Some days are worse than others. Who doesn’t have them? But there are certain times when it doesn’t seem like an accident – the bad day feels like a deliberate attack. The onslaught is persistent. The circumstances are random. It comes out of nowhere. And you can’t quite put the finger on why it is happening as it appears to be taking place for no reason… or so you think. 

Valerie and I experienced a bizarre set of misfortunes unrelated to one another once we returned from my 2-month sabbatical (I’m still putting up the pictures, but check out at my Instagram or Facebook). I counted ten abnormal circumstances that took place in a short amount of time. Here are a few: 

• I was a victim of over $7,000 of credit card fraud 
• My 2-year-old laptop died on my first day back at church (Maybe it’s a sign not to go back to work?) LOL
• Our washer machine stopped working mid cycle 

The list continues, but I don’t want to glorify the wrongs since I know the source of where it came from – It was an assault from the enemy of our souls, Satan; he comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). The enemy brought a spiritual attack upon us in an attempt to discourage and distract us. 

You might be reading this and saying, “You’ve read my mail! This situation sounds like what happened to me last week.” For others, you’ve been facing a relentless onslaught for a season. You’re exhausted from all that has happened. There’s a degree of desperation for change but an unrealistic way to move forward. What do you do when you are under attack? 

Here are two helpful tips on what to do when you’re spiritually attacked so you can get the upper hand over the enemy: 

1. Pause 

In our busy society, it’s only natural to keep moving forward and pushing through. You have things to do – tasks to check off and people to see.  There’s no time to sit and think – you’ve got to move! Sadly, this is not the wisest way to thwart a spiritual attack.  

Instead, it is time to push the pause button. Immediately give what is happening to the Lord in prayer. Sounds simple right? 

Not really. With so much to do in so little time, the tendency can be to focus on what’s next and not realize that you are under attack. A ‘pause’ allows you enough time to stop and redirect your thoughts to God. It is being still, present, and praying to God for breakthrough. Recognize there is a battle against you, so you now know to take a stand. You can’t fight what you don’t identify. And you cannot change what you cannot confront.  

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” – Ephesians 6:12 

There’s a war raging even if you cannot see it. Yet I’m sure you’re feeling the effects of the battle as you recount what is taking place. Now you can take your position to do something about it. Pause – stop and anylize the situation: am I under attack? Pray – give it to the Lord so that He can fight on your behalf. 

2. Persevere in Joy 

There’s a saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Meaning, when problems happen, a capable person will find ways to solve it. Thankfully, we have a solution and His name is Jesus! By pausing and praying we give our current situation to Him to shift our minds back to who is in charge and who is in control. But the pause is just the beginning- we persevere knowing that “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). 

With the knowledge that God is with us and for us, we can consider it pure joy when we face trials because the testing of our faith produces perseverance (James 1:2). It doesn’t matter what the enemy throws at you – rejoice! This circumstance you are facing doesn’t have to end in bitterness, depression, or escapism. Rather, the Holy Spirit is doing a work in you through the suffering, and you will come out better for it. 

When I finally realized it was an attack, I couldn’t help but laugh (I literally laughed out loud). I knew what the enemy was trying to do; He was trying to throw me off course by doubting God’s goodness. It was an attempt make me miserable and affect others with my lousy attitude. I refused to give in! There’s a blessing that will come and Satan doesn’t want me to see it. He wants me to become so obsessed with my problems that I can’t see God’s purposes. 

While it is true that Satan can attack because of sin, it is quite typical for him to attack because he gets a sense of what God is going to do in your life, and he is afraid! He doesn’t want you to be freed from that nasty habit because he loses control. He doesn’t want you to receive that breakthrough since he thrives off hopelessness. This struggle is why you stand firm in who you are in Christ and use your weapons of warfare to fight. If so, Satan will run. 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

As you can see, spiritual warfare is a battle.  It’s also a fight that you can win since God is on your side. But you will have to fight – ignorance is not bliss. A passive stance allows the enemy to push you around and make you miserable. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You have the spiritual authority in Christ to make him pay – enough that he will have to flee from you! 

I encourage you to follow these two simple steps – pause and persevere – if you feel attacked today. The day doesn’t have to end with defeat – no way! You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37), and you can live in the victory that Christ fought for you (1 Corinthians 15:57). 

Have a blessed week, in Jesus’ Name!  

Pastor Nathan