The first step in modern warfare a country takes is to disable the enemy’s air defense system. In June 2025, Israel set the stage for US bombers to target nuclear facilities in Iran by doing this. That’s why no shots were fired at the B-2 stealth bombers. The Bible calls the enemy the prince of the power of the air.
…in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience… (Ephesians 2:2)
There is a simple yet powerful way for the soldier of Christ to disable the prince’s air defense/attack system. If you—like Samson, David, Solomon, and many others in Scripture—face a battle with lust, here is my best advice: When you have a negative thought, pray a positive prayer. It may seem simple, but it works. It will neutralize the enemy.
There are several reasons for doing this. Firstly, while it is true that every man naturally battles his own lust (James 1:14), the battle is spiritual. And so, the enemy will continually place things before our minds to try and cause us to stumble. If you pray each time this happens, you will turn a negative into a positive. You will transform something bad into something good. Instead of causing you to fall into sin, he will cause you to stand firm in prayer. The more he attacks you, the more you will pray. Instead of looking down in discouragement, you’ll be looking up to the heavens. These attacks will serve as an alarm bell, reminding us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“The enemy will continually place things before our minds to try and cause us to stumble. If you pray each time this happens, you will turn a negative into a positive.”
What kind of positive prayer should you pray? What do you most want to see in your life? The salvation of your loved ones? A revival spreading throughout the whole world? That God would grant you wisdom? Formulate a prayer that glorifies God, and then pray it with faith in your heart, knowing that God is faithful to answer prayer. Sometimes He says, “Yes.” Sometimes He says, “No.” And sometimes He says, “Wait for a minute.”
Whatever the case, the Bible assures us that if you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you your heart’s desires (Psalm 37:4). That’s an open invitation we should eagerly accept. This truth takes the practice even further: you’re not only resisting the enemy and strengthening yourself through prayer, but you’re also prompting the supernatural hand of God to move in your direction.
Secondly, godly prayer is always a good thing. The Bible says that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). One key to building muscle is resistance. The more you lift weights and create resistance, the stronger you will become. When you pray, you are resisting the devil. That will build the muscle of godly character.
And thirdly, praying shifts your focus toward God. It reminds you that the eye of the Lord is everywhere, observing both evil and good (Proverbs 15:3). Praying also recalls the words of Jesus: if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you (Matthew 5:29).
This principle of praying a positive prayer when you have a negative thought also applies to overcoming bitterness or fear. If somebody causes you serious problems and you can’t get it out of your mind because you keep thinking negative thoughts, then every time they come to mind, pray a positive prayer. If a particular fear keeps hounding you, let it remind you to pray a positive prayer about trusting God, because trust is the opposite of fear. The key to success in this battle is consistency. So don’t give up—not an inch.
Make sure you get a wonderful book on the subject by Emeal “E.Z.” Zwayne, the president of Living Waters.
