I recently came under attack from satan and the annoying thing is I didn’t recognize that’s where it was coming from at all.  I want to share my experience and thoughts with you as well as round up as many spiritual warfare prayers and scriptures as I can to help you recognize and defend yourself against the same attacks.

We often think spiritual attack comes from the wicked and sometimes it does.  It most certainly comes in the form of dark muggers, home invaders, or mean people who have no love in them.  Satan definitely uses these people to hurt God’s children.

But, I want to talk about the attacks that come in the guise of light and love.  These attacks are more dangerous because we don’t recognize them as evil, often believing the lies and falling prey to something we wouldn’t normally succumb to.

2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that satan transforms himself as an angel of light.  The master of darkness himself can appear to be good and lovely and acceptable.  It can come in the form of compromise and acceptance, trading in the truth of God for a more comfortable, widely accepted doctrine.  

It may come in the form of a loved one, someone you respect and cherish, having ill feelings toward you or attacking you because of your beliefs.  These attacks are difficult to recognize as satan because you don’t want to be at odds with those you love and honor.  You might question yourself and doubt your own beliefs.  You may doubt what God is telling you or leading you because the person you respect tells you otherwise.

Satan’s attacks come in the form of distractions. Anything to make you take your eyes off Jesus.

Satan’s attacks come in the form of temptations, things we have fought long and hard to overcome or those that we are still in the habit of surrendering.  He does not wish to see you surrender to God’s power because he then loses his.

So, let’s do just that.  Come with me and surrender to God’s power and strength.  Surrender to His will and grace.  Come into His presence with a repentant heart and vow to serve Him all of your days.  Purify your hearts and seek His will.  

May we halt satan’s power over us in Jesus’ name.

What is Spiritual Warfare in the Bible?

Many Christians use terms like “satan must be attacking me today” and it gives the idea that a spiritual battle is just that, a singular attack of satan against you, but we need to step back and take in the bigger picture of spiritual warfare and it happened long before you and I were created.

In Luke 10:18 Jesus mentions seeing Lucifer fall from heaven.  We get more detail in Ezekiel 28:11-19 where we see that satan had originally been a beautiful cherub adorned with precious jewels and was perfect.  But then he took pride in his beauty and he sinned against God and turned violent.  God cast him to earth and here he trolls back and forth still fighting against God and His creation.

Therefore, we are living in the middle of a battle that began long long ago and will continue until the end of the world.  It is a tug of war between satan and God.  Of course, God is all powerful and satan is not, which is why we need to be thankful we are on the winning side.

That being said, there are many ways that we lose the battle.  

• By being in disobedience
• When we are distracted by the things of this world
• By compromising our beliefs
• When we allow our prayer life to slack
• When we do not put God first
• By not repenting and turning to Jesus for salvation
• By conforming to the world
• By believing that being a good person will get us into heaven
• When we do not allow God to transform our minds

We are in a constant battle, not just when things are going badly for us.  It is important to cultivate a prayer life that recognizes this. 

Spiritual Warfare Scriptures

Throughout the Old Testament, we see God giving the children of Israel one military victory over another.  He confused their enemies, made the sun stand still in battle, crushed the walls of Jericho, and used a shepherd boy to slay a giant.  All this was proof of God’s power and strength over the false gods of the wicked.

Most of us today do not fight in a war zone ( thank you soldiers that keep us safe!) but we are in a battle nonetheless.  Our battle is spiritual, just as Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead was a spiritual victory.  He overcame satan that day and brought us into communion with God.  

Don’t you think satan is angry?  You bet he is and he wants to take you down with him.

I don’t know about you, but that is not going to happen on my watch.  Which is why this post on spiritual warfare prayers is so important.  We must fight against satan in prayer, in faith, and in obedience to the word of God.

Ok, before I launch into specific prayers, let’s go over some general verses about spiritual warfare.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

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. (Ephesians 6:12)

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 Peter 5:4-5)

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.  (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Specific Spiritual Warfare Prayers

Fighting in everyday life is exhausting.  We struggle with fear, anxiety, depression, broken relationships, health problems, unforgiveness, jealousy, temptation, and everything that comes with being an imperfect person in a fallen world.  

When we become exhausted it is because we are trying to fight the spiritual in the flesh.  This is a very important point.  You cannot fight the spiritual in the flesh.  It does not work that way.  We must be surrendering to God and fighting with faith.

I am a firm believer in praying the scriptures back to God.  These words are perfect and pure and when we believe them and act upon them, it brings them to life.  God’s word is living, it is meaningful and purposeful for us today.

Spiritual Warfare Prayers and Scriptures for Husbands

Our husbands have a tough job.  They not only need to be strong leaders in our homes, loving their wives and children, but they must go out into the world and provide for us.  The world is not of our making and what takes place there is often out of our control.  Praying that God provides our husbands strength and peace, as well as wisdom, is crucial.  Their decisions and actions affect the rest of the family.  They need to seek God’s will.

Use these verses to guide your prayers.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.  (Romans 16:20)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  (Ephesians 5:15-17)

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Lord, I know that true strength comes from you.  Help my husband today to rely on you, lift him up on wings as eagles over the problems and stresses that discourage him.  Renew his strength that he might fight against satan and give him peace that comes only from you.  

Spiritual Warfare Scriptures to Pray Over Your Children

Our children are under attack as well.  Parenting is full of enough questions and doubts and then you throw a sinful world that is pulling at your child into the mix and your prayers become all the more earnest.  Am I right?  

I have a series of posts on prayers for your children so be sure to check these out for a lot more verses!

14 Powerful Bible Verses to Pray Over Your Son

20 Bible Verses to Pray Over Your Daughter

Bedtime Prayers for Kids to Help Them Feel Loved, Safe, and Peaceful

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  (Matthew 22:37-38)

Isn’t that what we want for our children?  That they grow up to love the Lord with all of their hearts and to show that love to everyone?

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Lord, always be with my child.  Guide them, protect them, and may they always know that you are with them.

 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)

Lord, fill my children’s hearts with thanksgiving and gratitude.  May they be surrounded by your peace and love.

Savoring Each Moment also has a wonderful roundup of verses!

Spiritual Warfare Prayers and Scriptures for Sleep

Have you ever tossed and turned all night because your mind simply could not relax and rest?  Here are some Bible verses about sleep for you to pray.

When you pray these verses, it is important that you confess their truth.  Rather than simply accepting the verse and finding comfort in it, we are actually praying them so we are turning them into action.  When we read “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” from Psalm 4:8, we can confess and claim these promises.  

Thank you, Lord, that you make me dwell in safety!  I am lying down in peace because you have given me peace.  I claim your peace on myself and my family.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  (Luke 11:28-30)

Thank you, Jesus, that I can rest in you.  I take your yoke, I accept your will, and trust you to lead.  I will rest in you.  I will be at peace because you are the prince of peace.

I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. (Psalm 3:5)

 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34)

 Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Spiritual Warfare Scripture Prayers for Marriage

Whether your marriage is strong and you need God’s help keeping it that way or your marriage is in trouble, praying these verses over your marriage is a good place to start.  Remember, that we are turning these verses into action.  Therefore when we read from 1 Corinthians 13, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;” we can turn that into a request.  

Lord, help me to be patient with his/her shortcomings.  Fill my heart with kindness and may my words be pleasing to you.  Remove the envy from my heart and teach me to love the way you do.

‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:5-6)

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)

For more info on spiritual warfare for marriage check out Hope and Joy in Christ’s post about how to create prayers for marriages in trouble.

Spiritual Warfare Scripture Prayers for Protection

Spiritual warfare prayers for protection can cover a wide variety of situations.  The first thing that comes to mind is physical protection.  Since losing my beautiful 8 year old daughter in an accident, I live in constant fear of losing another child.  This fear influences my decisions, prayers, and actions.

I was recently supposed to drive to a town about 2.5 hours away but there was such dense fog that I decided to stay home.  A few hours later I heard about a fatal accident on the same road I would’ve been traveling.  I felt as if God had spared me from what could’ve been a very bad situation.

God protects us from dangers that we are unaware of all day long.  Sometimes God brings them to our attention and others we remain oblivious.  Praying for physical protection is something I do daily.

I often turn to Psalm 91.  This Psalm was written by Moses and you can hear his experiences in words like “terror by night”, “darkness”, and “plague”.  The psalm is long so I’m not going to put the whole chapter here, but I want to point out a few of my favorite verses.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (verses 1 and 2)

While God is a refuge from physical danger, He is also a refuge from emotional pain.  In Him we find healing, in Him we find security, and in Him we find true peace.

For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.  (verses 11-12)

When I was a kid, my mom had a picture of a little boy and girl walking on a broken bridge.  They were clearly unaware of the danger they were in.  There was a beautiful angel hovering over them.  I think of this picture every time I read this verse.

Beside physical dangers, God protects us against satans tactics.  His efforts to cause us to sin, to lose sight of God, to focus on the world rather than on Jesus.  We need to pray against these fiery darts as well.

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.  (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

Discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you,

To deliver you from the way of evil,  (Proverbs 2:11-12)

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you;  (Psalm 20:1)

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.  I hope you have found verses to arm yourself and your family.  Which of these spiritual warfare verses resonated with you?  Which are you going to begin praying today?  Do you have a verse that you often pray that is not listed here?  Share it in the comments below!