# Spiritual Warfare

An episode of [AfterMass](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1823710125), 29 Jul 2025, 16 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/1069762b8/podcast/play/106136952/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-6-28%2F404726320-44100-2-34fa141a93116.mp3

You weren’t made for comfort. You were made for combat. In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the reality of spiritual warfare.. what it looks like, how to fight it, and why ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. From everyday temptations to full on battles for your soul, we’re breaking down how the enemy operates, what spiritual laziness looks like, and how to armor up with the sacraments, Scripture and prayer. If your faith feels weak, distracted, or under attack, this one's for you. Follow on socials @anamunley and @aftermasspodcastSend your questions or stories to theaftermasspodcast@gmail.com

## Transcript

[0:00] Hi, friends, and welcome back to Aftermath, the podcast for
[0:03] Catholics who want more than just faith on Sunday.
[0:06] I'm your host, Anna, and today we're talking about something
[0:09] that I wish someone would have told me years ago.
[0:15] If your faith feels dry, distracted, or directionless,
[0:19] this episode is for you. Today we're diving into
[0:22] spiritual warfare, not as some distant theory, but the real
[0:26] daily battle that we are already in.
[0:29] The moment you said yes to Christ, you became a target.
[0:33] And whether we realize it or not, the war is already at our
[0:36] doorstep. If you're not under attack, you
[0:39] might not be a threat. So let's start with talking
[0:41] about the two extremes that we tend to fall into.
[0:45] On one side of the spectrum, we chalk everything up to spiritual
[0:49] warfare. Every emotion, every
[0:51] inconvenience, every hard moment.
[0:54] We claim it has to be a demonic attack.
[0:57] But sometimes it's not spiritual discernment, it's spiritual
[1:01] laziness. It's a way for us to avoid
[1:04] responsibility, healing, accountability, therapy, or just
[1:09] doing the hard human work of growing up in virtue.
[1:14] And then on the other end, we ignore the spiritual entirely.
[1:18] We explain everything away with psychology, the environment,
[1:22] hormones, diet, lack of sleep and stress.
[1:26] And while all of those things are very real factors that do
[1:30] affect us, we forget that we have a real enemy.
[1:34] We forget that the devil knows how to weaponize exhaustion, how
[1:39] to capitalize on a breakdown, and how to whisper lies into our
[1:43] weakest moments. So today's episode is about
[1:46] finding the middle, waking up to the reality of the war,
[1:51] recognizing when we're in it, and fighting back like Catholics
[1:55] who aren't afraid to bleed if it means gaining heaven.
[1:58] So let's start with the battle that we are already in.
[2:01] This war is not just happening out there.
[2:04] It's not just in politics or headlines or exorcism rooms.
[2:09] It's in your homes, in your your thoughts, your family, the way
[2:13] you speak or maybe don't speak to your spouse.
[2:17] It's in the way we snap at our kids or isolate ourselves from
[2:21] friends. It's the tug that we feel every
[2:24] time we try to pray, the noise that drowns out the whisper of
[2:27] God. This battlefield, it's not
[2:30] dramatic. Most of the time it looks
[2:33] ordinary. And that's what makes it so
[2:36] effective. The enemy doesn't need us to
[2:39] worship him, He just needs us to forget God.
[2:42] He doesn't need to possess us. He just needs us distracted,
[2:47] numb, and spiritually passive. If he can keep us lukewarm and
[2:52] comfortable but ineffective, he's already won half the
[2:56] battle. We hand the devil the tools when
[2:59] we choose constant scrolling over silence, when we choose
[3:03] comfort over conviction, when we numb out instead of kneeling
[3:08] down. And slowly, over time, our soul
[3:12] grows dull. Our faith can start feeling
[3:15] mechanical. Our hearts grow cold.
[3:18] Not because we don't believe, but because we stopped burning.
[3:22] You were baptized into battle. I know that sounds so dramatic,
[3:28] but it's true Because that baptism, that moment, it wasn't
[3:31] just symbolic, it was a seal. You became marked, claimed, and
[3:37] you were set apart and the devil took notice.
[3:40] Spiritual warfare isn't just this personal thing that's
[3:44] unique to just you. It's biblical.
[3:47] It's ancient. From Genesis all the way to
[3:50] Revelation. Scripture is soaked in spiritual
[3:53] warfare. The Garden of Eden a direct
[3:56] assault from the serpent, the wilderness, a duel between
[3:59] Christ and Satan, and the cross, the decisive blow that crushed
[4:04] the serpent's head. And Jesus doesn't start his
[4:06] ministry with miracles or motivational talks.
[4:10] He starts with combat, alone in the desert, fasting, hungry,
[4:15] vulnerable. And the devil strikes where it
[4:18] hurts, his identity if you are the Son of God.
[4:22] And then he twists scripture, He offers shortcuts, he appeals to
[4:26] comfort and pride. And Jesus doesn't argue, he
[4:30] doesn't negotiate. He just fights back with the
[4:33] truth. And Paul doesn't say that we
[4:36] wrestle with bad habits or hard circumstances.
[4:39] He says we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
[4:43] against principalities, powers, rulers of this present darkness
[4:48] and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
[4:52] This war is not figurative, it's real and it's ruthless.
[4:56] But the Church has never left us unarmed.
[4:59] The Catechism states the whole of man's history has been the
[5:03] story of dour combat, with the powers of evil stretching
[5:08] throughout the whole course of history.
[5:10] It is at great cost to himself and aided by God's grace that he
[5:16] succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity.
[5:20] The battle is personal, and God gives us everything that we need
[5:24] to stand. Once we recognize what spiritual
[5:26] warfare is and we can see the devil's real strategy, we can
[5:32] succeed more often than not in fighting it and winning against
[5:37] it. Because the devil, Listen, Satan
[5:40] is not very creative. He's smart, but he's not
[5:43] creative. He's a copycat, but he is a
[5:46] persistent. And his playbook, it hasn't
[5:48] changed much because he just does what works.
[5:51] So here's how he operates isolation.
[5:54] He convinces us that no one really understands us, that we
[5:58] are a burden. Just withdraw.
[6:01] And then he accuses us. He brings up our past pretty
[6:04] loudly. You're never going to change
[6:07] your disgusting. Why even try?
[6:10] And then he tempts us. He offers comfort, little
[6:14] compromises, A harmless escape. Just one click, 1 little lie.
[6:20] And then he hits US with discouragement.
[6:23] He plants hopelessness. God's tired of you.
[6:26] Prayer doesn't work. He's not going to forgive you.
[6:29] You're never going to be holy. And then comes the division.
[6:32] He sews suspicion, pride, resentment.
[6:36] Not just in yourself, but in your marriage, in your
[6:40] friendships, in your parish, in how you relate and communicate
[6:44] with other people. And then comes in the confusion.
[6:48] He distorts what's true. He makes obedience feel
[6:52] oppressive, and he makes sin look like freedom.
[6:56] The devil is not out to make us murderers.
[6:59] He's out to make us spiritually numb.
[7:02] And if you don't wake up to it, you'll keep letting him win in
[7:06] very small ways that do add up until the cracks become
[7:10] collapse. So why do I say that
[7:12] lukewarmness is the devil's goal?
[7:15] Because lukewarmness is spiritual apathy dressed up as
[7:20] decency. It's dangerous because it feels
[7:24] comfortable. You still go to Mass.
[7:27] You say you that you believe, but your heart isn't in it.
[7:32] So that says your soul is asleep.
[7:35] And Jesus was not vague about his opinion in Revelation, the
[7:41] famous line. It haunts my dreams because you
[7:45] are Luke warm and neither hot nor cold.
[7:48] I will spit you out of my mouth. That is very intense.
[7:52] But it is love. Because Luke warmness leads to
[7:55] spiritual death. It convinces us that minimal
[7:59] efforts is enough, that we don't need to be Saints, just slightly
[8:04] better than the next guy. And the enemy loves that
[8:08] mindset. Because lukewarm Catholics don't
[8:10] evangelize. They don't live radically.
[8:13] They don't fast or pray or speak truth.
[8:16] They just exist, harmless and hidden.
[8:21] But the Saints, you know, I love to mention the Saints, they were
[8:24] threats because they burned. They were on fire.
[8:27] They knew lukewarm was a lie. So how do we fight back?
[8:33] I've been using this whole battlefield as a metaphor.
[8:36] So how do we suit up? How do we armor up?
[8:39] We don't just muscle through, right?
[8:41] We have to fight back. Paul lays it out in Ephesians 6,
[8:45] and it's not symbolic. It's a spiritual blueprint, the
[8:49] belt of truth. So you have to know what is
[8:53] real, you have to know what the church teaches, and you have to
[8:57] know who God is and who you are. Then comes the breastplate of
[9:03] righteousness. You have to protect your heart,
[9:06] live in grace, confess your sins, stay clean.
[9:11] Then we've got the shoes of peace.
[9:13] Walk like you believe the gospel is true, let it ground you, let
[9:18] it guide you, and let it move you.
[9:21] Then we also have a shield of faith.
[9:24] So when the enemy attacks with doubts, fear, anxiety, raise
[9:29] your faith, even if it's shaky. Then we've got our helmet of
[9:33] salvation. So guard your thoughts.
[9:36] Your mind is a sacred space. Don't let lies take root in your
[9:41] sacred space. And our sword, Sword of the
[9:44] Spirit scripture, is not a prop, it is a weapon.
[9:49] So learn it, speak it, and pray with it.
[9:52] You don't need to feel all of these things and feel strong.
[9:57] You just need to feel and stay armored.
[10:01] So now let's talk about the real signs of spiritual attack.
[10:05] Because they're not always dramatic, unlike me when I'm
[10:09] explaining all these things. They are subtle.
[10:12] But spiritual attacks are persistent.
[10:14] So here are the signs that you're in one.
[10:17] If you've suddenly become disinterested in prayer, mass,
[10:22] or scripture, even though you were on fire before, that could
[10:25] be a sign you feel it. Unexplained heaviness, dread, or
[10:30] confusion. And it doesn't go away with a
[10:33] nap or food. If you're being hit with old
[10:38] temptations out of nowhere, things that you thought were
[10:41] long gone that now you're battling all over again.
[10:44] Or if you're plagued by intrusive thoughts or deep shame
[10:48] that keep you from approaching God.
[10:50] If you notice that everything in your life that points you to God
[10:54] suddenly becomes difficult or inconvenient or irritating, that
[10:58] could be a sign. You know these things aren't
[11:00] random, but they're targeted, and recognizing them helps you
[11:04] push back. So pray out loud and name the
[11:08] lies. Renounce them in the name of
[11:10] Jesus. I reject this lie and then
[11:12] replace it with truth. Jesus, I believe you are with
[11:15] me. I belong to you.
[11:18] You will not abandon me. And use the church's weapons.
[11:22] The church is not empty handed. She is militant for a reason.
[11:28] Her weapons are ancient, powerful, and time tested.
[11:32] Holy water. Use that.
[11:34] It's a Sacramento reminder of baptismal power.
[11:38] Use it to bless your home, bless your kids, bless your workspace,
[11:42] blessed salt. Scatter it, pray with it.
[11:45] Speak scripture while you do it it.
[11:47] It's not superstition, it's consecration.
[11:51] Crucifix. Hang one up in every room.
[11:54] Gaze at it when you're tempted. Wear one across your neck.
[11:57] The cross is not decoration, it's declaration.
[12:01] And you know I'm a say, the rosary.
[12:04] Each bead is a bullet. Each mystery is a sword.
[12:08] Mary does not fight besides you, she fights ahead of you.
[12:12] And we are her children and she fights for her children.
[12:16] And you know, I'm going to say confession, confession,
[12:18] confession, confession. It's a battlefield where heaven
[12:21] meets your wounds. So go often and honestly watch
[12:26] the chains fall. And don't forget the underrated
[12:30] adoration. You don't always need the words.
[12:34] You can just sit in Jesus presence.
[12:36] You can let the fire consume what's dead.
[12:40] And don't forget Catholics, we love to fast.
[12:43] We love to be able to deny the flesh so the spirit can breathe.
[12:48] Whether it's big or small, just make it intentional.
[12:51] Offer it for an intention or a person.
[12:54] All of these things, of course, you don't have to do them, but
[12:58] they are essential in keeping your soul alert and inviting the
[13:02] spiritual warfare that we are bound to get hit with.
[13:06] Spiritual warfare. It's not one in dramatic
[13:09] moments, it's one in the daily grind, You know, living your
[13:14] life with a rhythm, like you're just a little Christian soldier
[13:19] suiting up every day. You know, wake up immediately.
[13:22] Give your day to God. I belong to you, Jesus, I
[13:24] surrender this day. Clothe me in your your armor
[13:27] make the sign of the cross with the holy water.
[13:30] I just mentioned read one verse of scripture.
[13:33] You know in the middle of your day.
[13:35] Ask yourself where have I been resisting God today set alarms
[13:39] on your phone. I have alarms on my phone for
[13:42] 9:00 AM twelve and three so I remember to pray even if you do
[13:47] something like that pray the Angelus or decade of the rosary
[13:51] offer it for and the intention or a person or something like
[13:54] that. It just helps you keep your
[13:57] focus. It breaks the chaos of the day,
[14:00] the potential attacks of the day, and keeps your focus on
[14:04] Christ, on what it should be. And take that into your evening
[14:08] at the end of the day, examine your day.
[14:10] Say these things out loud. Where did you see grace?
[14:13] Where did you fall asleep in the battle?
[14:15] Say the Saint Michael prayer or the Litany of Humility.
[14:19] Invite the Holy Spirit to guard your rest, the devil.
[14:24] The devil is terrified of a Catholic who fights every day,
[14:28] who fights daily, quietly and faithfully.
[14:31] So make the devil scared and keep him scared and away from
[14:34] you. You know, my final thoughts
[14:36] would be that you need to keep showing up.
[14:40] You're not powerless, you're not a burden, you're not
[14:43] disqualified. You're not alone.
[14:46] You are born into this war, but you were also born into Jesus's
[14:51] victory. Keep showing up when it's hard
[14:55] and messy or when it's dry. Just keep showing up.
[14:59] Again, I say this all the time, but God doesn't need your
[15:03] perfection. He wants your perseverance.
[15:06] Thank you so much for being here This week.
[15:09] I'm going to be posting the herd in the confessional segment.
[15:13] It's an episode that will be completely dedicated to
[15:17] answering all of your questions and sharing your stories and
[15:20] talking about all sorts of real life things that you guys have
[15:24] questions about or that you want to share.
[15:26] So I will post it on my Instagram or TikTok when the
[15:30] episode drops because I'm not entirely sure, but I do have
[15:34] two. I have an aftermath podcast on
[15:36] TikTok and Instagram, as well as on a Manley on TikTok and
[15:40] Instagram. And if you have questions
[15:42] yourself or stories that you want to share, whether it's
[15:44] anonymous or not, just send them to the
[15:47] aftermathpodcast@gmail.com and I will be able to share them in
[15:51] future episodes. So thank you so much for being
[15:55] here. Thank you so much for listening.
[15:58] My name is Anna and I will see you Aftermath.

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