Praying Through Spiritual Attacks – A Practical Guide
Praying Through Spiritual Attacks – A Practical Guide
Theme
Practical strategies for using prayer to navigate spiritual attacks and maintain emotional resilience.
Story
Spiritual attacks are far more common than many “new Christians” realize. Often, there’s a misconception that choosing Christ makes us untouchable—but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it’s dangerous to think this way. Jesus Himself warned us in John 16:33: "In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Tribulations are inevitable because the Enemy of Souls actively seeks to test and discourage believers. As soldiers for Christ, we must remain alert and prepared for his attacks, particularly those targeting our minds—how we think and what we allow into our thoughts. For many years, I allowed my past to dictate my happiness, influence my decisions, and foster bitterness. Positive thinking wasn’t even an option for me—it wasn’t my first, second, or third choice; it simply wasn’t a choice at all.
When someone wronged me, I would ruminate endlessly on what was done to me. But God changed that. He taught me how to combat negative thoughts through prayer and Scripture—a practice I’ve coined as “Emotional Triage.” Emotional Triage involves rating the intensity of different emotions and counteracting each negative emotion with Bible verses that replace them with positive truths.
One particular test of this practice came in late 2017 with something as simple as V8 juice bottles. At the time, my husband and I lived in Clarinda, Iowa—a small rural town with a population of just over 5,000 people. Amazon Prime became our lifeline for necessities and treats alike.
I had ordered a case of assorted V8 juices and was excited to try the different flavors. After refrigerating them overnight, I eagerly opened the fridge the next morning—only to find three different bottles already opened. Instantly, anger began to bubble up inside me. My teeth clenched as I yelled to my husband: “Did you open these juices?” Mind you, we were the only ones living in the house, so who else would have?
Suddenly, I was transported back to age nine, standing in front of the refrigerator in my childhood home on Willis Avenue. My juice privileges had been taken away because I had opened an orange juice when a grapefruit juice was already available—a rule in our house that felt unfair and punitive at the time. The memory triggered a flood of emotions: frustration, resentment, and anger.
But instead of snapping at my husband further, I began triaging my emotions immediately. I asked myself: Why are you really angry? You’re a grown woman now—you worked hard to buy these juices. There are plenty of unopened bottles left to enjoy. Why let your childhood trauma dictate your reaction today?
Through prayer and reflection, God reminded me to be thankful for His blessings instead of dwelling on past hurts. I turned to my husband calmly and asked which flavor he liked best—choosing gratitude over bitterness. He had no idea that moments earlier I was having an internal meltdown due to unresolved trauma resurfacing in such a small way.
This experience taught me how easily the enemy can attack our minds through faulty thinking if we’re not vigilant. We’ve all heard stories in the news where someone snaps due to unresolved emotional triggers—sometimes leading to tragic outcomes like violence or even murder. Prayer is pivotal in combating spiritual attacks like these because it allows us to process emotions through God’s truth rather than reacting impulsively.
Relevance Today
Spiritual attacks often manifest subtly—through negative thoughts, emotional triggers from past trauma, or sudden conflicts with loved ones. Left unchecked, these attacks can escalate into destructive behavior or decisions that harm ourselves or others.
Prayer is our greatest weapon against these attacks because it connects us directly to God’s strength and wisdom. By praying diligently and using Scripture as our guide, we can navigate spiritual warfare with clarity and resilience.
Bible Verses
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..." - Ephesians 6:18
"In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities..." - Ephesians 6:12
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." - Isaiah 41:10
Call to Action
Practice Emotional Triage by identifying negative emotions during spiritual attacks and counteracting them with Scripture (e.g., John 16:33).
Set aside time each day for focused prayer—especially during moments when you feel spiritually vulnerable.
Reflect on past experiences where prayer helped you overcome emotional triggers or spiritual challenges.
Share your testimony about navigating spiritual attacks with someone who may need encouragement.
Things To Remember
Spiritual attacks target our minds through negative thoughts or unresolved trauma—prayer helps us combat these effectively.
Emotional Triage is a practical tool for identifying triggers and replacing them with God’s truth through Scripture.
Tribulations are inevitable as soldiers for Christ—but victory has already been won at Calvary.
Staying connected to God through prayer equips us to handle spiritual warfare with resilience.
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