Warrior's Prayer: How to Pray When Satan Attacks

Warrior's Prayer: How to Pray When Satan Attacks

The armor of God is what we use to defend ourselves when Satan attacks. It is the warrior’s uniform given to every Christian. It is composed of supernatural tools He has given us to contend with the rulers of this dark and imperfect world.

Ephesians 6 lists them as the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, and the shoes of peace. Without these pieces we are sitting ducks—easy targets for the enemy’s attacks. A Christian sidelined by fear, distraction, temptations, unrepented sin, debilitating emotional pain, or frustration is a Christian who has forgotten to utilize his armor.

So, what are we to do when spiritual warfare comes to us? The answer is found not only in Ephesians 6, along with the individual pieces of armor, but throughout the entire book of Ephesians as we learn the one component that powers our armor: prayer.

The Armor of the Believer

Before we go any further, let’s stop here and think about what the armor does for us. They are weapons, but what kind of weapons? The kind that will protect us on all sides? Truly physical weapons that will make the enemy materialize so we can defeat him? No, they are metaphorical and passive weapons, only meant to protect us defensively. Our armor does not protect us from behind; therefore, we are not meant to retreat. We are meant to stand. The armor is metaphorical, spiritual, because the battle being waged for our souls is happening in the spiritual realms beyond our physical eyes—

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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:12-13).

The Power of Jesus' Prayers on Our Behalf

It is the prayers of Jesus on our behalf that connect us to the battle-ready strength God offers us—our armor. In Romans 8, Paul tells us that Christ is risen from the dead and sitting at the right hand of God, making “intercession for us” (verse 34). It is by His prayers on our behalf that we come to surrender our lives to Him. And His prayers go even further in Ephesians 1 as Paul addresses the sanctification process, the process by which we are constantly growing and being transformed through prayer. Specifically, Paul is speaking of how we draw closer to Christ better by praying that He will reveal Himself to us—

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power(Ephesians 17-19).

But be warned: knowing God more will make you a target on the enemy’s radar.

The only way to defend yourself is to put on your spiritual armor.

Set Up for Battle

So, if our individual pieces of armor are passive and spiritual, how are we supposed to “put on” these weapons of spiritual warfare? How are we meant to defend ourselves and our faith?

The answer: prayer.

Prayer is our one offensive weapon. It is the tool we have that helps us know God better and grow closer to Him. Prayer also helps us get to know ourselves better, including our biggest struggles. These struggles are personalized, the very weapons the enemy uses as he attempts to defeat each of us forever. He wants to render us useless in the fight being waged beyond what our eyes can see. But God desires for us to use our defensive tool—prayer—to put on our armor and stand against the devil himself—not fight, only stand—while we allow God to fight at the front of the battle.

So, we know Christ is always praying for us and God is always protecting us as we come to know Him better. We also know others are praying for us just as Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians. What else is left? We have to pray for ourselves. We put on our armor by praying it on every day, and constantly returning to our safe place in His arms throughout our day. Occasionally it is brought to my attention that prayer is difficult; I agree, it has its difficult moments. But that is why I like to recite the Warrior’s Prayer, and I have written it below. I pray you read it, perhaps even memorize it, using it as a means of communication with our Savior, asking Him to put your armor on and stand against the wiles of the evil one.

What is the Full Armor of God?

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Eph. 6:10-18

The Belt Of Truth

The Believer's Integrity - A soldier in Paul's day had a leather girdle or belt that he tightened about his waist to protect his loins and carry his weapons of warfare, such as a dagger or sword. The belt also held his tunic together so it wouldn't be snagged. In Christian armor, it is integrity that holds everything else together. If you do not have integrity in the big and small things of your life, you are going to lose the battle. Would people say that you are a woman or man of integrity? If not, then you cannot win the battle.

The Breastplate Of Righteousness

The Believer's Purity - The breastplate of a soldier was sometimes made of woven chain and used to cover the soldier's vital organs. For the Christian, the breastplate is righteousness.

The enemy wants to attack you not only with lies, but also with impurity. He wants you to read filthy magazines, watch immoral movies, and engage in all temptations of the flesh. The bottom line is that Satan wants to get into your heart and mind. He's looking for a crack in your armor. And don't be fooled. Satan knows where that crack is. Is your heart pure before God? If not, then you cannot win the battle.

The Shoes Of Peace

The Believer's Tranquility - A Roman soldier's shoes would have hobnails on the sole, very much like football cleats because when they were fighting they needed solid footing from which to move.

Unless you have a solid footing of peace, you can never make war. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? When Satan comes against your tranquility, he throws out stones and briars of doubts and discouragement to cause you to stumble. Do you have peace right now? If not, then you cannot win the battle.

The Shield Of Faith

The Believer's Certainty - The Roman soldier's shield measured approximately two by four feet and was made of wood covered with leather. In that day, soldiers dipped arrows in oil, then lit them and shot them at the enemy. These shields were vital to protect the solider from getting burned.

Satan is going to fire flaming arrows of doubt at you. He wants to place subtle doubts in your mind about God and His Truth. He knows a spark can ignite a big fire. You will need to feed your faith and starve your doubts. Are there any seeds of doubt in your mind today? If there are, then you cannot win the battle.

The Helmet Of Salvation

The Believer's Sanity - A soldier used a helmet to protect his head because if his head was wounded, he wouldn't be able to think. Every believer needs to have the mind of Christ under the control of Almighty God.

When a person is saved, for the first time he has his right mind. A person without the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ has a form of insanity. They do not operate with the mind that God made them to have. The most important thing for you to have at all times is an assurance of your salvation. Do you know that you are saved? If you aren't, then you cannot win the battle.

Sword of the Spirit

The Word of God - When we are tempted, the most effective weapon that God has given to us as believers is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Jesus modeled this so beautifully during His temptation in the wilderness. When the devil tried temptation after temptation against Him, Jesus used the sword of the Spirit. Jesus spoke the Word of God to Satan. In Luke 4:1-13, Jesus responded, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord God only. Him only you shall serve.” and again brought the Scripture back into context, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

The sword of the Spirit works. Memorize Scripture and use the Word of God to defeat Satan's lies and attacks.

God has a plan for our lives. The enemy has a plan for us too. We just have to decide which voice we’re going to listen to, and who we're going to choose to follow each day. And chances are, if we don't make a determined choice to follow God, we may eventually fall into the evil one’s trap. God gives specific instructions in his Word, he gives us all we need to stand strong in this life. Yet all too often we race through busy, full days, ill-equipped, unprepared, or simply not aware of what we’re up against, or who the real enemy even is.

If you're a believer living like salt and light in this dark world, you won't go for long without encountering obstacles and attacks he'll hurl straight your direction. This battle is real, it’s intense.

Focusing here today, putting on His armor, staying alert, and praying, that God will equip believers everywhere to "stand strong."

Armor of God Prayer

Dear God,

We thank you that you hold the victory over sin and death in this world. We thank you that you came to set the captives free. We thank you for your redemptive work you’ve done in our lives. We thank you for freedom and the hope you bring.

We hold your Word of Truth as weapon against the enemy’s schemes, and proclaim he does not have authority over our lives for we’ve been set free. Give us wisdom and discernment to recognize his traps and to stand strong against his work. Fill us fresh with the power of your Holy Spirit.

Today we put on the full armor to guard our lives against attack. We put on the belt of truth to protect against lies and deception. We put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts from the temptations we battle. We put the gospel of peace on our feet, so we’re ready to take your light wherever you send us this day. We choose to walk in the peace and freedom of your Spirit and not be overcome with fear and anxious thoughts. We take up your shield of faith that will extinguish all the darts and threats

The Armor of God Prayer Ephesians 6:11-18 “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. “ First—Put on the Armor of God The Helmet of Salvation Thank you, Lord, for my salvation. I receive it in a new and fresh way from You, and I declare that nothing can separate me now from the love of Christ and the place I shall ever have in Your kingdom. The Breastplate of Righteousness And yes, Lord, I wear Your righteousness today against all condemnation and corruption. Fit me with Your holiness and purity— defend me from all assaults against my heart. The Belt of Truth Lord, I put on the belt of truth. I choose a lifestyle of honesty and integrity. Show me the truths I so desperately need today. Expose the lies that I am not even aware that I believe. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace I do choose to live for the gospel at any moment. Show me where You are working and lead me to it. Do not let me become slack in my walk. The Shield of Faith Jesus, I lift the confidence that You are good against every lie and every assault of the enemy. You have good in store for me. Nothing is coming today that can overcome me because You are with me. The Sword of the Spirit Holy Spirit, show me specifically today the truths of the Word of God that I will need to counter the snares of the enemy. Bring them to mind throughout the day. Then—Pray Finally, Holy Spirit, I agree to walk in step with You in everything—in all prayer as my spirit communes with You throughout the day.