4 Prayers to Pray through Spiritual Darkness

This article is part of the 4 Prayers to Pray series.

1. Read Numbers 1:45–46 and Pray:

We pray you, God, our Sovereign, Christ, King forever in the world of spirits, stretch out your strong hands over your holy church and over the people that will always be yours. Defend, protect, preserve them, fight and do battle for them, subject their enemies to them, subdue the invisible powers that oppose them, as you have already subdued those that hate us. Raise now the sign of victory over us and grant that we may sing with Moses the song of triumph. For yours are victory and power forever and ever. —Hippolytus of Rome

2. Read 2 Kings 6:8–23 and Pray:

Now, O Lord, we come and crave aid at your merciful hands that when our enemy comes to bid battle with us, we may by your power and might overcome him, and put him to flight; for we know that he can go no further then you give him leave. . . . O Lord make us strong in you and in the power of your might: put your whole armor upon us, that we may stand steadfast against the crafty assaults of the Devil; for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rule and against power, and against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly things. For this cause, O most sweet Savior, put upon us your whole armor, so that thereby we may be able to resist the prince of this world. —Henry Smith

3. Read 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 and Pray:

I cannot, O God, stand in the day of battle and danger, unless you cover me with your shield, and hide me under your wings. You did make me after your image; be pleased to preserve me so pure and spotless, that my body may be a holy temple, and my soul a sanctuary to entertain your most divine Spirit, the Spirit of love and holiness. —Jeremy Taylor

4. Read Acts 23:12–22 and Pray:

Grant, Almighty God, that as we have, in this world, to fight continually, not only with one kind of enemies, but with innumerable ones, and not only with flesh and blood, but also with the Devil, the Prince of Darkness—O grant that being armed with your power we may steadily persevere in this contest; and when you afflict us for our sins, may we learn to humble ourselves and so submit to your authority that we may hope for the redemption promised to us; and though tokens of your displeasure may often appear to us, may we yet ever raise up our minds by hope to heaven and from there look for your only begotten Son, until, coming as judge of the world, he assembles us for the enjoyment of that blessed and eternal life which he has obtained for us by his own blood. —John Calvin