual abuse/molestation: This can result in soul ties between the perpetrator and the victim. If you have been involved in sexual abuse, please seek healing prayer and Christian counsel as you proceed in your journey to freedom. Visit our counseling page for more info.
“Unhealthy” relationships: Examples include relationships characterized by manipulation, guilt, emotional abuse, co-dependency, unnatural affection, envy and/or lust.
How to know if you have a bad soul tie:
Ask the Lord: Take a moment to ask God in prayer to show you if you have soul ties that need to be severed. If the Lord brings people to mind or you think there is a possibility of a soul tie, proceed to pray to cut the soul tie.
Look at the fruit: A way to determine the nature of a soul tie is to examine its fruit (Matthew 7:16-18). Good soul ties will bear good fruit; examples being love, blessing, fidelity, loyalty, honor, righteousness, etc. The overall effect of the good soul tie will be to strengthen our emotional wholeness and our walk with God. Bad soul ties will bear bad fruit, examples being hatred, resentment, curses, manipulation, anger, strife, jealousy, control, bitterness, etc. The overall effect of bad soul ties will be to hold us back from enjoying our relationship with God and to keep us in bondage to whatever we struggle with.
How to Cut Soul Ties
We can cut soul ties by praying in the authority of Jesus Christ. The idea is to identify the source, confess/repent from any sin you committed related to it, cut the ties in Jesus’ name, ask God to remove all negative effects and ask for restoration to wholeness. If you are cutting soul ties related to an object, be sure to destroy the object and remove it from your home. Here’s a sample prayer:
“Father God, I thank you for saving me from destruction. I praise you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Please forgive me for my sins against you. Specifically, I confess that I ______________(details of the sin & names). I repent of that sin and renounce it now. Lord, please purify my heart from this sin, the memory of it and any associated fantasy I have entertained in my mind regarding it. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of his blood shed on the cross, I cut myself free from any soul ties that may have been established with _______ (name (s) or specific objects). I commit him/her/them to the care of Jesus Christ for him to do with as he wills. Satan, I rebuke you in all your works and ways. I rebuke any evil spirits that have a foothold in me. In the name of Jesus, I command you evil spirits to leave me and go directly to Jesus Christ. Father, please heal my soul of any wounds resulting from these soul ties. Please reintegrate any part of me that may have been detained through this/these soul ties and restore me to wholeness. I also ask that you will reintegrate any part of the person(s) I sinned with that has been detained in me, and restore them to wholeness. Thank you, Lord, for your healing power and your perfect love for me. May I glorify you with my life from this point forward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
For those who feel uncomfortable cutting the soul ties themselves, here is a prayer that asks God to cut the ties for us:
“Father God, Thank you for saving me from destruction. I praise you for sending Jesus to die for my sins. Specifically, I confess that I have sinned in the following ways: ______________(details of the sin & names). I repent from those sins and renounce them now. Please forgive me and cleanse my conscience with the blood of Jesus. Lord, please cut the unhealthy soul ties between me and _______ (list name (s)). Please restore me to wholeness in spirit, soul and body and reintegrate any part of me that was involved with those soul ties. I also ask for the salvation and restoration of those people that I was involved with. I commit him/her/them to your care. I rebuke any evil spirits that may have gained a foothold in me from that sin. I command you to leave me and go to Jesus Christ now! Thank you, Lord, for setting me free to live as the new person in Christ you made me to be! I praise you now and forever, Amen!”