One of the most common mistakes I see believers make in spiritual warfare is trying to solve spiritual problems with natural solutions. When hindrances come—and trust me, they will—our first response is often to work harder, make adjustments to our plans, or find practical ways to push through. But guess what? That’s exactly what the enemy wants.

Hindering spirits are spiritual enemies. They operate in the unseen realm, and they don’t respond to our natural efforts. If you’re fighting spiritual battles with carnal weapons, you’re fighting a losing battle. The enemy will keep you running in circles, exhausting yourself, while the root of the problem remains untouched. You can’t outwork or out-strategize a spiritual enemy—you have to fight in the Spirit.

The Weapons of Our Warfare

Paul makes it clear in 2 Corinthians 10:4: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” If you’re dealing with hindrances, setbacks, or resistance, you can’t overcome them with your own wisdom, strength, or problem-solving skills. Spiritual problems require spiritual solutions.

Think about it: How many times have you faced an obstacle and immediately went into problem-solving mode? You tweak your plans, rearrange your schedule, or push yourself harder to make things happen. But here’s the truth: You can’t push your way through a spiritual hindrance. You have to pray your way through.

Hindering spirits thrive on keeping you distracted and busy in the natural realm. They want you to think that the solution is in your own hands, that if you just work harder, everything will fall into place. But while you’re trying to fix things in the natural, the enemy is laughing, knowing that you’re fighting the wrong battle. This is why so many believers feel stuck—they’re fighting with the wrong weapons.

Spiritual Weapons for a Spiritual Battle

If you’re dealing with hindrances, it’s time to go into warfare mode. You can’t afford to sit back and hope the resistance will fade on its own. You need to take up your spiritual weapons and go on the offensive.

So, what are those weapons? Paul gives us the answer:

• Prayer: There is nothing more powerful than prayer when it comes to spiritual warfare. You need to hit your knees and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the root of the hindrance. Don’t just pray general prayers—ask for clarity, for divine insight into what’s happening behind the scenes. The Holy Spirit will show you exactly where the enemy is working and how to fight back.
• Fasting: Jesus said that some spiritual strongholds only come down through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). Fasting is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare because it positions you to hear more clearly from God and weakens the grip of the enemy in your life. If you’ve been facing persistent hindrances, consider adding fasting to your spiritual arsenal.
• Binding and Loosing: Jesus gave us the authority to bind the works of the enemy and loose the will of God on the earth (Matthew 18:18). When hindering spirits are at work, you have the authority in Christ to bind them in Jesus’ name. Declare that the plans of the enemy are bound and that the purposes of God will be loosed in your life. Don’t underestimate the power of your words in spiritual warfare.
• Declaring the Word of God: Your words have power, especially when you declare the Word of God over your situation. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. When you speak the Word, you’re wielding a weapon that the enemy can’t stand against. Find scriptures that apply to your situation and declare them with boldness. Whether it’s “No weapon formed against me shall prosper”(Isaiah 54:17) or “I am more than a conqueror through Christ” (Romans 8:37), the Word will cut through the enemy’s resistance.

Hindering Spirits Are Persistent—But You Have Authority

Here’s what you need to understand about hindering spirits: They are persistent. They don’t always retreat after one prayer. You might bind them today and find that the resistance comes back tomorrow. That doesn’t mean you’re losing the battle—it just means the enemy is stubborn. But guess what? You can be more persistent than the enemy.

You have authority in Christ to break their power over your life. Jesus said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you”(Luke 10:19). That’s not just a nice scripture to hang on your wall—it’s a reality. You have authority over every hindering spirit that’s trying to stop you. The key is to keep pressing in until you see the breakthrough.

Don’t give up after one prayer. Don’t stop when you don’t see immediate results. Spiritual warfare requires persistence, and hindering spirits are relentless. But the good news is, you can be more relentless than they are. You have the Holy Spirit on your side, and He will empower you to pray, declare, and fight until the stronghold breaks.

Stay persistent. Stay prayerful. And stay in the fight. Victory is already yours in Christ.