Harassing spirits are rising up from the hordes of hell in this hour. Harassing spirits work to wear you out and wear you down. These demonic forces persistently annoy you. They create unpleasant and even hostile situations. They work to worry you and impede your progress.

It’s not hard to discern a harassing spirit, though you may not immediately catch on because of the whirlwind these devils create. In a recent word of encouragement, Cindy Jacobs offers additional insight into the practical ways harassing spirits work against believers.

“You're losing many things. Things seem to be breaking around your house. You try to get something done or you go to a store and you buy a part, and when you get home, you find out you got the wrong part,” she wrote. “Well, all of these situations could just be considered a part of life, but when they pile up, I have found that it is actually a harassing spirit.”

“Pile up” is the key phrase. Although we cannot blame everything on the devil, when we see patterns and trends—when we see the pile up and the pile on—we can almost be sure there’s a harassing spirit in the mix. Keep in mind, harassing spirits often work with spirits that bring mental distress or even torment to your soul.

How Harassing Spirits Operate

Harassing spirits had Peter and John whipped (see Acts 5). Harassing spirits had Paul and Silas imprisoned (see Acts 16:25-34). Harassing spirits tried to stop Nehemiah from rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem and tried to keep Zerubbabel from rebuilding the temple. Harassing spirits troubled Elisha, and they troubled Jesus. Take it as a back-handed compliment, but don’t take it lying down.

These harassing demons tag team with persecuting devils that heckle and hound you until you lose your peace and speak in frustration. These powers of darkness launch surprise attacks at the worst possible moment. They work to exasperate you, badger you, intimidate you and dishearten you. Believe me, the enemy knows how to push your buttons and his timing seems impeccable.

Unfortunately, although Scripture tells us we’re not wrestling against flesh and blood opponents, the spirit of harassment often works through people who set themselves up as enemies against you. They are jealous. They don’t want to see you enter into your promotion, your success, your breakthrough. They want to see you fall on your face.

Decrees That Make Harassing Spirits Flee

We have to drive the harassing spirits out for good or we will walk in a Numbers 33:55 reality:  “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.”

So how do you do that? James 4:7 gives us our ultimate strategy against harassing spirits: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” The AMPC offers additional insight: “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.” And I love The Passion Translation: “So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will flee in agony.”

You resist the enemy through prayer. Pray these prayers and make these decrees when the harassing spirit is barraging you:

Father, I repent for not discerning and resisting harassing spirits at the onset of the attack. Forgive me, also, for reacting in the flesh, with fear and frustration, instead of responding with Your Word.

Father, expose the wiles of the harassing spirits (Eph. 6:11).

Father, deliver me from the devices of harassment (2 Cor. 2:11)

Father, have mercy on me, God, because people are harassing me. Those who oppress me have fought against me all day long (see Psalm 56:1).

Father, repay the harassing spirits for their arrogance, for they have taunted and verbally harassed me (see Zeph. 2:10).

Father, rebuke the harassment of the enemy of my soul (Psalm 104:7).

I take authority over every harassing demon (Matt. 28:18).

I bind the works of harassment launched against my life Matt. 18:18).

I condemn the words of harassing spirits speaking to and about me (Is. 54:17).

I command spirits of harassment to leave my presence.

I plead the blood of Jesus against every harassing demon on assignment against my life (Rev. 12:11).

Let every harassing spirit be roasted with double fire (Jer. 15:14).

I break the fiery darts of harassing spirits aiming to stop me from walking in faith (Eph. 6:16).

I decree the enemy’s weapon of harassment will not prosper against me (Is. 54:17).

I release divine harassment and retribution into the enemy’s camp (Ex.. 23:27).

I pray and decree these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

If you are facing enemy attack of any kind, pick up my book Decrees That Make the Devil Flee. You can also get a prayer CD of these decrees here.