As we saw, children can be demonized.  In fact, there is much more of this going on that we are aware of.  The form the demonic attacks take could be anything from causing an infant to scream a lot at night to bed-wetting by an older child or to overt rebellion and disobedience.  Anything that seems to defeat you or the child is suspect.  God’s deliverance is for them, too. 

            The Bible records demons afflicting children with physical illness (Matthew 17:15; Mark 9:18, 25).  They prevent children from being able to control their own emotions (Mark 9:17, 22).  They physically try to harm children (Mark 9:20-22).  They defile children by satisfying their own evil natures through them (Mark 1:24, 34; 5:9; Luke 4:41).  They make them perform or show off (Mark 9:20, 25) and defy the person trying to free the child from their control (Mark 9:19, 23).  They may even induce symptoms of death when forced to leave (Mark 9:26-27). 

A very, very common pattern is for the first-born male to be affect first and most by generational attacks. The first-born Jews were dedicated to God and so Satan tries to attack and claim them first, too.  Often it is the first-born male in a family that is attacked spiritually. 

            Make sure the child knows that he is not the problem but that he has a problem.  Often children are more aware of these things than we think.  They may be so used to hearing voices in their heads, seeing manifestations in their room at night, or being controlled by feelings/emotions beyond their control that they don’t realize these are unusual.  Spend some unrushed time letting them talk.  Ask  lots of questions and listen carefully to the answers.    Try to put yourself in their place, with their limited vocabulary.  Gently probe all areas (voices, manifestations, too-real imaginary friends, etc.).  Don’t assume things.  Take everything they says seriously.  Make notes of things to pray about or talk about later.  Be sensitive to God’s leading.  Go with your impulses and thoughts, they are from God at a time like this.  Pray for wisdom from God (James 1) about these things and what the openings may be.

            Children are often more sensitive to the spiritual realm.  Many have a story from their younger years of seeing an angel.   They are also more sensitive to evil.  It isn’t unusual for a house to have had certain parts (or all) of it opened to demonic forces by things said or done there in the past.  If a certain area of your home seems to cause problems (especially fear, but it could be anything) go to that area and in Jesus name take back any access Satan’s forces claim to it.  We’ve used oil to form crosses on the walls, left a light on (symbol of light over darkness) and played Christian music which is something demons hate.  Ask your child if there is a certain place in the house where he feels afraid or funny, or where he thinks ghosts or other things may be.  They are usually more sensitive to these things than adults.

            When too young to understand (below 5 or 6) children don’t even have to be present when you pray for their deliverance.  As a parent you can pray for your children with authority, the same as you pray for yourself.  When they are older (about 5 to 10) they should be included for the purpose of educating them about these things.  They can pray for themselves, and they can start learning about spiritual warfare, too.  Of course when there is specific sin in their lives they should confess it.  The older they are the more responsible they become (especially from about 8 years old on) and the more they should be involved.  A lot depends on the openings, too.  Free will sin needs their confession while ancestral oppression is something a parent can do for them when they are  young.  Adopted children especially should have all ancestral openings put under the blood of Jesus.  The father as the spiritual leader should pray for the children.  Each morning he should pray specifically for each one by name.  If for whatever reason the father isn’t filling this role as he should the mother can and should take over.

            As for praying for deliverance for children just follow Jesus’ example.  He administered deliverance to children the same as He did to adults (Mark 7:24-30; 9:14-25).  Demons are the same and work the same, so go about it the same.

            Pray regularly and specifically for your child.  Satan has a plan and purpose for their life.  Be sensitive to what it might be and break it in Jesus’ name.  Some of the time pray out loud with them so they can learn how to pray for themselves and so they know they are committed to God’s care and protection.  Pray that Jesus be formed in the child (Galatians 4:19), that they be delivered from Satan (Matthew 6:13; Proverbs 11:21), that they will be taught by God and experience His peace (Isaiah 54:13), that they will learn to discern good from evil (Hebrews 5:14; I Peter 3:21), that God’s principles will be in their minds and on their hearts (Hebrews 8:10), that they will choose friends who are wise and a good influence (Proverbs 13:20; I Corinthians 5:11), that they will remain sexually pure (Ephesians 5:3,31-33), that they will trust and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3), that they will find as well as be the right mate and that their marriage will last their whole life, and that they will know the career of God’s choosing.

            If you have children in your home, or in contact with children, ask God to show you if any of this applies to them.  Then pray for them in the way God shows.  Think of your own childhood and what you can learn from this to help you understand what was happening then.  Pray for that as well.

 

(If I can answer questions or offer personal counsel, or if you would like a free copy of my Spiritual Warfare Handbook, email me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org or download it from http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/.  My next book, Spiritual Warfare in the Bible, which is a more advanced treatment of spiritual warfare, is also available there for free.)