Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you work, your efforts seem blocked at every turn? The harder you try, the more frustration and failure you face, leaving you wondering if there’s something deeper at play.
When our work, finances, or progress feel hindered in ways that defy logic, it’s often a sign of spiritual opposition. Sniper fire—or perhaps machine gun fire—keeps us pinned down so we cannot see the larger landscape. Often, the solution is not to charge out of our foxhole and directly into enemy gunfire but to disrupt the enemy’s flanks. By acting in ways he doesn’t expect, we shift the battle to a different sector and draw his forces away from our front.
Look, the devil is not omnipresent. Neither are his fallen angels. There are a limited number of demons. How many, no one can say, but we know that only a third fell from heaven. That means the devil’s forces are outgunned two-to-one. Best of all, Jesus has already defeated the devil. The victory is already ours. So let’s be smart about how we engage. Start with attacks that hit the enemy where it hurts.
Radical Generosity
If your work or finances are under attack, bless others with what you have. This could mean giving away resources, helping someone in need, or supporting a ministry. Generosity counters the devil’s attempts to keep you focused on lack and discouragement. It shifts your expectation of provision to God’s abundance and faithfulness.
Worship and Praise
Worship disrupts the enemy’s propaganda machine. Declaring God’s sovereignty and power silences the enemy’s lies, which are fueled by doubt and darkness. There’s a reason teams cheer, armies advancing shout, and crowds scream for victory. Spoken words project the outcome we expect. Our words carry life and death, so praise the Lord with boldness. Thank Him for small blessings and for disasters that didn’t happen. There’s always another reason to thank God. Find it and declare it aloud. This takes your focus off present struggles and refocuses it on the reality of God’s victory.
Invest in Someone Else’s Success
If your efforts seem fruitless, sow time, energy, or encouragement into someone else. Helping others succeed frustrates the enemy’s attempts to isolate you or keep you self-focused. When you help a brother or sister advance, you move the line forward, and that’s the point of an advance.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
If you’re facing resistance, examine relationships for unresolved conflicts. Conflict within the ranks hinders progress. Extend forgiveness, even if you didn’t cause the problem. Be the first to “make it right.” Repairing relationships thwarts the enemy’s attempts to divide and conquer.
Intercessory Prayer
Rather than focusing only on your struggles, pray fervently for others. Everyone is facing battles, whether seen or unseen. Keep a list, pray their names, and learn about their circumstances so you can pray with purpose. Standing in the gap for others brings joy, peace, and rest into their lives, which the enemy despises. Want to frustrate the enemy? Make him complain about your prayers.
Spiritual Acts of Service
Volunteer in areas unrelated to your struggles. The enemy won’t expect you to show up in another place. Sometimes, your greatest success will come from stepping just a few feet down the line.
Declare God’s Promises Over Your Situation
Speak Scripture over your challenges. If the enemy brought the problem, respond with God’s Word and send him running. Focusing on God’s unchanging promises enlarges your view of His power and diminishes your fear. Speak victory over your situation because the enemy cannot withstand the truth of God’s Word.
Celebrate Small Wins
If the enemy targets your progress, praise God for even the smallest victories. The enemy’s goal is destruction, so staying alive is a win. Celebrating undermines his attempts to discourage you.
Outreach and Evangelism
Share your testimony or the reason for your hope in Christ. Spiritual warfare intensifies when you bring others closer to God. Evangelism shifts the battle into enemy territory.
Take a Sabbath Rest
Resting in God’s presence is a powerful act of trust. If the enemy is attacking your work, stepping back in faith signals your confidence in God’s ability to fight for you. God has all the time in the world to solve your problems, so use some of His and rest.
How This Defeats the Enemy
These actions shift the focus from your struggles to God’s kingdom priorities. The enemy expects a head-on fight in your area of difficulty. Instead, by attacking his plans through worship, generosity, or helping others, you disrupt his strategy. This aligns with Matthew 6:33: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
By engaging in actions that reflect God’s heart, you shift the spiritual battle to a place where the enemy is unprepared, operating in the fullness of God’s power.