5 Signs You Are Under Spiritual Attack

Concerning spiritual attacks, first it is important to understand that the devil cannot be blamed for every problem or bad decision that we make in our own lives.
As mankind we have our own freewill to choose between right and wrong and good and evil.
In Romans 7:15 Paul wrote: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
Therefore our own flesh or sinful nature play a huge part in working against us or against our desire to please God.

The Christian has 3 enemies: the devil, the world and his/her own sin nature. All these 3 things fight against us to prevent us from pleasing God.

The Bible says that the devil came to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). It also says that the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
We must therefore understand that the enemy will always seek to spiritually attack God’s people because the devil is a hater of everything that God loves and everything that God has created.
The devil will therefore use different methods and techniques in order to attempt to destroy our relationship with God and with others.
Ephesians 6:12 says that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness.
It’s therefore important for Christians to understand how the devil spiritually attacks believers.
We must also remember that when the devil attacks us, it can either be subtle or it can be sudden and so we must always be alert, vigilant and sober minded.

Here Are 5 Probable Signs That You’re Under Spiritual Attack

1. No Desire To Pray or Read The Bible
The last thing the devil wants is a praying Christian or a believer who studies the word of God. It is through prayer and personal study of God’s word that we draw close to God and we understand the nature of God. Prayer draws us close to God and reflects that we desire to communicate and intimately know our Creator.
It’s therefore imperative as Christians that we exercise self-discipline and that we prevent ourselves from allowing the distractions of life from hindering us from spending time with God through prayer and meditation of His word (Psalms 1:1-3).
When we are Biblically illiterate we open ourselves to all sorts of issues such as false teachings, anxieties and different kinds of sinful behavior. We therefore become ill-equipped to deal with specific issues or challenges in life.
We must therefore study God’s word to present ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and so that we may be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

2. Persecution for the Gospel of Christ
The devil hates the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ above all things. It is therefore no surprise that when Christians stand for the Biblical principles of God and when they preach the gospel of Christ, believers will encounter many kinds of persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12 says “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
Throughout the world, Biblical Christians are either humiliated, excluded, provoked, physically harmed or killed because they boldly stand for the truth of God’s word and for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
These sort of persecutions are ultimately sourced from the devil who will do anything to prevent people from becoming genuinely saved because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore persecution will come from non-Christians; from the world and also from false religious teachers who spread false teachings.
In Luke 6:22-23 Jesus said the following: “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”
The disciples of Christ faced the same persecution from both unbelievers and from the false religious teachers such as the Pharisees who attempted to prevent the spread of the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:17-42).

3. Suicidal Thoughts
Whenever you have thoughts of physically harming yourself or if you have growing thoughts of desiring to end your own life – this can be a sign of spiritual attack.
It is never the will of God that we should seek to commit suicide or to physically harm our own body. The life that God has given us is a gift which is to be lived for His purpose and glory.
Indeed life can be full of pain, struggles and tragedies. Sometimes our struggles in life may cause the devil to tempt us into thinking that suicide is an option.
1 Peter 5:7 says: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Philippians 4:6-8 encourages us not to worry about anything, but to pray to God about everything so that we may have the peace of God. We must also furthermore train our thoughts to focus on the things that are good and not on things that may cause us to sin against God.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

4. Desire to Return to Sinful Habits & Lifestyles
The devil may desire for the Christian believer to backslide or return to old sinful habits and lifestyles. So where there are strong urges and temptations for you to return to your old life before you were saved – this may be a sign of spiritual attack.
Colossians 3:5-10 says: Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator
In James 4:7-8 we are urged to resist the devil and he will flee from us. One of the ways we resist the devil is by drawing nearer to God.

5. Overwhelming Feelings of Condemnation, Depression & Anxiety
Sometimes the devil may use our feelings against us. This is why the Bible frequently urges Christians to live by faith and not by sight (or our perception of our circumstances).
We therefore should live according to what the Bible says and not according to our feelings. We are to live according to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and not according to the desires of the flesh.
Feelings come and go – but the word of God never changes and it remains forever.
Therefore the devil may accuse us; he may condemn us; he may make us feel inadequate; he may remind us of past sins and lead us into a state of depression because of our current circumstances or problems.
However, we must learn to trust God and not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
We must always have an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and we must learn to talk to God about every issue that is going on in our life (Philippians 4:6-7).
Romans 8:1 says: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The devil is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) – but however, in Christ we are no longer condemned and Christ is able to give us peace and joy even in the midst of a chaotic world.