How to Pray When You’re Under Spiritual Attack
- Amy Blossom
- 20 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Some seasons of life don’t just feel hard, they feel targeted. The discouragement comes out of nowhere. The fear settles in at night. Old temptations resurface, relationships strain, and prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why does it feel like everything is coming against me at once?” - you may not be imagining it. You may be under spiritual attack.
Scripture never tells us to be afraid of the enemy, but it does tell us to be aware of him. Peter warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Notice, the devil is seeking; he is always looking for an opening. And our greatest weapon when he presses in is not panic, it’s prayer.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 why this is so: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” You see, if the battle is spiritual, and it is, the answer must be spiritual too. Here is how to pray when you are under spiritual attack, and the enemy comes against you.
How to Pray When You are Under Spiritual Attack
Start by Remembering Who You Belong To
When you’re under attack, the enemy’s first goal is to make you forget who you are. So begin your prayer not with your problem, but with your position. You are a child of God, bought by the blood of Jesus, sealed by the Holy Spirit. The enemy has no rightful claim over you.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Pray this truth back to God in this way: “Father, I belong to You. I know that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.”
Before you ever mention the attack, anchor yourself in the One who already won.
Pray the Word of God, Not Just Your Worries
It’s natural to pour out our fears in prayer, and God welcomes that. But in spiritual warfare, our prayers carry the most weight when they’re filled with Scripture. Jesus Himself answered every temptation in the wilderness with three words: “It is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).
The Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) which is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God.
When fear comes, pray a promise instead of repeating the fear. A few promises to keep close:
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1).
Speaking God’s Word in prayer is not a magic formula, it’s an agreement. When you speak God's Word in prayer, you’re aligning your heart with what is already true.
Resist the Enemy—In Jesus’ Name
We don’t fight for victory; we pray from it. Because of the cross, the outcome is already settled. This is why James can say, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Notice the order James gives us: submit first, then resist. We don’t resist the enemy in our own strength or willpower, but under the authority of Jesus.
You can pray plainly: “In the name of Jesus, I resist every spirit of fear, discouragement, and confusion. I do not belong to you. I belong to Christ.”
There’s no need for dramatic words or formulas. The power is not in how loudly you pray, but in the powerful Name in which you pray.
Put On the Whole Armor of God
Paul tells us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Make this part of your spiritual warfare prayers.
As you pray, picture taking up each piece of armor on purpose:
The belt of truth - pray for clarity to see through the enemy’s lies.
The breastplate of righteousness - rest in Christ’s righteousness, not your performance.
The shield of faith -“to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
The helmet of salvation - to guard your mind with the certainty of who saved you.
The sword of the Spirit - the Word of God, always ready on your lips.
Notice that nearly every piece of armor is defensive. Much of spiritual warfare is simply standing your ground and refusing to be moved.
Don’t Pray Alone
The enemy loves isolation. Why? Because a believer cut off from others is easier to discourage. Scripture urges us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), and Jesus promised, “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
When you’re under attack, tell a trusted believer. Ask them to pray with you and over you. There is real strength in shared prayer.
End in Thanksgiving and Peace
Here is one of the most powerful promises for the battle: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
Don’t end your prayer rehearsing the attack. End it by giving thanks that the victory is already won, that God is faithful, and that He has never once left your side. The promised result isn’t that the battle instantly disappears, but that His peace will guard your heart and mind right in the middle of it.
If keeping a daily record of God’s faithfulness would help you build this habit of thanksgiving, my printable Grateful Heart Gratitude Journal is a simple place to start and a gentle way to remember His goodness on the days the battle feels heavy.
Closing Thoughts - Standing Firm
Spiritual attack is real, but it is not the end-all, be-all. The enemy is cunning, but he is also defeated. When the pressure comes, when fear whispers and discouragement presses in, you don’t have to fight in your own strength. You have the privilege of praying from a place of victory that Jesus already secured on the cross.
“You are of God… and have overcome them” (1 John 4:4).
So take heart, child of God. Open your mouth, pray the Word, resist the enemy in Jesus’ name… and stand firm.
“Having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” (Ephesians 6:13–14).
Which promise from God’s Word will you pray the next time you feel under attack? Share it in the comments and pass this post to someone who needs a reminder that the battle is already won.
Blessings,
Amy
