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Japanese At bedtime we can ask God, in plain words, to keep evil away from us: “Lord, I put this night into your hands. Guard my mind, my home and the people I love. Drive away every evil spirit and every fear. Let your angels keep watch while I sleep. Amen.”
Bible verses for protection at night
Each of these passages speaks of the night, of sleep or of the enemy, and you can read any of them aloud before you turn out the light.
- “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness” (Psalm 91:5–6).
- “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11).
- “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).
- “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24).
- “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).
- “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
- “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
The phrase “spiritual warfare” comes from Paul, who describes the conflict like this: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). He tells us to “put on the whole armour of God,” and he names its pieces: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:11–17).
Old evening prayers against the enemy
The older service books pray against the enemy as night comes on, and at the Orthodox Vespers of Pentecost the priest asks God for angels, for armor and for a night “untroubled of dreams.”
… Guard us with thy holy Angels. Arm us with the armour of thy righteousness. Encompass us round about with the ramparts of thy truth. Guard us by thy might. Deliver us from every assault, and from every treacherous plot of the adversary. And grant unto us that this present evening and the approaching night, and all the days of our life, may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without stumbling, untroubled of dreams …
Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic (Greco-Russian) Church (1906), Pentecost, Vespers, pp. 251–252
For bedtime at home, the Episcopal Church’s 1928 Book of Common Prayer gives households this prayer, which asks God to defend us from dangers “and from the fear of them.”
In particular, we beseech thee to continue thy gracious protection to us this night. Defend us from all dangers and mischiefs, and from the fear of them; that we may enjoy such refreshing sleep as may fit us for the duties of the coming day. And grant us grace always to live in such a state that we may never be afraid to die; so that, living and dying, we may be thine, through the merits and satisfaction of thy Son Christ Jesus, in whose Name we offer up these our imperfect prayers. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Family Prayer, “Prayer for God’s Protection through the Night following,” p. 591
There is also a one-line Orthodox prayer, attributed to Saint Ioannikios and said in the Office of Grand Compline, that is short enough to say in the dark: “The Father is my hope; the Son is my refuge; the Holy Spirit is my protector. O Holy Trinity, glory to thee” (Hapgood, p. 162).
Prayers for the night
Putting on the armor of God before sleep
Father, before I sleep I take up the armor you have given me. Fasten truth around me so no lie can take hold tonight. Cover my heart with the righteousness of Christ, not my own. Keep my feet in the peace of the gospel. Raise the shield of faith against every fiery dart, guard my mind with the helmet of salvation, and put your word in my mouth if I wake afraid. Amen.
When you wake from a bad dream
Lord, I woke up frightened, and the dream is still with me. It has no power over me, because I belong to you. Take the picture out of my mind and give me back your peace, “which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Sleep is yours to give; give it back to me now. Amen.
When you feel something evil in the room
Jesus, I belong to you, and this room is under your protection. If anything evil is here, I do not argue with it. I ask you to deal with it, as Michael the archangel said to the devil, “The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 1:9). Fill this room with your presence and your peace, and let me rest. Amen.
For a home
Lord, watch over this house tonight: every door and window, every bed and every sleeper. Keep out thieves, fire, and every power of darkness. Let nothing enter here that you have not allowed, and let your angels stand guard until morning. Amen.
For a child who is afraid at night
Jesus, [name] is scared of the dark and of the dreams that come. Hold [him or her] close tonight. Let [him or her] remember that you are awake when everyone else is asleep. Keep bad dreams away, and give [name] a quiet night and a happy morning. Amen.
For someone you love
Lord, I pray for [name], who is being troubled at night. Stand guard over [him or her] while [he or she] sleeps. Break the hold of fear and of anything evil, and let [him or her] wake rested and free. Amen.
When you are afraid of a curse
God, I am afraid that someone has cursed me, or that my family carries something dark from the past. Your word says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). I belong to Christ, and I put myself and my family under his cross tonight. Amen.
In the morning
Thank you, Lord, for keeping me through the night. “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5). Go with me into this day. Amen.
Is waking up unable to move a spiritual attack?
What many people describe as an attack in their sleep has a medical name, sleep paralysis. The UK’s National Health Service describes it as being unable to move or speak while waking up or falling asleep, and says it can bring the feeling that “someone is in your room” or that “something is pushing you down.” The NHS calls it scary but harmless, and it links it with broken sleep, shift work, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. If it happens often, and leaves you afraid to go to sleep or tired all the time, the NHS advises seeing a doctor.
A medical cause does not mean we stop praying, and we can pray our way through any frightening night. But if nightmares or night terrors keep coming back, see a doctor as well as praying. If fear at night comes with thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland. There are also more Christian and crisis lines.
Binding spirits and breaking curses: where Christians differ
Some Christians, especially in Pentecostal and charismatic churches, “bind” evil spirits by name when they pray. They take the word from Jesus’ saying, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matthew 18:18), and his words to the seventy disciples: “I give unto you power … over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). Other Christians read Matthew 18:18 as a saying about church discipline and forgiveness, and they would rather ask God to act, as Michael did in Jude 1:9. The Catholic Catechism says that a major exorcism “can be performed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop,” and that psychological illness is “the concern of medical science” (paragraph 1673).
When it comes to generational curses, Christians differ again. Exodus 20:5 speaks of God “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,” but Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.” Those who doubt that curses pass down the generations also point to Paul’s words that “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Divine Protection
Ask God to send his angels to guard you and your household against spiritual attack in the night. Among the related prayers are prayers to nullify the enemy.
The spiritual forces of darkness can be especially active and dangerous at night, so we need to remember to ask God to protect us and keep us safe. In this prayer we ask him to send his angels to guard us and our households against any attack in the night.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray to You and humbly ask for Your divine protection. We ask that You send Your angels to guard us and our households throughout the night. Please protect us from all spiritual attacks, whether from the forces of darkness or our sinful desires. Give us the strength to resist temptation and the courage to stand firm against any spiritual attack.
We thank You for Your mercy and love. We thank You for watching over us and protecting us from all harm. We thank You for Your unfailing faithfulness. We know we can rely on You always.
Lord, let Your will be done in our lives. Help us to remember that You are always with us. Fill us with Your peace and joy, Lord, so we can face any spiritual battle with courage and faith.
We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
God is always with us, and he protects us from evil spirits that attack in the night. He is our protector and defender, our shield and our strength, and our heavenly Father will never leave us or forsake us. May we always remember to trust him to protect us.
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Breaking Strongholds
Pray against any strongholds the enemy might have established in your life, asking God to break them.
The enemy is always at work, trying to build strongholds in our lives, so we keep watch in our daily prayers and ask God to break them down and make us whole again. Tonight we pray against any stronghold the enemy may have built in us.
Prayer:
God, we come to You now asking for Your protection and strength. We trust in You and know that You have the power to break any stronghold that the enemy has set up in our lives. Help us to be aware of the lies the enemy is trying to tell us and fill us with Your truth. We pray that You would expose and break any strongholds the enemy is trying to build in our lives so that we may be fully restored to You. Give us the courage and strength to stand firm in our faith, knowing that You are always with us. We pray this in Your holy name. Amen.
We thank God that he has the power to break any stronghold the enemy has set up in our lives. With God all things are possible, and with him we are never alone. May we go on trusting him and looking to him for strength and protection.
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Shield of Faith
Ask God to fortify your shield of faith so you can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Let us bring our requests to the Lord now and ask him to protect us and to strengthen our shield of faith, so that we can stand against the fiery darts of the wicked.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray to You, humbly asking for Your protection over us. We place our faith in You and ask You to strengthen our faith shield so we can stand firm against the enemy’s schemes. Help us resist the temptations of the wicked and not be swayed by his lies and deceptions.
We ask You to fill us with courage and boldness as we face the spiritual battles of this world. Give us the strength to put on the full armor of God so we can take our stand against the schemes of the devil. We trust in You, Lord, for strength and protection.
We thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and love for us. We praise You and glorify Your name. Amen.
When we trust the Lord, we can believe that he will give us strength and protection, make our shield of faith strong and equip us to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Our heavenly Father is with us, and he will never forsake us.
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Mind and Dreams
Pray that God will sanctify your mind and your dreams and keep demonic influences away from them.
Here we ask God to protect us from any demonic influence that might enter our minds and dreams, and to sanctify them so that they stay pure and protected.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray to You, asking You to protect us from any demonic influences. We recognize that our minds and dreams are vulnerable and ask You to sanctify them. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and keep us from evil or temptation.
We ask You to renew our minds and to fill us with Your truth. Help us to discern any false thoughts or influences and to recognize and reject them.
We pray for the peaceful sleep of our minds and our dreams. May we rest in You and come to You in our sleep so that Your love and protection may surround us. As we close our eyes and surrender to the calm of night, we trust that Your presence will guide our hearts. In this sacred space of tranquility, let our worries fade away, replaced by beautiful prayers for your wife, whispered in the soft glow of faith. May she feel cherished in our dreams and awaken renewed, wrapped in the warmth of Your grace.
We thank You for Your protection and love. We pray these things in Your name, Amen.
God is our protector, and he will keep us from the influence of any demonic forces. His love and protection will surround us even in our minds and in our dreams.
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Spiritual Armor
Ask God to equip you with the full armor described in Ephesians 6: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
Tonight we come before the Lord and ask him to cover and protect us with his spiritual armor. The words of Ephesians 6 give us guidance and courage to meet the spiritual battles of life with confidence and strength, and the Lord has promised to equip us with everything we need to fight and win.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come to you tonight in our time of need. We ask that you equip us with the full armor of God described in Ephesians 6. Grant us the belt of truth to help us stand firm against the enemy’s lies. Place the breastplate of righteousness on us so that we may always be ready for battle. Give us shoes of peace so we may walk in Your paths and not be distracted from our mission. Shield us with the shield of faith that we may remain strong in our convictions. Place the helmet of salvation upon our heads so we may have clarity of thought and purpose. Arm us with the sword of the Spirit that we may be empowered to fight the enemy.
We believe You will equip us with all we need to persevere in these spiritual battles. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
We thank God for his faithfulness and for the spiritual armor he gives us for the battles ahead. When we stand firm in faith and trust the Lord, our victory is secure. We can face each day with courage and strength, because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Praise God!
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Binding Spirits
In Jesus’ name, bind any spirits seeking to oppress or torment you at night.
We who believe in Jesus Christ know that spiritual warfare is real, and so we keep watch and strengthen our faith every day against the enemy’s schemes. In this prayer we bind, in Jesus’ name, any spirit that would oppress or torment us in the night.
Prayer:
Lord God, we come before you today, humbly asking for your protection from any spirits of darkness seeking to harm us. We thank you for the power of your name and the authority of the Holy Spirit within us. We know that by the power of Jesus Christ, we have authority over any spiritual forces that seek to oppress us. We declare that in Jesus’ name, we bind any spirits seeking to oppress or torment us during the night. We thank you, Lord, for your love and faithfulness; you are our refuge and shield. We ask that you protect us in Jesus’ name and keep us from all harm all night. Amen.
We end this prayer by thanking God for the protection he gives and for the power of his name. In Jesus’ name, any spirit that seeks to oppress or torment us in the night will be bound, and God will protect us all night long. May our faith grow stronger as we trust the Lord and rest in his protection.
Night Spiritual Warfare Prayer for Peaceful Sleep
Pray that, in the middle of the battle, God will give you peaceful and refreshing sleep.
We need sleep for the health of body and spirit, and in the middle of spiritual warfare it can be hard to find. In this prayer we ask our Lord for peaceful sleep, for his mercy and grace, and for fresh strength while the struggle goes on.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You amid spiritual warfare, asking for Your protection and peace. We know that You are sovereign and mighty and can grant us restful sleep, even amid great turmoil.
We thank You for Your promise of peace and protection as we sleep. Help us to lay down our fears and anxieties and to trust in You. We ask that You surround us with Your peace and comfort as we rest in Your truth.
Grant us sweet sleep and refresh our bodies and our minds. We ask that when we wake, You will grant us a fresh start, free from the worry and stress of the day before.
We thank You for Your grace, mercy, and loving-kindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God is with us, and he has the power to give us peace and rest even in the middle of spiritual warfare. May that encourage us to pray and to trust his goodness and power.
Prayers to fight demons with the Holy Spirit’s Power
Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh, empowering you to stand against spiritual adversaries.
Let us pray together and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh, so that we have the strength and courage to stand against our spiritual adversaries and to face whatever else comes our way.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray before You, seeking Your holy presence and power to guide and protect us. As we enter this night, we invite the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh and empower us to stand against spiritual adversaries. Give us the strength and courage we need to face any spiritual battles that come our way. Help us to trust You, Lord, and to lean on You for guidance and protection. Help us to stay rooted in Your truth and to stand firm on the foundation of Your Word. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
We ask the Holy Spirit for the strength and courage to face whatever spiritual battle comes. May the peace of God and the power of His Holy Spirit guide us and protect us throughout the night. Amen.
Spiritual Warfare Night Prayer for Ancestral Bonds
Pray against any generational curses or ancestral spirits that might try to influence you.
Tonight we pray against any spiritual forces that may try to influence our lives and the lives of our ancestors. We ask God to protect us from the power of generational curses and ancestral spirits, and to bless our lives and theirs.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. We ask that you shield us from the power of generational curses and ancestral spirits and break any chains that might try to bind us. We ask for your protection and provision for our families and ancestors. Give us guidance and wisdom as we strive to live holy and righteous lives.
Help us to use our gifts and talents to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, and help us to keep our hearts and minds focused on you. We thank you for your faithfulness and trust in Your grace and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
As we go out today, may we remember the power of prayer and the strength our faith gives us. May we trust God’s promises and look to him for protection from the forces of darkness that may try to influence our lives. May God bless us all. Amen.
Warrior Prayers Before Battle for Guarding the Senses
Ask God to guard your senses while you sleep and keep every spiritual disturbance away.
All of us are in the middle of spiritual warfare, and we need to ask God for protection and guidance. In this prayer we ask him for peace and protection through the night, and for our senses to be guarded from any spiritual disturbance.
Prayer:
Loving Father, we come before You in spirit and truth. We thank You for the gift of rest and the opportunity to sleep peacefully in Your presence. We ask that You guard our senses at night and keep us safe from spiritual warfare. We pray that You would protect us from spiritual disturbances and grant us a peaceful night free from fear and distress.
We trust in Your strength and protection and know You will never leave or forsake us. Help us to recognize any spiritual warfare that may come our way and give us the strength and courage to confront any spiritual battles. We pray that You would grant us the knowledge and wisdom to discern the truth and never be led astray.
We thank You for all that You are and all that You do. We are eternally grateful for Your grace and Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
When we trust God and his power to keep us safe, we can rest knowing that he will be with us and guard us from spiritual warfare. May his presence comfort us and his protection make us strong.
Deep Spiritual Warfare Prayer for Intercession
Stand in the gap for the people you love, and pray that they will be protected from spiritual warfare in the night.
We face spiritual warfare every day, and at night it can be especially hard. As we lie in bed, we can pray for the people we love who face the same danger and ask God to protect them. In this prayer we stand in the gap for our family and friends, so that they are shielded from spiritual warfare through the night.
Prayer:
Loving God, we come to You in this time of darkness, trusting in Your power and protection. Keep all of our loved ones safe and secure from the forces of evil. Send Your angels to guard over them and keep them safe. Help us stand in the intercession gap for them and have the faith and courage to be their shield of protection. Let the peace that surpasses all understanding fill their hearts and minds so that we may all rest soundly in Your love.
We thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness and mercy. We are grateful for Your protection and place our trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God will be faithful, and he will give us the strength and courage to go on interceding for them. May we all find peace and rest in his love.
Bedtime Warfare Prayers for Thanksgiving
Thank God ahead of time for his protection and for the victory over the enemy.
Tonight we come before our heavenly Father to thank him for the victory we know he has already won over our enemies, and for his protection and provision while we are in the battle.
Prayer:
Father God, we come before You in humble thanksgiving. We thank You for the victory You have given us over our enemies. We are grateful for Your protection and provision as we engage in spiritual warfare. We thank You for the strength You give us to fight against the evil forces that seek to harm us.
We thank You for Your never-ending love and mercy. We thank You for Your grace and mercy that You continually pour out on us. We thank You for surrounding us with Your presence and the security of Your love.
We thank You for Your unfailing faithfulness and for showing us Your power and might. We thank You for Your amazing grace and the hope You have given us in our darkest times.
We thank You for Your great love, Your unending mercy, and the protection You provide. We thank You for being our strength and refuge in times of trial. We thank You for the victories You have already given us and the ones to come.
May our hearts be filled with joy and gratitude for all You have done and are doing in our lives. Amen.
He has already won the victory over our enemies, and he will go on protecting us and providing for us. May our hearts overflow with thanks to our Lord and Savior for his unfailing love and mercy.
Night Warfare Prayer for Listening
Spend a moment in silence, listening for any instruction or revelation God may have for you about the battle.
Tonight let us pray and then keep silence, listening for what God would teach us or show us about spiritual warfare. May our faith and devotion give us the strength and courage to take on the spiritual battles of this world and to stand firm in what we believe.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come to You tonight to ask for Your direction and guidance in our spiritual battles. Fill us with Your courage and strength so that we may stand firm in our faith and convictions. Help us to discern the truth from the lies and to recognize Your will amid the struggle. As we take a moment of silence to listen to You, reveal what You want us to do and how best to use our gifts to fight against the darkness surrounding us. We ask this in Your name, Amen.
We thank God for His guidance and strength amid our spiritual warfare. As we listen to His instructions and revelations, may we be filled with courage and faith to help us stand firm in our beliefs and convictions. May God’s peace and love surround us during this difficult time. Amen.
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