Paul warns believers in Ephesians 6:12 that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” A few verses later he gives the Ephesian believers weapons to fight back with, especially prayer, mentioning prayer four times in Ephesians 6:18-20. So what are some warfare prayers that Christians can begin to pray? Here are seven warfare prayers from the book of Ephesians:

1. God, I thank You that You  have already blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (This establishes a foundation of praise for your prayers and reminds you that when you do battle, you’re battling out of the overflow, not the deficit, of what God has already done in your life.)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

2. God, open my eyes to see the hope, the riches and the power You have already lavished on me. (It’s not enough just to thank God for His blessings, you need to see them. Ask God to open your eyes to see just how blessed and strong you already are in Christ. This will begin to take defeat away even before you start asking for victory).

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19

3. God, change the way I think about my world and help me win the battle for my mind. (When we see things differently, we begin to think differently, and this renewal of the mind transforms us from the inside out).

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

4. God, help me to live a life worthy of the calling You have put on my life. (When we change the way we think, we change the way we live, and we begin to live out of the overflow of what God has done for us).

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

5. God, guard my tongue and allow me to only speak what is helpful and beneficial to others. (Paul highlights the importance of our words by saying that our negative words grieve the Spirit of God within us).

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:29-30

6. God, help me submit to others out of reverence for Christ. (Paul gives a lengthy list of actions that should change when we follow Christ, but if you wanted to sum them all up, learn to submit to others and live a life of humility).

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21

7. God, fill me with Your Spirit today that I may live in power. (It takes the filling of God’s Spirit within you to be able to fight these spiritual battles victoriously. Ask for God to fill you with His Spirit everyday).

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:19