On April 27th, 2023, I heard the Lord say, “The next world war will be psychological.” At the time, I understood that we were entering an era where battles would no longer be fought solely with weapons, but with minds, emotions, and spirits under siege. Now, as we look at the state of the world, we can see this war unfolding before us—deception, confusion, fear, and manipulation are everywhere.

The Lord also warned, “You will not be able to persevere in the coming days without the Holy Spirit… so take advantage now—so you’re not confused about anything later.” This is a sobering truth. Without the Holy Spirit, the enemy can twist reality, distort truth, and lead even the strongest believers astray. We must be spiritually equipped—not just with knowledge of God’s Word, but with the guidance, discernment, and power of the Holy Spirit.

If you have been experiencing this personally or know someone who is, this revelation will help you recognize the battle at hand and equip you to pray with power and clarity.

What Is Psychological Warfare?

Psychological warfare (PSYWAR) is a strategic attack on the mind, emotions, and perceptions to manipulate thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. It is a tool of deception used to instill fear, confusion, and hopelessness, often disguised as truth. Also known as political warfare, propaganda, and “Hearts and Minds” campaigns.

The Armor of God Is Powerless Without the Spirit

Many believers understand the importance of putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), but what is armor without a warrior who knows how to wield it? A soldier dressed for battle but lacking the Spirit’s wisdom is vulnerable. The armor alone does not fight for you—only the Spirit empowers you to use it effectively.

Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of God “the sword of the Spirit.” Notice, it is not just “the sword”—it belongs to the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we may read the Bible but misunderstand it, misapply it, or fail to stand firm in its truth. This is why so many are being deceived by false doctrines, swayed by fear, and unable to discern truth from lies.

Biblical Example: The Sons of Sceva

In Acts 19:13-16, the sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons using the name of Jesus—but without the power of the Holy Spirit. The evil spirit replied, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” Then the possessed man overpowered them, leaving them beaten and humiliated.

This is a powerful warning: you cannot engage in spiritual warfare without a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Calling on the name of Jesus is not a magic spell—it is only effective through true intimacy with Him, which comes by the Spirit.

How the Media Is Being Used as a Tool in Psychological Warfare

One of the biggest weapons in this psychological war is the media. The enemy has hijacked news outlets, social platforms, entertainment, and even children’s programming to twist reality and distort the truth.

Media as a Tool for Fear and Confusion

• False Narratives & Deception – The media carefully crafts half-truths, selective reporting, and outright lies to control public perception. This is exactly what the serpent did in the Garden of Eden—he didn’t deny God’s word outright but twisted it to create confusion (Genesis 3:1-5).
• Fear-Based News Cycles – Headlines are designed to instill fear—whether it’s disease, war, economic collapse, or social unrest. Fear weakens faith. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
• Normalization of Evil – Entertainment glorifies violence, perversion, rebellion, and witchcraft. What was once considered immoral is now mainstream. Isaiah 5:20 warns: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

Social Media: The Digital Battlefield

• Division & Hatred – Algorithms amplify division by constantly feeding users content that fuels anger and conflict. The enemy is using this to turn people against each other, even within the Body of Christ.
• Mind Control Through Repetition – The more you see something, the more you believe it. News, music, and social platforms repeat the same messages until they become “truth” in the minds of the masses. Romans 12:2 warns us: “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• Censorship of Truth – Voices that stand for biblical truth are silenced or labeled as “misinformation.” This is an effort to suppress righteousness and push the enemy’s agenda.

Children Are Under Attack

• Cartoons & Entertainment – Even kids’ shows now promote witchcraft, gender confusion, and rebellion against God. Satan knows that if he can corrupt the next generation early, they will grow up desensitized to sin.
• Education System Manipulation – Schools push ideologies that reject God’s design while discouraging biblical values. This doesn’t mean that there’s no use for public school, that public school teachers are all demonic, and that every believer needs to home school their children. 

Do Not Call Everything a Conspiracy

As deception increases, many are tempted to label everything they don’t understand as a conspiracy theory. But God warns us against this:

Isaiah 8:12-13 (NIV):
“Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear.”

There is Truth, and there is the lie. Not everything exposed is a conspiracy—some things are actual deceptions being uncovered by God. In both the church and the world, God is pulling back the veil at a rapid rate. Ministries are being exposed, corruption is being revealed, and the works of darkness are coming to light.

We must be spiritually discerning so we do not fall into two traps:

• Believing everything blindly – Accepting every news headline or social media post as truth without seeking the Holy Spirit’s confirmation.
• Dismissing truth as a conspiracy – Ignoring real corruption and deception because it seems too shocking to believe.

Jesus said in Luke 8:17, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

Now is the time to seek the Lord’s wisdom, not human speculation.

Psychological Witchcraft: The Attack on the Anointed

One of Satan’s primary strategies in this war is psychological witchcraft—a relentless attack on the minds of those who are anointed by God. The enemy knows that if he can wear down God’s chosen ones, he can keep them from fulfilling their assignments.

How the Enemy Operates

• Discouragement & Mental Exhaustion – The enemy floods the minds of God’s people with negative thoughts, confusion, and despair, making them feel weak and ineffective. (Daniel 7:25 – “He shall speak words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High.”)
• Making You Feel Like a Failure – Satan whispers lies that you’re not making an impact, that God isn’t pleased with you, and that your prayers aren’t working. (Revelation 12:10 – “For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”)
• Isolation & Feeling Abandoned by God – Many anointed ones feel like God is silent, distant, or not answering their prayers. (Psalm 13:1 – “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?”)
• False Realities & Mind Games – The enemy will make things seem worse than they really are, magnifying problems and creating an illusion of hopelessness. (2 Corinthians 10:5 – “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.”)

Be Watchful Over Your Words: Agreement with Psychological Warfare

One of the greatest traps of psychological warfare is getting believers to speak against themselves. The enemy knows that our words carry power, and if he can get us to confess fear, defeat, and hopelessness, we unknowingly come into agreement with his attacks.

Scriptures on the Power of Words

• Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
• Matthew 12:37 – “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
• Job 22:28 – “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you.”

What to Speak Instead

• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
• “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17)
• “God is for me, so who can be against me?” (Romans 8:31)
• “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack.” (Psalm 23:1)

I know you’ve heard these scriptures before and have them in your memory, but do not treat them as casual and just another sticky note affirmation. IT IS YOUR SWORD in the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of God “the sword of the Spirit.” In battle, a soldier does not simply carry a sword for decoration—he wields it, he fights with it, and his life depends on it. Likewise, when we declare God’s Word in faith, we are engaging in spiritual warfare. The enemy wants us to treat scripture as empty words, but we must remember that God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11).

A Final Warning

We are in a time of mass deception. What was once considered evil is now called good, and what was once good is now condemned as evil (Isaiah 5:20). 

The war is against our minds, emotions, and faith.

But Jesus promised in John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

The Holy Spirit is our defense against psychological warfare. He reveals truth amid deception, peace amid chaos, and courage amid fear. Without Him, even the most knowledgeable believer can be led astray (Matthew 24:24).

No one is exempt from this psychological warfare. The enemy is specifically targeting leaders, pastors, apostles, evangelists, and everyone else in the body of Christ.

We must pray for those in leadership. Many of them are carrying burdens, fighting battles, and enduring attacks that most of us will never know about unless God allows you to discern it. The enemy seeks to wear them down, isolate them, and make them feel like their labor is in vain. But our prayers can strengthen them.

The psychological war is here, but we have the Spirit of Truth within us. Now is the time to press into God like never before, to stand in intercession for one another.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” – Revelation 2:7