How to Pray Offensively

Offensive Prayer: Going on the Attack Against Spiritual Darkness

By: Holland Greig

As Christians, we often find ourselves praying defensively - asking God to protect us from temptation, deliver us from evil, and keep us safe. While these prayers are important and biblical, there's another dimension of prayer that many believers overlook: offensive prayer. This isn't about being rude or harsh in our prayers, but about taking an aggressive stance against the forces of darkness through strategic, Spirit-led intercession.

What Does It Mean to Pray Offensively?

Offensive prayer means going on the attack against Satan's kingdom rather than simply defending ourselves. When Jesus taught us to pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10), He was teaching us to pray offensively - to pray for God's kingdom to advance and push back the darkness.

This type of prayer includes interceding for the lost to be saved, for the spiritually blind to have their eyes opened, and for strongholds of the enemy to be overthrown. It means praying that businesses profiting from sin would fail, that communities trapped in poverty and violence would be transformed, and that false religions would lose their grip on people's hearts.

Are We Really in a Spiritual War?

Scripture makes it clear that every Christian is engaged in spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Satan is described as "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), ruling over what Colossians 1 calls "the domain of darkness." This isn't metaphorical language - there's a real spiritual realm with real demonic forces actively working against God's people and His purposes.

How Demons Influence Our World

Demons operate by influencing human hearts and minds with lies, deception, and temptation. We see this throughout Scripture:

The invisible spiritual war manifests in visible, physical ways. Communities controlled by lust and greed build strip clubs. Societies influenced by false religions construct temples to false gods. The spiritual condition of a community can be measured by examining what businesses thrive and what values are celebrated.

How Do We Fight This Spiritual Battle?

Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 6:17-18: "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication."

Our Weapon: The Word of God

The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Unlike the physical sword given to government for maintaining order, the church receives a spiritual sword for battling dark forces. This sword is meant to be used offensively - not just for defense, but for advancing God's kingdom.

Praying the Word of God

The key to effective spiritual warfare is praying the Word of God back to Him. This means taking what you read in Scripture and making it the content of your prayers. The Bible is full of prayers - especially in the Psalms - that we can pray directly.

For example, Psalm 58:6 says, "O God, break the teeth in their mouths." This might sound strange, but it's a biblical prayer against evil. You can pray: "Oh God, break Satan's teeth today. Smash the faces of demons who would tempt your children to sin."

Another powerful example is Psalm 35:4: "Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me." This becomes: "God, defeat Satan and destroy his schemes against my family today."

Practical Ways to Pray the Psalms

If you struggle with prayer, the Psalms provide a ready-made prayer book. Here's how to use them:

When you read Matthew 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" - turn it into prayer: "Lord, cleanse my heart so I can see you today. Give my children pure hearts. Reveal yourself to my unbelieving friends."

Why Do We Need Boldness to Share the Gospel?

Paul concludes this passage by asking for prayer for boldness: "Pray for me that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel...that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak" (Ephesians 6:19-20).

Even the apostle Paul needed prayer for boldness. Sharing the gospel is one of our primary weapons against darkness, but it requires courage to open our mouths and speak truth.

The Gospel Is Simple

The gospel message doesn't have to be complicated:

The hardest part isn't knowing what to say - it's having the boldness to open your mouth. Once you start talking about what you love, the words come naturally.

Life Application

This week, commit to two specific practices that will transform your prayer life and spiritual effectiveness:

First, pray the Psalms daily. Let these Spirit-inspired prayers guide and shape your intercession. Don't skip the challenging ones - use them to pray against spiritual darkness in your life and community.

Second, set an alarm to pray specifically for boldness. Whether at 6:19 AM or 6:20 PM (referencing Ephesians 6:19-20), create a daily reminder to pray for courage - both for yourself and for other believers - to share the gospel boldly.

Remember, there are people all around you that God is working on, but Satan is trying to deceive and condemn them. You cannot sit on the sidelines. God has called you to enter the battle and push back darkness through prayer and proclamation.

Questions for Reflection: