Prayer for Protection Against Evil: 21 Points & KJV Verses

By Dr. Grace Osei, Covenant Fire Ministries · Reviewed under our Editorial Standards · New here? Start here.

There are seasons when you feel the need for God’s covering more than ever: strange things happening at home, tension at work, fear when you travel, troubling dreams, or a sense that something is set against you and your family. If you are looking for a prayer for protection against evil that is rooted in Scripture, this guide is for you. It explains what the Bible really says about God’s protection, the areas of life to cover in prayer, KJV Bible verses you can stand on, 21 prayer points for yourself, your family, your home and your work, a short daily covering prayer and a 7-day plan.

Begin with this promise: “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Protection is not something you earn by saying the right words. It flows from a faithful God to people who trust Him.

What the Bible Says About Protection From Evil

From the first pages of Scripture to the last, God reveals Himself as the keeper of His people. He is called a refuge, a fortress, a shield, a strong tower, a hiding place and a wall of fire. These are pictures of safety that every believer can hold on to.

Jesus Himself prayed for our protection. On the night before the cross He said to the Father, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). And when He taught His disciples to pray, He included the words “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). Praying for protection is not a sign of weak faith. It is something Jesus Himself modelled and commanded.

Three kinds of evil the Bible speaks about

When believers pray for protection against evil, they usually mean one or more of these:

• Spiritual evil. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Scripture is honest that there is a real enemy, but it is equally clear that he is defeated: Christ “spoiled principalities and powers” and triumphed over them (Colossians 2:15).
• Evil people and harmful plans. David prayed, “Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man” (Psalm 140:1). God cares about the danger posed by people who lie, manipulate, threaten or harm.
• Harm and disaster. Accidents, sickness, violence and sudden trouble. “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day” (Psalm 91:5).

What protection does and does not mean

Honest faith matters here. Believers still face hardship, illness and loss; Jesus said we would have trouble in this world. God’s protection does not mean nothing difficult will ever happen. It means you are never outside His care, nothing can separate you from His love, evil does not have the final word, and He walks with you through every valley: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Prayer for protection also works together with wisdom. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself” (Proverbs 22:3). Locking your doors, avoiding dangerous roads at night, seeing a doctor and leaving an unsafe situation are not a lack of faith. They are part of how God keeps His people.

Where Your Protection Comes From

Before you pray, settle this in your heart: your protection is not in a ritual, an object or a person, but in God Himself.

• Abiding in Him. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust” (Psalm 91:1-2). Psalm 91 is the classic psalm for protection because it ties safety to closeness with God.
• The name of the Lord. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
• Christ’s victory. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
• The armour of God. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God and prayer are your spiritual defences.
• Submission to God. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Notice the order: submit first, then resist.

Areas of Life to Cover in Prayer

It helps to pray specifically. Here are areas many believers cover when they pray for protection against evil, each with a verse to stand on:

• Your mind and heart. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
• Your family. “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever” (Psalm 125:2). If you are praying especially for your children, our prayer for my children has 21 points just for them.
• Your home. Satan himself complained that God had “made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side” (Job 1:10). Many families pray for that same hedge around their home.
• Your going out and coming in. “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore” (Psalm 121:7-8). Pray this over journeys, school runs and the daily commute.
• Your work and finances. Pray against dishonest plans, manipulation and unfair treatment at work, and for favour: “with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).
• Your night and sleep. “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). For a full bedtime guide, see our psalms for protection at night.
• Your health. Pray for strength and healing, and take symptoms to a doctor. God often protects through wise care.
• Your marriage and relationships. Pray for unity, honesty and protection from anything that would divide your home. Wives praying for their husbands may also find our prayer for my husband success and protection helpful.

How to Pray for Protection Against Evil: 7 Steps

1. Come to God through Jesus. Protection begins with relationship. If you have never given your life to Christ, start there. If you have, thank Him that you belong to Him and that “that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18).
2. Confess and close open doors. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything that gives the enemy room: unconfessed sin, bitterness, occult objects or practices, or ungodly ties. Repent and receive forgiveness. Our guide to prayer against witchcraft explains how to renounce occult involvement and remove charms or objects from your home.
3. Put on the armour of God. Pray through Ephesians 6:13-18 piece by piece: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
4. Declare Scripture aloud. Speak God’s promises over yourself and your household: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Isaiah 54:17. Declaring Scripture is not a magic formula; it reminds your own heart of what God has said and stands in faith on His Word.
5. Pray specifically. Name the areas you are concerned about: a journey, a hostile colleague, a troubled neighbourhood, recurring nightmares, a child at university. Specific prayer builds specific faith.
6. Forgive and bless. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Praying for protection never means praying for people to die or be destroyed. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
7. Rest in God’s peace and act wisely. End your prayer with thanksgiving, then take any practical steps God shows you. Many believers find it helpful to dedicate their home in prayer; our guide on how to anoint your room explains this simply and biblically.

KJV Bible Verses for Protection Against Evil

Here are 15 KJV verses you can pray and declare. Read them slowly, and make them personal.

1. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1)
2. “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psalm 91:10-11)
3. “The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.” (Psalm 121:7)
4. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
5. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
6. “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)
7. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
8. “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” (Psalm 3:3)
9. “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)
10. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalm 34:7)
11. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
12. “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” (Nahum 1:7)
13. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)
14. “For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” (Zechariah 2:5)
15. “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

For more Scripture studies, browse our Bible verse guides.

21 Prayer Points for Protection Against Evil

Pray these slowly. You do not need to pray all 21 at once; the 7-day plan below spreads them across a week.

For yourself

1. Father, I thank You that I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. You are my refuge and my fortress; in You I trust (Psalm 91:1-2).
2. Lord, I submit myself to You today. I resist the devil in the name of Jesus, and I thank You that he must flee (James 4:7).
3. I put on the whole armour of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:13-17).
4. Lord, You are a shield for me. Cover my mind, my body and my spirit from every evil today (Psalm 3:3).
5. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. I reject fear and receive Your peace (2 Timothy 1:7).

For your family and home

1. Lord, as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, be round about my family from this time forth and for evermore (Psalm 125:2).
2. Make a hedge about my household and about all that we have on every side (Job 1:10).
3. Let no evil befall us, and let no plague come near our dwelling. Give Your angels charge over each member of my family (Psalm 91:10-11).
4. Be a wall of fire round about our home and the glory in the midst of it (Zechariah 2:5).
5. Protect my children in school, on the road and online. Let the angel of the Lord encamp round about them and deliver them (Psalm 34:7).

Against evil plans, people and attacks

1. Lord, no weapon formed against me and my family shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against us in judgment shall be condemned (Isaiah 54:17).
2. Deliver me from the evil man and preserve me from the violent man. Keep me from the hands of the wicked who plan to overthrow my steps (Psalm 140:1, 4).
3. Expose and frustrate every dishonest plan, lie, manipulation or scheme set against my life, my work or my home, and turn the hearts of those behind them to You.
4. I thank You that You have given me power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me (Luke 10:19).
5. I thank You that Christ has spoiled principalities and powers and triumphed over them. Every power of darkness is under His feet (Colossians 2:15).
6. Lord, I forgive those who have wronged me. I bless and do not curse. Help me overcome evil with good (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:21).

For daily life, journeys and the night

1. Preserve my going out and my coming in, on every road, flight and journey, from this time forth and for evermore (Psalm 121:8).
2. Protect my work, my finances and my reputation. Compass me with favour as with a shield (Psalm 5:12).
3. When I pass through the waters, be with me; when I walk through the fire, let me not be burned (Isaiah 43:2).
4. As I lie down tonight, keep me in peace. I will not be afraid of the terror by night, for You alone make me dwell in safety (Psalm 91:5; Psalm 4:8).
5. Lord, You are faithful. Establish me and keep me from evil, today and always. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever. In Jesus’ name, Amen (2 Thessalonians 3:3; Matthew 6:13).

A Short Daily Prayer for Protection Against Evil

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are my refuge and my fortress. Today I dwell in Your secret place and rest under Your shadow. Cover me, my family and my home with Your presence. Preserve our going out and our coming in. Give Your angels charge over us in all our ways. Let no weapon formed against us prosper, and frustrate every evil plan. Keep my mind in peace and my heart free from fear. Help me to walk in love, to forgive, and to overcome evil with good. You are faithful, and You will keep me from evil. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A 7-Day Plan of Prayer for Protection

• Day 1: Read Psalm 91. Thank God for His covering and pray points 1–3.
• Day 2: Read Ephesians 6:10-18. Put on the armour of God piece by piece and pray points 4–5.
• Day 3: Read Psalm 125 and Job 1:1-10. Pray points 6–8 over your family.
• Day 4: Read Zechariah 2:1-5 and Psalm 34. Pray points 9–10 over your home and children.
• Day 5: Read Isaiah 54:11-17 and Psalm 140. Pray points 11–13 against evil plans.
• Day 6: Read Luke 10:17-20 and Colossians 2:9-15. Pray points 14–16, and take time to forgive anyone who has hurt you.
• Day 7: Read Psalm 121 and Psalm 4. Pray points 17–21 and end with the daily prayer above.

Some believers add night prayer during this week. Our midnight prayer points include points for protection, and the book Midnight Warfare gives you ready-to-pray Scripture prayers for the night watch.

When You Feel Under Attack

Sometimes the need for protection feels urgent: repeated bad dreams, sudden fear, a run of misfortune or a sense of being targeted. Here is calm, biblical counsel:

• Do not panic. “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken” (Proverbs 3:25-26).
• Not every hardship is an attack. Illness, stress, money trouble and conflict often have natural causes. Pray, and also look for practical solutions.
• Test what you experience by Scripture. If troubling dreams are part of the picture, our guide to spiritual attack in dreams explains how to respond in faith without fear.
• Never accuse anyone. A dream, a feeling or a “revelation” is not evidence that a relative, neighbour or child is behind your problems. Accusations destroy families and have led to terrible abuse.
• Stay connected. Pray with a trusted pastor or mature believers in a healthy church. Isolation makes fear grow.

If you want to pray over your whole household step by step, the book Guard Your Home walks you through covering your house, marriage and children in prayer with Scripture.

Practical Safety and Harmful Practices to Avoid

Protection prayer should never put you in danger or empty your pocket. Jesus said, “freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Be careful of anyone who:

• Sells “protection” oils, charms, rings, bands, soaps, powders or written prayers to wear, bury or keep under the pillow.
• Demands money, “seed” or costly items before they will pray for your protection.
• Asks you to bathe in rivers, at crossroads or in shrines, to undress, or to go anywhere alone at night for “deliverance”.
• Names a family member, child or elderly person as the cause of your problems.
• Promises guaranteed safety or results by a certain date.

Real danger needs real-world action too. If someone is threatening, stalking or abusing you, contact the police and local support services; in the UK, the NHS lists help for domestic violence. If fear, anxiety or panic is affecting your sleep, work or relationships, speak to a doctor or counsellor; the American Psychological Association has helpful information on anxiety. If you ever feel hopeless or think about harming yourself, contact a doctor or local emergency service straight away. Prayer and professional help work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most powerful prayer for protection against evil?

There is no magic wording. A powerful prayer is sincere, rooted in Scripture and offered in faith in Jesus. Praying Psalm 91, Psalm 121 and the Lord’s Prayer line “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13) is a strong place to begin. The short daily prayer above brings these together.

Which psalm is best for protection against evil?

Psalm 91 is the best-known psalm of protection, followed closely by Psalm 121, Psalm 27, Psalm 34 and Psalm 46. Many believers read Psalm 91 in the morning and Psalm 4 at night.

How do I pray for protection for my family against evil?

Pray Psalm 125:2 and Job 1:10 for a hedge around your household, Psalm 91:10-11 for angels to keep them, and Psalm 121:8 for their daily movements. Pray for each person by name, and where possible pray together as a family.

How can I pray for protection against evil people at work?

Ask God to expose and frustrate dishonest plans, to give you favour (Psalm 5:12), wisdom and a gentle answer, and to keep you from the hands of the wicked (Psalm 140:4). Keep records, act with integrity and use proper workplace channels for bullying or harassment. Bless rather than curse (Matthew 5:44).

Do I need anointing oil or objects to be protected?

No. Your protection is in God, not in any object. Some believers use oil as a symbol when they dedicate their home in prayer, but the power is in God alone. Avoid anyone selling “protection” items.

Can a Christian be harmed by witchcraft or evil attacks?

Believers can face spiritual opposition, which is why Scripture tells us to put on God’s armour. But Christ has triumphed over every power (Colossians 2:15), and “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Walk closely with God, close open doors, and pray in faith rather than fear.

Final Encouragement

Dear friend, the God who kept Daniel in the lions’ den, who walked with three young men in the fire and who raised Jesus from the dead is the same God who watches over you tonight. “He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (Psalm 121:3). Pray His Word, walk in His ways, keep loving even those who oppose you, and rest in His care. You are not alone, and evil will not have the last word.

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Disclaimer: This page offers spiritual and devotional guidance based on Christian faith. It is not medical, psychological or legal advice, and no particular outcome is guaranteed. Please consult qualified professionals for health or mental-health concerns. Read our full Disclaimer.