Intercessors: Do Not Forget to Pray Against Retaliation
Whether you serve as an intercessor in your church or regularly stand in the gap for your family, learn why praying against retaliation became an important part of my own prayer life and use these warfare declarations after intercession.
One of the lessons I learned the hard way in my prayer journey was the importance of praying against retaliation after intercession.
When I first began praying seriously for myself and my family, it never occurred to me to intentionally pray against retaliation or backlash afterward.
I prayed. I believed God. I finished praying. And I moved on.
As I grew in my faith and knowledge of spiritual warfare, my prayer life began to change. I was no longer praying only for myself. I was standing in the gap for my family, praying for others, and interceding within the church where I serve.
Over time, something became increasingly clear to me.
I began praying more intentionally against retaliation, backlash, counterattack, regrouping, reinforcement, transfer, reattachment, and attempts to reopen what had genuinely been closed through prayer.
This was not about becoming afraid of spiritual warfare. It was about becoming more spiritually aware.
There is a difference.
I came to understand that I could pray boldly for someone else while also remembering to pray over myself, my household, my calling, and the ministry in which I serve.
- You serve as an intercessor in your church or ministry.
- You are part of a prayer team.
- You regularly stand in the gap for your family.
- You consistently pray for the healing, freedom, restoration, or breakthrough of others.
- You want to grow in wisdom and discernment as an intercessor.
If You Want to Understand Spiritual Backlash More Deeply
I have written more fully about spiritual backlash after prayer and what many believers overlook . That article explores spiritual backlash, biblical examples of spiritual resistance, discernment, and how believers can respond without becoming fearful or overly focused on the enemy.
Rather than revisit the same topic here, you can save that article and read it later if you would like a deeper understanding of spiritual backlash.
This message is specifically for those who regularly stand in the gap, whether that happens within a church or ministry or quietly within your own family.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
Vigilance Is Not Fear
Praying against retaliation does not mean finishing every prayer expecting something bad to happen.
It also does not mean that every headache, disagreement, difficult day, unexpected expense, illness, or problem following prayer should automatically be labeled a spiritual attack.
We still need wisdom and discernment.
Spiritual vigilance should make us more dependent upon God, not more fearful of the enemy.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
First Peter 5:8
Before You Intercede
I no longer rush into serious intercession without first turning my attention toward God.
Begin with God, not with the battle.
Especially when prayer involves spiritual warfare, persistent bondage, oppression, deliverance, family struggles, or other serious matters, prepare your own heart first.
- Begin with thanksgiving and worship.
- Submit yourself completely to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart.
- Repent of known and unknown sin.
- Forgive anyone you need to forgive.
- Ask God for wisdom and discernment.
- Pray over yourself and your household.
- Pray concerning the church or ministry in which you serve.
- Then stand in the gap for the person or situation before you.
We do not enter spiritual warfare because we believe we are powerful in ourselves. We enter prayer submitted to God and dependent upon the authority of Jesus Christ.
Do Not Forget Your Own Household
As I began praying more for others, I also became more conscious of the need to continue covering my own household.
We can spend significant time praying for someone else's marriage, children, health, finances, or spiritual condition while unintentionally giving less attention to those God has already entrusted to us.
Standing in the gap for others does not mean we stop standing in the gap for our own families.
- Your relationship with God
- Your mind and emotional well being
- Your physical health
- Your marriage and relationships
- Your children and grandchildren
- Your home
- Your finances and work
- Your calling
- The church or ministry in which you serve
After You Intercede
When the intercession is finished, do not continue carrying the person or situation as though the outcome depends upon you.
Thank God for hearing your prayers. Release the person and the situation into His hands. Trust Him with what you have prayed.
Then close your time of intercession by praying intentionally over yourself, your household, your calling, and the ministry in which you serve.
The following warfare declarations can be used as that closing prayer.
Warfare Declarations for Intercessors
Use these declarations to close your time of intercession, applying them personally to yourself, your household, your calling, and the ministry in which you serve.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
Second Corinthians 10:4
Pray each declaration with faith and confidence in Jesus Christ.
I cover myself, my household, my calling, and the ministry in which I serve with the blood of Jesus. Every power assigned to resist, intimidate, weaken, or discourage me because I have stood in the gap for others, your assignment is canceled, in the name of Jesus.
Every hidden satanic agenda operating through anyone seeking prayer, counsel, encouragement, or ministry from me, be exposed and disgraced, in the name of Jesus.
Every spiritual burden, affliction, oppression, bondage, deposit, or attachment I have confronted in another person's life that is attempting to transfer or relocate to me or my household, be destroyed by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Every spirit of division, strife, confusion, separation, or marital bondage I have prayed against in another person's life that is attempting to attack my own family or relationships, loose your hold and depart, in the name of Jesus.
Every spirit of infirmity attempting to enter my life or household because I have stood in prayer for the sick or afflicted, get out now by fire, in the name of Jesus.
Every household power, familiar spirit, or generational bondage I have confronted through intercession that is attempting to retaliate against me or anyone connected to me, be broken and rendered powerless, in the name of Jesus.
Every rage of darkness released because people have been strengthened, healed, delivered, restored, or moved toward freedom through prayer, be silenced by the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
Every reinforcement and renewed assignment formed against me, my household, my calling, or the ministry in which I serve because of intercession, scatter and come to nothing, in the name of Jesus.
Every spirit assigned to watch for an unguarded moment in my life, whether through weariness, sleep, distraction, or vulnerability, depart from me now, in the name of Jesus.
Every evil gathering, agreement, consultation, divination, or spiritual conspiracy formed against me, my family, my calling, or the ministry in which I serve, scatter and fail, in the name of Jesus.
Every power circulating my name, the names of my family members, or the name of the ministry in which I serve for evil purposes, be exposed and brought to nothing, in the name of Jesus.
Every hidden agent, deceptive influence, or ungodly assignment positioned around me or the ministry in which I serve to observe, manipulate, divide, hinder, or interfere with the work of God, be exposed and disgraced, in the name of Jesus.
Every wound, exhaustion, discouragement, rejection, betrayal, or ministerial injury I have suffered while standing in the gap for others, be healed by the blood of Jesus. Father, restore my strength and renew my spirit.
Every good thing that has been lost, delayed, disrupted, diminished, or stolen from my family, health, finances, relationships, calling, or ministry through spiritual opposition, be restored according to the will of God, in the name of Jesus.
Every power assigned to frustrate my progress, create unnecessary delay, divert God ordained helpers, or obstruct what God has appointed for my life and calling, be dismantled, in the name of Jesus.
Affliction shall not arise a second time in my life or household. Every door God has genuinely closed shall remain closed, and every bondage He has genuinely broken shall remain broken, in the name of Jesus.
There shall be no retaliation, revenge, backlash, counterattack, regrouping, regathering, reinforcement, transfer, substitution, replacement, masquerading return, renewed covenant, reattachment, or reopening of a door I have genuinely closed. I seal myself, my household, my calling, and the ministry in which I serve in the blood of Jesus. I release every person and every matter I have carried in intercession into God's hands. I will not carry what belongs to Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A Final Word to the Intercessor
Whether you intercede within your church or primarily stand in the gap for your family, remember that the intercessor also needs prayer.
Maintain your own relationship with God. Allow trusted believers to pray for you. Rest when necessary. Remain grounded in Scripture and led by the Holy Spirit.
Do not only learn how to enter the place of intercession. Learn how to leave it well.
Pray faithfully. Close intentionally. Release the burden. Then move forward trusting Jesus Christ.
Continue Growing in Prayer
Explore free prayer journals, Bible study resources, warfare prayers, and faith building resources from Healing Hearts Prayer Circle to help strengthen your prayer life and deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7
