"I burned sage to cleanse my house—I participated in witchcraft rituals."
How it sounds in your head: I was just trying to make my home feel peaceful, but burning sage is a Native American ritual. I was practicing witchcraft without knowing it. Maybe I dedicated my home to demons. Maybe that's why nothing feels peaceful.
"I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean."
-- Romans 14:14Religious teaching that ignorant participation in cultural practices equals demon dedication.
Learning that sage burning has spiritual roots in other religions creates retroactive guilt, and ongoing lack of peace seems like evidence the house is cursed. Smoke seems ceremonial and therefore spiritually binding.
After Naaman was healed, he asked permission to take Israelite soil home and mentioned he'd have to bow in the temple of Rimmon with his master. Elisha said, 'Go in peace.' Physical actions in pagan contexts didn't defile him because his heart belonged to the true God.
I REFUSE the lie that burning sage dedicated my house to demons. IT IS WRITTEN: There is nothing unclean of itself, and my intent was peace, not witchcraft. My home belongs to GOD because I belong to God, and where I dwell, His Spirit dwells. IT IS WRITTEN: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. No plant has the power to override my covenant. The BARAK blessing rests on my dwelling, and no accidental ritual can remove it. My house is the Lord's, and PEACE is my portion.
The Father isn't reviewing your home cleansing techniques looking for demonic dedication—He's been living in your house the whole time because YOU live there. He sees your home as His dwelling place, sage smoke and all.