The devil attacks us secretly most of the time, but there are other times when an attack is obvious and it is usually extremely controlling. It quickly robs us of our peace and replaces it with an uncontrollable anxiety. Once that takes hold, the devil starts to work on the mind by injecting bad thoughts you do not want, but cannot seem to stop. The more the thoughts invade, the more unsettled you become. There are a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional affects that include: nervousness, foggy or disrupted thinking, sleep disturbances, agitation. It is harassment, plain and simple, and there is a pattern to it. This type of attack is very powerful, many times to powerful to handle on your own.
The Spirit of Harassment
When the spirit of harassment strikes, at first there will be an uneasiness that builds inside. You can feel it and you just know that something is wrong. Then unholy thoughts come and viciously assault the mind. This causes a great deal of frustration and grief. The devil wants to convince you that you are participating in these thoughts, even though you do everything in your power to stop them.
When I experience an attack like this I react by wincing, tensing up, and even covering my ears, all in an attempt to make the thoughts stop. These reactions are all indications that I am not accepting nor participating in these invasive thoughts. These thoughts even wake me up at night; and are there in the morning.
The most difficult, though, is that these attacks are most prevalent during prayer, in adoration, during the consecration, and especially when I am about to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. That leaves me feeling dejected and wanting to avoid prayer all together. The devil and these demons want to disturb our spirit, to beat us up and tear us down. The devil did that to me for a long time.
One day I said enough, and I did everything in my power to learn how to defeat my enemies.
How to Fight an Attack
There is so much we can do to protect ourselves, but most importantly, we must never stop praying or frequenting the sacraments. I know from personal experience that if you do, you will get a reprieve from these assaults, but it is only a temporary. They will return with a vengeance.
When a person feels attacked, they instinctively defend themselves. It is the same when we are being attacked by evil, except we do it through prayer, and those prayers should be prayed daily. There are many prayers, but the ones I have found most useful are from Father Gabriele Amorth. They can be found in his books, An Exorcist Tells His Story, and An Exorcist Tells More Stories. Father John Hampsch is another source for deliverance prayers that are very good. The website Catholic Warrior has a page of spiritual warfare prayers that are very powerful in times of attack. The Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary must be added to daily prayer, and the Saint Michael Chaplet is another prayer that can be added for protection.
You don’t have to say a million prayers every day. Choose the ones you want and incorporate them into your daily routine. Maybe you can pray the Saint Michael Chaplet once a week and some other prayers daily, whatever works best for you. Just put it into your routine and I promise you will not regret it.
Sacramentals Aid in Defending Against Attacks
I use sacramentals every day because I know they are a great protection from evil. I use holy water, blessed oil, blessed salt, and blessed candles. If you can find a priest that will bless them with an exorcism blessing, that would be the best option. You can also have your house blessed once a year with an exorcism blessing. I use holy water and salt in my home especially if I am under attack. I sprinkle the salt in the corners of all the rooms and under the beds. You can put the salt in the vents, in the window sills, and even sprinkle it around the outside of the house. I cook with the salt every day. I bless myself with the holy oil before I go to bed and if you have children, you should bless them too. I burn the candles a lot because they keep evil away and help keep things peaceful in the home.
These are things I have learned through religious readings and through priests. Don’t be afraid to ask a priest to bless these things; it is what they do. It may be a challenge to get the exorcism blessing, but have faith, pray, and you will find a priest that will do it.
The Power of the Priest
Deliverance prayers and sacramentals are very effective in fighting the enemy. That being said, sometimes they are not enough on their own and you will need to contact a priest. There is no one on this earth more powerful than the priest because his power comes from above. He willingly stands in between us and this evil. It is a selfless act that literally changes lives.
I am very blessed to have a priest that helps me when I am experiencing these types of disturbances. The gratitude I have for him is immense and I pray for him all the time. He prays special prayers of deliverance of over me, and gives me the anointing of the sick. When my priest recently prayed over me, I was very anxious. As he prayed, I was more attacked in my mind. Once he anointed me, however, my whole body relaxed and my breathing even calmed down. The immediate physical and emotional improvement is enormous, but it does take some time for the thoughts to completely leave.
After the anointing, it is important to continue praying the deliverance prayers every day. It is easy to stop once you feel fine again, but try not to do that. Going to confession weekly; and attending Mass daily if possible is also very important; because this is how the Lord strengthens us to fight the enemy. No matter how bad you are feeling try to overcome the temptation to avoid prayer and the sacraments; and instead, run to them. We are either going to fight the enemy or succumb to him; it is up to us.
Dependence and Surrender
These spiritual attacks only happen because God allows them. He does that so we can love him more, so that we can come to know and understand that we are nothing without Him. It is specifically because of these trials that we come to depend on God. And it is that surrender that ultimately brings us to a closer relationship with Him. It is in the midst of the battle that we feel weak, but it is precisely because of the battle that we are made strong.
The spiritual life is up and down just like everything else; there will be times of peace and there will be times of war, but we must never give up. God knows what He is doing. He knows exactly how much suffering we must endure in this life, so that we can be with Him in the next.
23 thoughts on “What to Do When the Devil Attacks”
My sincere thanks for the words on panic attacks, anxiety and harrassment by thoughts of worthlessness even while praying for help. Your Catholic perspective has let me know I am not alone in this problem. God bless you for your work.
Pingback: What to Do When the Devil Attacks – conquer the devil
Wendy….
I’ve tried several times to contact Catholic Stand to get your e-mail, but I have not heard back from them. Was still hoping to contact you to discuss your article.
Thank you.
I have forwarded your email to Wendy
Wendy…..would there be any way of contacting you regarding this article?
I have been going through a similar battle that you described for about two years. Your article was quite informative and helpful.
Thank you so much.
If you contact Catholic Stand they will give you my e-mail
Sometimes when I am being attacked I say over and over
“Jesus Christ, Blessed Virgin Mary” and add in a couple of the short prayer to St. Michael.
I have found this to help, often time quite a bit.
My oldest 2 sons went through a horrid period of mental attacks, so bad one son asked his brother to throw water on him in the middle of the night.!! In both cases it lasted seversl weeks… Took them to priests and as a Father I took command as The Lord has given me charge over them. Those two fought hard… And now are at peace. It was heart wrenching…it happened to them in 8th and Freshman year. Fathers have a right to their own form of deliverance prayers.
Priests who use the proper exorcism blessings are traditionalists priests and priests from the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church.
All this article says is true protect yourself by going to weekly confession, go to Holy Mass as often as you can and use holy water all the time, use blessed salt, blessed oil, blessed candles, pray the rosary EVERY DAY, pra the St. Micheal’s prayer, wear your brown escapular, and St. Benedict medal, Miraculous medal ANY sacramental and blessed medals.
Spiritual attacks are real and we must fight with confession Mass and prayers.
God bless you!
Holy Mary mother of God pray for us!
St. Michael pray for us and defend us in the battle!
Hang in there Tony! I think lots of people feel the same way these days. The enemy knows is time is short and has ramped up the attack. Often you just have to keep barreling ahead and keep your eyes on the prize. When I have low energy or when untoward thoughts start to come in, I like to simply pray Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” or “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory.” It took me several weeks of doing so, but now (most of the time) when a negative thought creeps in I can usually replace it with these prayers and the bad thoughts go away in relatively short order. Some thoughts do still slip through, but they don’t hang around long. God grades on effort, not results. I will pray for you.God Bless.
I also live under attack..physical and mental, with anxiety and stress. Some of this has been caused by my past choices> i understand what it means too feel exhausted from it, I go to mass often as possible, and or go to adoration. Both seem to help..”Jesus son of the living God have mercy on me a sinner”
One of the most powerful things I do when attacked this way is to repeat my baptismal promises: I say, “I reject you Satan, and all your works, and all your empty promises.” I repeat this over and over, (like a short prayer) and usually within a short time (10 minutes) the attack subsides and stops. If it does not, I go on. “I reject all your evil thoughts and suggestions, all your insinuations and malice. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ…” and go on with the Creed.
Usually by the time I get to “I believe in Jesus Christ…” the attack is dissipating.
I do many of the things suggested in the article above, but this tactic I have found to be very effective.
Excellent article. Gone through the same stuff and responded in the same way you did. We’re all connected. Just to add to the arsenal, when tempted a quick remedy “Jesus son of God, help me take no pleasure in vain and sinful thoughts”. Also concerning your home, inquire about an “Enthronement”. Very powerful.
Thanks and God Bless.
Phil
Pingback: SVNDAY CATHOLICA EDITION | Big Pulpit
Please call a priest they will know how to help you. I have been where you are, you are stronger than you think so don’t give up! Try to go to Mass Saturday night or even during the week if you can’t make Sunday, the Eucharist is your strength. I will pray for you Tony.
within the next 30 days it will be 7 years for me in this very difficult spiritual battle. right now I am exhausted and I want to quit. it has been a very long time since I felt despair like this. this time there doesn’t seem to be a way out. I have done the prayers, Adoration, confession monthly but now I don’t have anymore energy. I have worked a schedule that makes me miss Sunday Mass 2 times a month. I can work 70 hours in 7 days or more or less. I don’t have energy to go to weekly Mass. sometimes I am working at night, sometimes during the day or afternoon. the Graces I was shown/given before the last 7 years were off the chart. I pray that this was my famine time like Joseph. I need prayers please.
TOO MUCH WORK?
If one has a family history of “Lover of Pleasures” ( St. Thomas Aquinas ), THEN, there is bearing the sin’s of other’s, which includes ones chosen Profession, yep, one would be amazed.
Try this: Novena of Surrender to the Will of God
http://motheofgod.com/threads/novena-of-surrender-to-the-will-of-god.4356/
Catholic TV has Daily and Sunday Mass on demand video. Being in the Transportation Profession the different hours worked, depending on where you are here in the U.S., cost prohibitive to take a taxi to Church for Mass ( $150 round trip plus a tip for the Driver ), one cannot park a truck and trailer anywhere, hence a truck stop could be 20-30 miles from the nearest, closest Church. This IS from almost thirty years in the Profession, of experience of having too deal with this.
Oh most Holy Spirit surround and fill me with Thy most Holy Light, I cover myself with the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, I lift myself up and place myself in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I bind all evil spirits in the name of JESUS! I pray this often. I will pray for you Tony.
Friend,
A catholic in Northern Ireland has written a book specifically about spiritual warfare in the mind and what prayers he has learned completely overthrow the enemy.
Go to amazon.com and download the Ebook of the following to the kindle app on your phone or tablet or laptop,
(Or order the paperback of the book): ‘The Miracle Ship,’ by brian o’ hare.
This book is about how to think with holy positivity always, in a way that the Bible describes, and to always be in the lord’s peace in your mind
The book worked for me!!!!!!!
Ask God to help you change careers. Start applying for work (while still keeping your job) and see if any permanent job arises that suits you better