Know Your Weapons

Using a Prayer Strategy for Victory in Spiritual Warfare — Part 2

Recognizing spiritual warfare is important, but recognition alone isn’t enough. We must learn how to use the spiritual weapons God has provided.

Second Corinthians 10:4 declares:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”

God has not left His children defenseless. He has given us His Word, prayer, faith, the authority of Jesus’ name, praise and worship, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Start With “It Is Written”

Matthew 4 gives us one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of responding to spiritual attack.

When Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus repeatedly responded:

“It is written.”

The enemy challenged what God had already spoken. Jesus answered the challenge with God’s Word.

We should learn from His example.

When fear attacks, find what Scripture says about fear.

When condemnation comes, find what Scripture says about your standing in Christ.

When anxiety rises, find God’s promises concerning His peace.

When circumstances appear impossible, find what Scripture says about God’s power.

Ephesians 6:17 describes the Word of God as “the sword of the Spirit.”

Learn to use your sword.

Turn God’s Word Into Prayer

A powerful prayer strategy is to turn Scripture into personal prayer.

Instead of allowing fear to dominate your thoughts, pray 2 Timothy 1:7:

“Father, You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Therefore, I reject fear and choose to believe Your Word.”

When anxiety attacks, pray Philippians 4:6–7. Bring the situation specifically before God and ask His peace to guard your heart and mind.

When the enemy brings condemnation, declare Romans 8:1 and thank God that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Strategic prayer isn’t attempting to force God to fulfill our personal desires. It is bringing our prayers, thoughts and desires into alignment with what God has revealed in His Word.

Let the Holy Spirit Help You Pray

Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses because sometimes “we do not know what we should pray for as we ought.”

There will be battles you don’t completely understand.

There will be situations where you cannot see what is happening behind the scenes.

That is why Spirit-led prayer is so important.

First Corinthians 14:15 speaks about praying both with the spirit and with understanding.

Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom. Pray according to Scripture. And as He leads, pray in the Spirit.

Praise Before the Breakthrough

Second Chronicles 20 gives us another remarkable picture of spiritual warfare.

Jehoshaphat faced an enemy too powerful for Judah to defeat naturally. God told them, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Then Jehoshaphat sent worshipers ahead of the army.

They praised before they saw the victory.

Scripture tells us that when they began singing and praising, God moved against their enemies.

There is a lesson for us.

Don’t make your worship dependent upon your circumstances.

Praise God because He is worthy.

Praise Him because He is faithful.

Praise Him before the answer comes.

Praise Him while you’re waiting.

Praise Him in the middle of the battle.

Develop Your Prayer Strategy

When spiritual warfare comes, don’t simply react emotionally.

Identify the battle.

Find Scriptures addressing the battle.

Turn those Scriptures into prayer.

Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your intercession.

Praise God before you see the breakthrough.

Then stand in faith.

The enemy wants you reacting in fear.

God calls you to respond in faith.

The enemy wants your eyes fixed on circumstances.

God calls you to fix your eyes on Jesus.

The enemy wants his lies filling your mind.

God has given you His Word.

Know your weapons. Pick up your sword. And stand.

Declaration

I declare that the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but mighty through God. I will not allow circumstances, emotions or the lies of the enemy to speak louder than God’s Word. The Word of God is living and powerful, and I will answer every lie with truth. I will pray with understanding and pray in the Spirit. I will praise God before I see the breakthrough. Jesus Christ is Lord over every circumstance I face, and having done all, I will stand in faith. I am equipped, empowered and strengthened by the Holy Spirit for every battle before me.

Prayer

Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, thank You for giving me everything I need to stand in spiritual warfare.

Teach me to use the weapons You have provided.

Holy Spirit, reveal every lie I have believed and replace it with the truth of God’s Word. Bring Scriptures to my remembrance when the enemy attacks my thoughts.

Teach me to pray Your Word instead of simply reacting to my emotions.

When I don’t know what to pray, Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness. Lead my prayers according to the perfect will of God.

Father, teach me to worship before I see the answer. When circumstances tell me to fear, I will praise You. When the enemy tells me nothing will change, I will declare Your faithfulness.

I declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. I stand upon the finished work of the Cross and the victory of the resurrection.

Your Word is my sword.

Faith is my response.

Prayer is my strategy.

Praise will remain in my mouth.

And the Holy Spirit is my Helper.

I will not retreat. I will not surrender to fear. Having done all, I will stand.

In the mighty and victorious name of Jesus, Amen.