Key Takeaways
• Melissa received miraculous deliverance from the spirit of lust after 40 years of torment triggered by childhood sexual abuse at age four, with all intrusive sexual thoughts, pornography, alcohol, cigarettes, and related desires vanishing completely after one deliverance prayer.
• Through full surrender to God, 40 days of nonstop Scripture listening amid demonic opposition, she reached rock bottom and experienced total supernatural freedom, showing no bondage is beyond Jesus’ power to break.
• Her healing from childhood trauma and breaking trauma bonds inspired the creation of Lifted Hands ministry, where she now disciples women, guides them into deliverance, and equips them to walk in lasting freedom with healthy boundaries and trust in God’s voice.
Melissa’s miraculous deliverance from the spirit of lust began in the most heartbreaking way possible, a supposed safe place that became the very origin of her long journey of healing from childhood trauma and breaking trauma bonds. It was a quiet home daycare where four-year-old Melissa played with other children. Instead, that ordinary afternoon turned into the beginning of a nightmare.
Older children, led by a 10-year-old girl, forced Melissa into sexual acts she could not understand. The abuse continued for years, both at the daycare and in other locations. From that moment, a spirit of lust entered her life and would torment her for the next 40 years.
She carried the weight in silence. The same children who abused her later taunted her at school, calling her names in front of classmates. She withdrew, believing something was deeply wrong with her. Intrusive sexual thoughts began at age four and never left.
She viewed the entire world through a lens of sexuality, yet she did not recognize the oppression for what it was.
The Crisis of Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Grip of Trauma Bonds
As Melissa grew, the effects of that early trauma followed her.
She struggled to be emotionally available in relationships. Even after becoming a Christian at age 24 and marrying, life took a painful turn. Her marriage ended, and the church community she loved withdrew. No longer allowed to serve and no longer invited to home group events, she felt profound isolation.
Impatient and lonely, she sought a relationship on her own.
She met a man on Facebook, moved to California, and quickly spiraled into daily alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and drugs. The relationship became physically violent. One night he wrapped his hands around her neck, shaking her and saying he would kill her. She began to black out. Another time his eyes went black and his face filled with murder as he came after her.
She left, but the trauma bond pulled her back.
Melissa later described it like a slot machine: the abuser gives just enough love and affection to create an addictive high. The cycle of tension, explosion, and honeymoon phase kept her chasing that feeling.
“Most of the time I was nervous,” she said. “But the high was so high that you would stay for that moment.” She finally escaped for good, only to lose friends, family, and contact with her daughter for a time.
At rock bottom, she cried out to God.
Faith and Prayer: Surrender in the Midst of Spiritual Warfare
Broken and physically oppressed, Melissa began listening to the audio Bible 24 hours a day for 40 days.
The first week she could not sleep.
When the recording said “the Lord,” she heard a mocking voice. Demons whispered that Jesus had left her and it was too late.
In complete surrender she declared, “Jesus, I will serve you no matter what. Even if it’s too late for me, I will share your word because I don’t want anyone else to go to hell.”
Immediately the torment lifted. God impressed on her heart that she was still His, that He loved her, and that He wanted to heal her. The guilt and shame began to fall away as He brought things to the surface for confession and repentance.
Divine Intervention: The Deliverance from the Spirit of Lust
Through watching Isaiah Saldivar on YouTube, Melissa learned about deliverance ministry. Agitated and knowing she needed help, she went to a church that practiced healing and deliverance. She laid everything on the table: alcohol, cigarettes, pornography, and the spirit of lust.
As the minister prayed and commanded the spirits to leave in Jesus name, Melissa began coughing uncontrollably. She tried to hold it in, embarrassed. Afterward she felt good but noticed no dramatic change right away.
The Turning Point: Signs of Miraculous Freedom
Four weeks later the evidence was undeniable. Melissa had not smoked a cigarette, had not taken a drink, had not looked at pornography, and had not masturbated. More importantly, she had not wanted to. The lifelong intrusive sexual thoughts that began at age four were gone.
“I started to notice that I looked at people differently,” she said. “I didn’t think about sex. I didn’t have certain feelings in my body that I’d had my whole life since I was four years old.”
She realized this was not merely crucifying the flesh. It was a spirit, and Jesus had cast it out. This was the miraculous deliverance from the spirit of lust.
Recovery and Transformation: Healing from Childhood Trauma
Melissa distinguishes her earlier conversion from this deeper experience.
“I came to the end of myself,” she says. Where she once said Jesus is enough while still longing for a partner, she now lives it fully. “He is everything. Everything else is just icing on the cake.”
God replaced the old lies of worthlessness with truth. She is a precious daughter of the King, lavishly loved, and He wants to use her voice. Satan had tried to keep her silent her whole life. Now she understood why: God had always planned to use her voice.
Breaking Trauma Bonds and the Birth of Lifted Hands Ministry
Out of her healing from childhood trauma and the breaking of trauma bonds, Melissa launched a ministry called Lifted Hands. Its purpose is to disciple women, equip them to find freedom in Christ through healing and deliverance, help them walk in that freedom with proper boundaries, and teach them to trust the voice of the Father.
Melissa’s transformation shows that no one is too far gone. The same God who met her in the darkest hour is ready to meet anyone who turns to Him. You do not have to reach rock bottom.
A simple “Jesus, I need You” is enough to begin.
Her story is living proof that complete freedom is possible when hidden things are brought into the light of Christ. The intrusive thoughts, the addictions, the shame, the trauma bonds, all of it can be broken through the power of Jesus.
Watch the Miracle Unfold
The full depth of Melissa’s journey, the childhood abuse, the violent relationship, the intense spiritual warfare, and the moment of miraculous deliverance from the spirit of lust is best experienced in her own words. Watch the complete interview on Jan The Miracle Hunter’s YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@JanTheMiracleHunter.
Key moments include:
Melissa’s honest description of the spirit of lust that began at age four and followed her into church
The terrifying choking incident and the Holy Spirit’s quiet instruction that saved her life
The powerful deliverance prayer where spirits manifested through uncontrollable coughing
The astonishing realization four weeks later that every desire and intrusive thought was completely gone
Praise God! We give Him all honor and glory for this miracle!
