How to Pray When Under Spiritual Attack

Last Updated: June 20, 2022 References

If you suspect you're under spiritual attack, the Lord will fight for you. To invoke the Lord's power and guard against evil forces, simply express your devotion to Him and remain consistent with your faith-based practices. We'll arm you with knowledge about what spiritual attacks are and how to use prayer to protect yourself. We'll also share prayers to aid in your fight. Read on to step into God's light and come out victorious.

Section 1 of 5:

What is spiritual warfare?

Spiritual warfare is the fight against evil forces to protect your soul. If you are a Christian, you are a “soldier of the Cross” and part of God’s army. Your enemy is Satan, who will either lead you to focus too much on the earthly pleasures of this world or to feel complete despair about your life. When you pray to invoke the Lord and wear His armor, you’ll be led to victory.^{[1]
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- Ultimately, spiritual warfare is a way to resist Satan. The Devil, the “roaring lion,” looks to devour the souls of the righteous (1 Peter 5:8).
- Since Satan will try to launch spiritual attacks to weaken your faith, it’s important to remain spiritually strong so he can’t influence you.
- When you honor your Creator, He will guard your soul.

Section 2 of 5:

What does a spiritual attack feel like?

During a spiritual attack, it will seem like every day is a battle. A spiritual attack is actually common because Satan targets everyone in the Lord’s flock. Since the Devil is so determined to wear righteous followers down, he’ll use subtle tactics and cruel strategies. If you’ve been spiritually attacked, you may:^{[2]
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- Feel discouraged or defeated
- Experience great physical fatigue
- Fall into unhealthy patterns
- Believe everyone is against you
- Find it difficult to connect with God
- Struggle to maintain your faith
- Think that the Lord is punishing you

Section 3 of 5:

Why should I pray while under spiritual attack?

Prayer calls out to God so he can fight evil for you. If you pray to invoke the Holy Spirit, you'll prove to Satan that you're under the Lord's protection. Since the Devil tries to convince followers that they're defenseless, he'll be defeated when he sees that you're guarded by your Creator's light.^{[3]
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- Make it a habit to pray often—when you do, you'll open your mind, heart, and soul to the Lord and block out the Devil's influence.^{[4]
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Section 4 of 5:

Protecting Yourself Against Spiritual Attack

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Create a “war room” as a sacred space to pray and defend yourself. Choose a quiet space that's free of clutter or distractions. Make sure that its only purpose is to focus on the Lord and call out to Him. Whenever you feel weakened or in doubt, enter this "war room" or "prayer closet." It will allow you to shut out to the world and connect with God.^{[5]
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- Think carefully about the design of your war room. For example, will pictures and framed quotes help your spiritual practice, or will they distract you?
- Create a sacred space that's comfortable and serene. You might lay down a rug to protect your knees while you pray.
- Even though it's called a war room, it's perfectly acceptable to make it a sanctuary, as well. When your mind is at ease, it will be able to focus on prayer.
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Commit to daily prayer to build your spiritual strength. Set a reliable schedule that always makes time for the Lord. Carve out a special moment of the day that's dedicated to Him. When you make routine prayer a priority that you won't fall behind on, then Satan will see that you are devoted to God.^{[6]
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- If you make prayer a daily practice, you'll outsmart evil forces because you'll always guard yourself against them.
- Choose a time in the day where you're most energized and able to concentrate on prayer—this might be in the morning or in the evening.
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Wear the “armor of God” to protect yourself with divine might. The "armor of God" is a set of spiritual gifts that the Lord provides to faithful followers. These forms of protection help you resist Satan. To put on the armor of God, reflect on Ephesians 6:10-18. Then, express thankfulness for the strength your Creator can grant you. Praise these defenses that He offers:^{[7]
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- The Belt of Truth
- The Breastplate of Righteousness
- The Gospel of Peace
- The Shield of Faith
- The Helmet of Salvation
- The Sword of the Spirit
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Seek support from believers so they can aid you in your battle. Reach out to church leaders, friends, and loved ones who all celebrate Christ and His holy powers. Share your struggles and ask for their guidance. Discuss the glory of God and pray together. When you unite as followers of the Lord, you stand a strong chance of combating evil forces.^{[8]
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- As allies, your combined faith makes it difficult for Satan to influence any of you.
- Pray a Novena with followers to fight against demonic activity.^{[9]
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- Schedule regular prayer sessions to build your spiritual strength together.
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Fast to reject earthly pleasures and strengthen your prayers. Announce to your Creator what you will abstain from. When you show self-discipline and turn away from the "longings of the flesh", like rich and indulgent food, you'll show you only hunger for the Lord's guidance. Your devotion to God will be a powerful defense against the Devil.^{[10]
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- When you choose to fast, you can go on a "spiritual fast" from activities that steer your focus away from prayer. For example, give up social media for a month.
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Admit to temptations and sins so the Lord can free your soul. If earthly pleasures, such as alcohol, distract you and fail to satisfy your soul, tell the Lord this. Confess your sins and prove you'll hide nothing from the Lord. ^{[11]
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Research source} Ask to repent so you'll be in God's light and radiate His divine power. Satan will see you won't live in the shadows and won't be able to spiritually attack you.^{[12]
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Section 5 of 5:

Prayers for Spiritual Warfare

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The "Believer's Warfare" Prayer
- Excerpt: "Lord, I worship and praise you. I cover myself with the Blood of Jesus to protect me. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly to You. I fight against all the attacks of Satan on my life. I take refuge in the Living God...."
  
  Excerpt: "I am thankful for Your Armor to protect me. I put on the Girdle of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Sandals of Peace, and the Helmet of Salvation. I lift up the Shield of Faith against all the fiery darts of the enemy; I take in my hand the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. I use Your Word against all evil forces in my life. I put on Your Armor, and depend completely upon You. Jesus Christ triumphed over all evil forces in Himself. I claim His victory for my life today."
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The Psalms Prayer of H.E.L.P
- H. “Hear me lord and answer me for I am poor and needy.” (Psalm 86:1)
- E. “Establish my steps in your word.” (Psalm 119:133)
- L. “Let your compassion quickly meet our needs because we are on the brink of despair.” (Psalm 79:8)
- P. “Protect me, God, because I take refuge in You. I say to the Lord, You are my Lord, apart from You I have nothing good.” (Psalm 16:1)^{[13]
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The "Renew My Mind" Prayer
- "Father, renew me, transform me, change me to be more and more like Your Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, teach me and renew my mind. Lord Jesus, make Your home in my heart. Help me to be all You want me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen."^{[14]
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The "Use Me, Lord" Prayer
- "Oh Lord, your word today tells me that You are looking for a loyal follower. Now, Lord, I avail myself to You. I know that You are looking for a faithful servant to stand against Satan. Lord, here I am! Use me!"^{[15]
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The Prayer for Unwavering Trust
- "O God, my Strength, I put my trust in You. You have never forsaken those who seek You. You have never let me down. I know that You never will let me down because my life so far has been a testimony of Your greatness. Mold me into Your image, and hold me close to You. Show me how to mature as a Christian and improve on my walk of faith. Steady my trust in You so that it never wavers, no matter what battles I face on this earth. I declare that my faithfulness to You will be strong at all times. Amen."^{[16]
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A Prayer to Overcome Spiritual Attacks
- "We know that the enemy wouldn’t be fighting so hard against us if we weren’t making a difference for your kingdom. He wouldn’t be trying so hard to stop us if he didn’t think you had so much good still in store. Remind us, today Lord, that the battle belongs to you, and whatever we’re up against can be taken down in one fell swoop by your mighty hand. Please help us to trust you more, to stop wasting time just spinning our wheels or fighting in our strength. Forgive us for the times we’ve neglected to set our eyes and hearts on you, for the days we’ve forgotten to come to you first. Fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit. Fill us with your wisdom and discernment to make us aware of the enemy’s traps, so we can stand strong against his schemes. Thank you for your constant reminders that your presence will go with us, in whatever we face, and you will give us rest. Amen."^{[17]
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Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)
- "No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD."
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2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
- "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."