Spiritual Warfare
How do I pray when I feel spiritually attacked?
Answered by [Pastor to be assigned]
Prepared for review — not yet approved teaching The teachings and answers below were drafted so this section could be built and read. They have not been written or reviewed by the pastors of this ministry, and no author is named. Nothing here should be treated as the ministry’s teaching until a pastor has reviewed and adopted it.
The question
I wake up at night feeling oppressed and I freeze. I do not know the right words and I am afraid of praying wrongly.
The answer
Start by putting down the idea that there are right words. There are not. Nowhere does Scripture make the effectiveness of a prayer depend on its wording, and the fear of getting it wrong is doing more to you at three in the morning than anything else is.
Say the name of Jesus. That is enough to begin, and if it is all you manage it is a complete prayer.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26Then, when you can:
- Say out loud what is true — that Jesus is Lord, that He has already won, that you belong to Him.
- Ask plainly for peace. Not for an explanation.
- Read a psalm rather than composing something. Psalm 4, 23, 91 or 121.
- Pray for anybody the fear is attaching to, rather than about them.
Notice what is not on that list: identifying what is happening, naming anything, or working out why. None of that is required, and attempting it while frightened tends to make the night longer.
You can also ask us to pray with you. Prayer here is free and confidential, and you do not need to explain yourself first.
Scripture in this teaching
Romans 8:26 · Psalm 4:8 · Philippians 4:6-7 · James 4:7
You do not have to carry your questions alone.
Write to the pastoral team, ask for prayer, or speak with a pastor. Whichever you choose, it is free and it stays between us.