What Does the Bible Say?
If you feel like the devil is attacking you, start with biblical discernment. Not every difficult circumstance is a spiritual attack. Scripture does show us specific ways Satan works, including deception, temptation, accusation, division, and attempts to pull our attention away from God’s truth.
He tells us to stand.
Ephesians 6:10 begins, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” Now I want you to notice something. Where does that strength come from? Not you, nor your willpower. It’s certainly not going to come from your best effort of gritting your teeth and trying harder.
The Lord.
Paul then tells believers to put on the whole armor of God so that we can “stand against the schemes of the devil.” So let’s be honest about what’s true here. There is a battle, an enemy, and schemes- meaning real tactics- that we are told to recognize and call out. This isn’t me being dramatic. This is biblical.
But here’s what I want you to hold onto: God has not left His children defenseless. Not for one second. He has given us His truth, His righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, His Word, prayer, and ultimately, Christ Himself. That’s not a small list, and it’s everything we need.
So when the enemy attacks, and he will, our response is not fear. In the name of Jesus, we don’t have to shake. We don’t have to spiral.
We stand.
How Do I Know If I’m Under Spiritual Attack?
Scripture shows us that Satan works through deception, temptation, accusation, division, and opposition to God’s truth. But every difficult circumstance is not necessarily a spiritual attack. Christians should be careful about blaming Satan for every fearful thought, conflict, illness, or hardship. Instead, we look at what Scripture says about the enemy’s schemes and ask whether we are being tempted to distrust God, believe a lie, remain in sin, live in fear, condemn ourselves, or turn away from faithful obedience to Christ.
How Does Satan Attack According to the Bible?
When we talk about spiritual warfare, we don’t need to speculate about what Satan might be doing. Scripture already tells us enough about his character, his purposes, and his schemes to know what we are standing against.
The Bible describes Satan as a liar and deceiver who seeks to distort God’s truth (John 8:44; Genesis 3:1–5; Revelation 12:9). From the beginning, one of his strategies has been to cause people to question what God has said and whether God can really be trusted.
He is also a tempter (Matthew 4:1–11; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). Satan tempted Jesus Himself, attempting to draw Him away from obedience to the Father. Temptation is not the same thing as sin. Jesus was tempted and remained without sin. The battle comes when we are pressured to believe, desire, or do something contrary to God’s will.
Scripture also calls Satan the accuser of God’s people (Revelation 12:10). Accusation seeks to keep our attention fixed on guilt, shame, failure, and ourselves rather than on repentance, forgiveness, and the finished work of Christ.
Peter warns that our adversary “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8), while Paul warns Christians about the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Satan is not passive in his opposition to God’s people.
Scripture even records Satan hindering Paul’s plans (1 Thessalonians 2:18), taking advantage of opportunities created by unresolved anger (Ephesians 4:26–27), and disguising himself as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Paul therefore warns believers not to be ignorant of Satan’s designs (2 Corinthians 2:11).
This gives us an important biblical balance.
We don’t need to see Satan behind everything, but neither should we be ignorant of what Scripture says he actually does.
He lies, deceives, tempts, accuses, schemes, seeks opportunities, opposes God’s people, and attempts to draw our attention away from truth and faithful obedience to Christ.
Knowing that should not make us afraid of Satan. It should make us more determined to know God’s Word, recognize deception, resist temptation, reject accusation, remain alert, and stand firm in Christ.
How Did Jesus Respond to Satan?
We don’t have to guess how to respond when the enemy attacks. God gave us an example, and it’s Jesus Himself. In Matthew 4:1–11, Jesus was led into the wilderness, and Satan came at Him directly. Now watch what Jesus did not do here, because this matters. He didn’t become fascinated with Satan. He didn’t sit there analyzing the enemy, trying to figure him out. He didn’t negotiate with him.
Jesus stood on the truth of God’s Word.
Three times Satan tempted Him, and three times Jesus responded the exact same way:
“It is written.”
But here’s something in this passage I don’t want you to miss, because I think it’s the part we skip right past. Satan knows Scripture too.
During the second temptation, Satan actually quoted Psalm 91 back to Jesus. He used the very words of Scripture, but he twisted them, trying to manipulate Jesus into disobeying the Father. I told you before that’s exactly how he operates. He takes the truth and poisons it with just a little lie, and suddenly the whole thing is contaminated. So this tells me something important. Spiritual warfare isn’t simply about knowing how to quote a Bible verse. Anybody can quote a verse, even the enemy.
We need to know God’s Word well enough to recognize when truth is being distorted.
This is exactly why I keep telling all my clients to spend at least 5 minutes in their Bibles each day. This is the path to renewing our minds with Scripture. Because when the enemy whispers a lie about God, about your identity, about your circumstances, or about what obedience requires, you cannot answer him with your feelings. Feelings will not hold up in that moment. We need truth!
Jesus showed us exactly how this works. He did not let Satan’s lies, his temptations, or his twisting of Scripture determine His response. He stayed submitted to the Father, and He stood on what God had already said.
Submit to God Before You Focus on Resisting the Devil
James 4:7 is one of the clearest instructions Scripture gives us for spiritual warfare, and I want you to really sit with this one: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Here’s the thing. We love to quote the second half of that verse. Resist the devil. We skip right over the first part like it doesn’t matter. But God’s order always matters. Always. Submit to God. Then resist the devil.
Spiritual warfare isn’t primarily about shouting louder at Satan, although I do believe in speaking Jesus’ name out loud. But that’s not where it starts. It begins with bringing ourselves under God’s authority. It begins with acknowledgment.
So let me ask you some questions, and I want you to actually sit with them, not just skim past them.
- Is there sin that needs repentance?
- Have you believed something that contradicts God’s Word?
- Is there bitterness you’re refusing to release?
- Is fear controlling your decisions?
- Are you trying to fight in your own strength instead of depending on Christ?
Because here’s what I’ve learned, and I’ve had to learn it about myself too. We think we can just skip to resisting the devil part and be done with it. But God’s not asking us to be strong. He’s asking us to submit first.
James goes on to say, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” That, right there, is our biblical strategy for spiritual warfare. It’s not complicated, but it does take practice.
Submit to God. Resist the devil. Draw near to God.
The enemy wants your attention fixed on him. That’s his whole game. Look at him, look at your fear, look at your circumstance. But God calls your attention back to Himself. Every single time.
How Do Christians Fight Spiritual Attacks?
As Christians, we are not left defenseless during these attacks. The Bible gives us powerful tools to stand firm and fight back. Here are a few key scriptures that can help you during spiritual warfare:
1. Put on the Armor of God
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God to stand against the enemy’s schemes. The armor includes:
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- Belt of truth: Knowing the truth of God’s Word helps us recognize the enemy’s lies.
- Breastplate of righteousness: Our identity in Christ protects us from accusations and condemnation.
- Shield of faith: Trusting in God’s promises deflects the attacks the enemy tries to launch against us.
- Helmet of salvation: Our salvation in Christ guards our mind, keeping us focused on God’s truth.
- Sword of the Spirit: God’s Word is our offensive weapon to counter the enemy’s lies.
2. Take Every Thought Captive
2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” The enemy often attacks our minds with negative or fearful thoughts. But we can combat these thoughts with truth from Scripture. When you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself of God’s promises, like Isaiah 41:10, which says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
3. Resist the Devil
In James 4:7, we are instructed, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The key is to submit to God first, through prayer, worship, and aligning our hearts with His will. Then, we can resist the devil’s attacks with authority, knowing that he cannot stand against the power of God.
4. Pray Without Ceasing
Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons in spiritual warfare. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to pray without ceasing. Prayer strengthens our relationship with God and allows us to actively fight against the spiritual attacks that come our way. Ask God to give you the strength to resist, to renew your mind, and to protect your heart from the enemy’s schemes.
When Should I Seek Christian Counseling for Spiritual Warfare?
The Bible never tells Christians to pretend Satan isn’t real. Nor does it tell us to live in fear of him. It tells us to know his schemes, submit to God, resist the devil, put on God’s armor, pray, stay alert, and stand firm in Christ.
If you are struggling to understand what you are experiencing, a biblical Christian counselor can help you examine what is happening through Scripture, recognize patterns of fear or deception, and learn how to stand firmly in the truth of Christ.
Contact Jane Perkins today for a free 20-minute consultation and begin your journey toward healing and victory in Christ. Don’t let the enemy steal your peace; stand firm, and let’s fight together!
FAQ
What are the signs of a spiritual attack?
The Bible shows Satan working through temptation, deception, accusation, and opposition to God’s truth. However, not every difficult thought, emotion, conflict, or circumstance is a spiritual attack. Biblical discernment means examining what is happening through the truth of Scripture.
How do I know if Satan is attacking me?
Pay attention to where you are being pulled. Are you being tempted to distrust God, believe something contrary to Scripture, return to sin, or become trapped in condemnation? Ephesians 6:11 tells us to stand against the schemes of the devil by remaining grounded in God’s truth.
Can Satan put thoughts in my mind?
Scripture shows that Satan can tempt, deceive, and accuse, but we should not assume every unwanted thought comes from Satan. Instead of becoming consumed with where a thought originated, ask: “Is this thought true?” Compare it with Scripture and reject what contradicts God’s Word.
Is anxiety always a spiritual attack?
No. Anxiety can have many contributing factors, including stress, grief, physical concerns, past experiences, and fear. Instead of immediately assuming anxiety is a spiritual attack, ask: “What am I believing right now, and what does God say is true?”
How do Christians fight spiritual attacks?
Ephesians 6 tells believers to put on the armor of God. We stand in truth, remember who we are in Christ, hold onto faith, know God’s Word, pray, and resist temptation. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Should Christians be afraid of spiritual warfare?
No. Christians should be alert, but not afraid. First John 4:4 reminds us, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Our focus should not be on becoming consumed with the enemy, but on knowing God, standing in His truth, and remaining anchored in Christ.
Do you want to learn more about Spiritual Warfare?
Counseling Includes Spiritual Battles
Understanding Spiritual Warfare: A Christian Counselor’s Perspective
Battling the Spirit of Anxiety:
What Does Spiritual Warefare Mean?
Why Do I Have Intrusive Thoughts?
Is People-Pleasing a Trauma Response?
