Praying in spiritual warfare is something that should not be taken lightly. You want to make sure that your spirit is right and true when taking on this prayer fete. It is a powerful weapon that we have against the attack from Satan.
The
Bible says in Ephesians (KJV), "For we
wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places."
Jesus
Christ defeated death, Hell and the grave and took the keys of Satan's kingdom when He died on the cross for our sins. Through the
Name of Jesus, you can do anything!
Not long ago, my church hosted a large event. There had been many preparations that had taken place and much prayer and fasting for this event. The entire church knew that God was wanting to do something wonderful and we were all excited and anticipating a great move!
While there were many good things that happened during the first night of that event, there were many distractions and things that were trying to take people's mind off of the true reason why we had all gathered.
When the end of the night came, after all of the lights had been turned off and the last of the crew were leaving the parking lot...exhausted, yet purpose filled, the Lord began to show me and speak to me about certain spirits that had tried to hinder God's move that night.
I felt the strong urge to pray and go to warfare about these spirits that were trying to hinder what the congregation had felt would take place. I'm not one to actively seek out trouble, but when God begins to speak to you about specific areas of trouble, you move, you pray, and you go to war!
The next morning with a strong burden, a passion, and a heavy heart to see God's will be done in this event, I began praying in spiritual warfare. God gave me a boldness. He told me what to pray about. He brought scriptures to my heart to speak. Speaking God's Word is a powerful thing.
When I did my part, God did His part during the remainder of the event. But God needs us to move when He says move. He needs a willing vessel.
With this in mind, I want to equip other women who feel the burden and need to pray in spiritual warfare to break strongholds that are binding.
Ways to pray in Spiritual Warfare
- Pray for the covering of the blood of Jesus
This first step is very important. You cannot go in this battle alone. This is not your battle to fight, it is God's. You need to be covered in the blood of Jesus! Exodus 12:13, Leviticus 8:30, and Revelations 12:11 tells us what happens when the blood is applied to our lives.
Plead the blood of Jesus over your life, your home, your family, and whomever or whatever else you feel impressed to pray over.
2. Put on the whole armour of God
When a soldier steps onto the battlefield, he is not bare. He has been equipped with full armour. The next step will be to put on the full armour of God. You cannot just put on what you pick and choose. You will not be protected that way. Ephesians 6:13-17 perfectly describes how we should put on the whole armour of God.
You will need the helmet of salvation: Pray for protection over your mind.
You will need the breastplate of righteousness: Pray for God to keep your heart right.
You will need your loins girt about with truth: Pray for God to give you loving truth and to keep you from lies and error.
You will need your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace: Pray that you will bring peace everywhere you go, and that you are peaceful.
You will need your shield of faith: Pray that God will quench all fiery darts of the enemy and help you when you do not understand.
You will need to sword of the spirit: Pray for God's Word to do a work through you.
3. Bind
and Loose Spirits
Once you have prayed and are covered by the blood of Jesus and have the armour of God on, it's time to bind evil spirits that are attacking. Bind means forbidding or to prohibit. Then, you will loose God's spirit. Loosing means permitting or to permit.
Matthew 18:18 says, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
- If you bind the spirit of fear, you will loose the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.
- If you bind a perverse spirit, you will loose an excellent spirit.
- If you bind a spirit of jealousy, you will loose the love of God.
- If you bind the spirit of error, you will loose the spirit of truth.
- If you bind the lying spirit, you will loose the spirit of truth.
- If you bind the spirit of heaviness, you will loose the Comforter, Garment of Praise, and/or Oil of Joy.
- If you bind seducing spirits: you will loose the Holy Spirit and/or the Spirit of Truth.
I could go on and on, but I'm going to stop here. You understand what it means to bind and loose and you know Who you can call on.
4. Cast
down Strongholds
The devil likes to take on strongholds over peoples' lives, but we must remember that God is the ultimate authority. II Corinthians 10:4 says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds."
There are strongholds that the devil has built up in families, homes, lives, marriages, communities, and nations. We have the power through Jesus Christ to cast down every strong hold and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
5. Pray the Word
When you have come to a place in your prayer that you feel the heavy burden lifted, you can then begin praying the Word of God.
You can look up your own scriptures that pertain to the particular situation that you are praying about or you can use these scriptures.
- Psalms 1:1-3
- Hosea 2:6-7
- Jude 1:24-25
- 1 John 1:9
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
However you choose to pray in spiritual warfare, whether it is with a group of like-minded believers, with a friend, or by yourself in a private room, know that God is with you. And, you are doing a great and mighty work in His kingdom and for His glory!
