“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18

Have you ever felt, at least at times, like there is a struggle to do the works of God?

If you are set on doing good works for the Lord and you feel that the pushback seems uncanny, then know it’s not in your head. It’s real. It’s most likely spiritual.

In my involvement in ministry, there are instances where I felt like I was walking through quicksand or like there was a wall trying to block me. I felt external pressure that was just to hinder me. I don’t think it’s all in my head. It’s really difficult to articulate, but it’s definitely real. I believe it is the activity of the enemy.

Indeed, if you go hard for God, you will certainly face opposition from satan’s kingdom and even direct retaliation.

The apostle Paul faced a hindering spirit or spirits or satan himself in his ministry. We can read about this in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18, where he wrote to one church: “But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.“

In the Book of Ezra, the Israelites were being hindered to rebuild the temple: “Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.” (Ezra 4:4-5).

The enemy can use people to hinder one’s Godly assignment. The apostle John called out Diotrophes, a leader, or at least an influential member, in the local church, who was inhospitable, self-centered, and a slanderer: “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church” ( 3 John 9-10).

Hindering or blocking spirits, under the ultimate command of satan, attempt to stop or slow us down from moving in our godly assignments. As we all have gifts or talents, God has a purpose for everyone being part of the body of Christ (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:1–12), but the enemy doesn’t want us to fulfill our purpose.

To those facing such obstacles, please be encouraged to continue to do what God wants you to do for His kingdom. Keep pushing through and never give up. Clean your life and strive to be used as a useful vessel for the Lord (2 Timothy 2:21). If you fall (as most of us have done, since none of us are perfect), then repent and get back up. God is faithful and just to forgive and restore (1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 5:10). Remember, we are meant to live for God first and foremost (Luke 9:23). God’s will comes first, not our own (Luke 22:42). Let’s make every effort to get this right, since our lives are a vapor (James 4:4). The enemy doesn’t want us to obtain our breakthrough or glorify God with our lives.

Prayer For Deliverance Against the Spirit of Hindrance

Awesome Mighty Father God in heaven, I ask you to help me change my life circumstances and to open the doors that seem permanently closed. Please make a way where there doesn’t seem to be a way. I know that nothing is too hard for You.

More importantly, Lord God, I ask You to remove any barriers that are hindering me from serving You in my full capacity according to Your will. Strike down every wall that is trying to impede my progress.

And when I do serve You, God, please have it be done according to Your will and Holy Spirit rather than according to my flesh. Please suppress my carnal desires. I want to be completely used by You to produce very good fruits for Your Kingdom.

Give me discernment about where in my life I am being deceived or led astray. Take away all of my lusts and selfish desires, so I won’t be deceived by my own lusts. Give me a spiritual mind that focuses on things that are of eternity.

Help me to see these challenges as opportunities for Your power to be displayed in my life and for your Namesake. Teach me to walk by faith, not by sight, as I navigate these barriers. May Your grace be sufficient for me, and Your strength be made perfect in my weakness.

Lord Almighty, strengthen me with Your precious Holy Spirit to stand fast on Your word and not to waver in spiritual battles. Have me not be moved by any threat or opposition assailed towards me from the enemy. Have me be an overcomer by Your Power for Your glory.

Father, I ask you to remove every spiritual blockage, hindrance, and obstacle placed in front of me by the enemy. Remove every roadblock on my path to victory, success, and peace by Your mighty hand. Open doors that have been shut, and clear the way for me to walk in the blessings and plans You have for me. Every single barrier set by the enemy is torn down into pieces in Jesus’ mighty name. Allow me to walk freely in Your light.

I ask you, God, please take away any hindrance of spiritual blindness that prevents me from seeing opportunities and open doors You’ve placed before me. Open my spiritual eyes to perceive what flesh cannot see. Tear down every mental barrier to do Your will completely, negative thought patterns, and ungodly mindsets that have hindered my faith and have hindered my faith and prevented me from believing in greater things in the name of Jesus.

Lord God in heaven, You are my defender and my avenger. I call upon Your vengeance against the demonic real who persist in oppressing me and hindering me. Please rise up, O Lord, and have them all fail.

Father, in the name of Jesus, please remove the hindrance of spiritual and worldly distractions—subtle diversions and secondary matters that pull my focus from my primary purpose and consume energy meant for my main assignment in the name of Jesus.

Have me progress in whatever ministry You have chosen for me. Have me gain momentum and advancement, and grow exponentially in You, O Lord. Have me be a faithful servant of Yours.

Father, I pray against every demonic spirit of barriers and blockage. Tear down all demonic strongholds in my life. Please cancel every assignment the enemy has against me. Break all barriers that block me from being nearer to You. Please remove it, Lord God!

Heavenly Father, raise me up so that I will overcome every obstacle. Please don’t let the enemy rob me of my blessings and prevail over me. Let me live for You first and foremost. I want to glorify You in all things. Please have me be victorious through Your Precious Son, Jesus Christ, who is my Lord and my strength!

Father God in heaven, please expose every fiend that is fighting my progress. Let every deceitful demonic spirit and every secret plot against me fail. O Lord, don’t let them succeed. Have your mighty angels war against the devils who are pursuing me and deliver me from their snares and traps. I declare that no hidden enemy should find success against me. God in heaven, be my shield and defender. In the mighty name of Jesus.

Father God, please have me not strive by my own strength, attempting to produce good works through my own efforts when I should only do it by Your empowerment. Please orchestrate your will in my life. I surrender to You.

I ask You, God, to tear down any hindrance created through my unconfessed sin, hidden comprises, and secret sins that have given the enemy legal grounds to hinder my progress and prayers. Have any of my unconfessed sins come to my mind so that I confess them to You.

Now, in the mighty name of Jesus, I declare war against all demonic spirits of hindrance in satan’s kingdom. May your kingdom be dismantled, be put into disarray and confusion. May the power of the Lord confound every devil assigned to me. Let every spirit in satan’s kingdom turn against each other and devour each other. May all of your destructive plans crumble in the mighty name of Jesus.

I bind every evil hindering spirit working to stop my progress in the Lord and fulfilling His will in my life. I take authority over every blockade spirit working to delay my God-given agendas.

I push back by the power and authority of the Lord Jesus that every demonic spirit standing on my promises to be removed. I expel you from me who are obstructing my freedom and keeping me bound. I block all efforts of the hindering spirits to slow me down in Jesus’ mighty name.

I command all demonic spirits trying to stop me from my calling in Christ, I command you to leave, in Jesus’ name.

I command every demonic spirit that is a hindrance to my spiritual growth, finances, and in relationships, I command you to leave right now in the mighty name of Jesus.

I command every monitoring devils to scatter right now and let you be blind in the mighty name of Jesus.

I command every demonic spirit standing in front of my open doors to go now in the mighty name of Jesus.

Father God, please scatter all those who are being used by satan to frustrate my life in the mighty name of Jesus.

Thank you, Lord God, for your mercy, grace, peace, forgiveness, and kindness. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.