A Prayer for Protection Against Spiritual Attacks - Your Daily Prayer - February 18

A Prayer for Protection Against Spiritual Attacks
By Sophia Bricker 

Bible Reading:
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-11, NIV).

Listen or Read Below:

I treaded cautiously through my backyard, glancing around at the ivy that hung from the fences. Already, I could hear the low growl in my dog’s throat. Beauty ran ahead of me and began barking at the fence, an action she had been doing for the past several days. I couldn’t see anything suspicious and detected no sign of movement. What was causing her so much distress?  

As I went through the routine of refilling water bowls, my dog ran toward another part of the yard and started barking again. This was an urgent alert, and I hurried to see what she had found. Her growls continued as I bent over to examine the serpentine material. On the ground lay a long snakeskin that had recently been shed. A snake had been in the yard, creeping around, but I hadn’t seen it. I shivered at the thought of a misplaced step and was thankful for the protective barks from Beauty, who received plenty of head rubs and treats for her discovery.  

The spiritual realm is often like my experience in the yard as a teenager. Danger lurked despite my eyes telling me there was nothing there. Likewise, we cannot see the battles going on in the heavenly realms or the ways the forces of darkness are working in the world. Yet, they are present, as Scripture tells us. We do not physically perceive Satan prowling like a lion ready to pounce, but that doesn’t make the truth any less real. As it is, “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT).   

That is why we need the armor of God––spiritual protection to guard us from spiritual enemies––and to remain steadfast in our faith (Ephesians 6:10-11). We must be vigilant against the schemes of our enemy and prepared to meet his attacks. The readers of Peter’s epistle needed to stay alert to the devil because of their suffering from persecution. Our Lord promised that we would suffer in this world for following Him (John 16:33). But enduring persecution can leave Christians vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. As can natural suffering that comes from living in a fallen world.  

We can find strength to resist Satan by recognizing the power of our Lord. Like my dog who loyally sought to protect me against the dangers of a snake, Jesus is with us and advocates on our behalf (1 John 2:1). Anytime our accuser tries to accentuate our guilt with the stains of our sins, Christ stands with His nail-scarred hands and declares that He has washed us clean by His blood. The prowling lion who seeks to destroy cannot stand in the presence of the Lion of Judah who triumphed over death (see Revelation 5:5).  

So, we should be watchful as we walk through life, aware of the (often) unseen danger of spiritual attacks. But we can also draw encouragement from knowing our Lord is with us, protecting and strengthening us to stand firm against the arrows of the evil one. He is greater and more powerful than any threat we face.      

Let’s Pray:

May I not be blind, O Lord, to the reality of spiritual forces in the world. Culture and society encourage me to believe only in what I see and touch, but Your Word reveals the folly of such thinking. The fight of every believer is not against people who bear your image, but against the powers of darkness that seek to enslave and render unfruitful. Help me to gird myself with the armor You have provided, standing firm in my trust in You.  

Thank You that You are my Advocate before the Father, protecting me from the accusations of Satan. You have cleansed me from sin so that I am declared righteous in the sight of the Father. Give me strength, Jesus, as I walk through this day to live as the new creation You made me to be, and to stand securely on my faith whenever the blows from the enemy come. I hold onto the truth that You are greater than the one who is in the world. And nothing, not even the powers of hell, can separate me from Your love. Help me to fight with Your Word against the lies of the devil and to pray for my brothers and sisters, near and far, who are also experiencing spiritual attacks.

In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/kevron2001 

Sophia Bricker is a writer. Her mission is to help others grow in their relationship with Jesus through thoughtful articles, devotionals, and stories. She completed a BA and MA in Christian ministry which included extensive study of the Bible and theology, as well as an MFA in creative writing. You can read her thoughts about literature and faith at The Cross, a Pen, and a Page Substack, or visit the discipleship-based site Cultivate, where she writes with her sister.  

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