I woke up the other day with an unusual feeling. I couldn’t put my finger on it. But I literally didn’t want to get out of bed and start the day.

I asked the Holy Spirit, “What’s going on?”

He wasted no time in telling me, “It’s a spirit of dread.”

Dread is a cousin of fear with a twist. Dread is a deep, overwhelming reluctance to do a thing. Dread is an extreme uneasiness in the face of a disagreeable prospect. Dread lurks in the shadows, subtly undermining your peace, your faith, and your ability to move forward in life.

Make no mistake, dread is a tool of the enemy, a demonic force that works to sap your strength and diminish your hope. It’s a spiritual attack designed to keep you locked in a prison of anxiety, unable to see the light of God’s promises.

I sense the enemy is unleashing a spirit of dread like never before, seeking to paralyze the saints of God and keep us from walking in our divine destiny. Nevertheless, we are more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us.

With that said, I’m on a mission to expose the spirit of dread and wage a fierce war against it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Get trained for victory in my School of Spiritual Warfare at www.schoolofthespirit.tv.

Why Do We Dread?

Dread often arises when we take our eyes off Jesus and fixate on the storms of life. It sneaks in when we allow the enemy to whisper lies into our hearts—lies about our future, our safety, our worth.

We dread because we forget who we are in Christ and who God is. We forget that He is sovereign, that He is good, and that He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

The enemy also uses dread to attack us in our most vulnerable moments. When we are tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed, dread can creep in like a thief in the night, robbing us of our peace and joy.

Why Is Dread Dangerous?

The other side of the coin is this: Dread, like any spirit, can attack out of nowhere. You don’t need an open door for dread to attack. Sometimes dread attacks to open a door. Dread, for example, can open a door to self-sabotage by tempting you not to do what you need to do to succeed in God’s will for your life.

What’s more, dread opens the door to other demonic spirits like fear, anxiety, and depression. It’s a gateway for the enemy to wreak havoc in our lives, leading us into deeper spiritual bondage.

Dread is also a faith killer. It erodes our trust in God, making us doubt His promises and question His goodness. When we give in to dread, we are essentially saying that our circumstances are bigger than our God, that the storm is more powerful than the One who calms the storm.

What Are Some Symptoms of Dread?

How do you know if you’re under the influence of dread? Here are some common symptoms:

• Persistent anxiety: A constant, low-level anxiety that you can’t seem to shake.
• Avoidance: You find yourself avoiding situations, people, or decisions because of a vague sense of impending doom.
• Procrastination: You delay important tasks or decisions out of fear of negative outcomes.
• Lack of motivation: You feel unmotivated to pursue your goals or God’s calling on your life.
• Sleep disturbances: Trouble sleeping, nightmares, or waking up with a sense of dread.

How Do We Overcome Dread?

Overcoming dread requires spiritual warfare. This is not something we can handle in our own strength; we need to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) and fight with the weapons of our warfare, which are mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Here are some steps to wage war against dread:

1. Pray with Authority: Take authority over the spirit of dread in the name of Jesus. Bind it and cast it out of your life. Declare that you are free from dread and that the peace of God rules in your heart.
2. Renew Your Mind: Dread is fueled by lies. Counter those lies with the truth of God’s Word. Meditate on scriptures that remind you of God’s faithfulness, His love, and His power. Fill your mind with His promises and refuse to entertain thoughts of dread.
3. Stay Focused on Jesus: Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Don’t look at the waves; look at the One who walks on water. Worship Him in the midst of the storm, and watch as dread begins to dissipate.
4. Speak Life: Your words have power. Speak life over your situation, over your future, and over your mind. Declare that you will not be overcome by dread, but that you will walk in the peace and joy of the Lord.
5. Practice Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is a powerful weapon against dread. When you choose to thank God in the midst of your circumstances, you shift your focus from what is wrong to what is right. Thanksgiving realigns your heart with God’s goodness and breaks the power of dread.

Dread is a serious spiritual attack, but it is not insurmountable. In Christ, we have the victory over every scheme of the enemy, including the spirit of dread. So rise up, mighty warrior, and wage war against dread with the weapons God has given you.

I declare you are more than a conqueror, and no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The battle is already won—now walk in that victory, free from the chains of dread, and step boldly into the destiny God has prepared for you.

Pray with me: