Demonology 101: The Screwtape Letters – 4th Letter

Exposing the Enemy’s Tactics in Prayer

Have you ever wondered why prayer sometimes feels like a struggle? Maybe you sit down to pray, but your mind drifts, or you’re not even sure where to start. This isn’t just a coincidence. According to C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, this internal struggle is something the enemy actively encourages. In Letter 4 of the book, Screwtape, a senior demon, explains to his nephew Wormwood how devils attempt to manipulate and sabotage our prayers.

Distractions in Prayer: A Tool of the Enemy

Prayer is powerful—it connects us to God in a way that nothing else can. But that’s exactly why the enemy works so hard to distort it. Screwtape points out that the first tactic is simple: keep the Christian (or “the patient,” as he calls them) from engaging in genuine prayer. The enemy knows that if we start truly communing with God, there’s potential for transformation. So, the first priority is distraction.

One method Screwtape suggests is convincing us that set, structured prayers are less meaningful than spontaneous, free-form prayers. This is especially true for new Christians, who might associate traditional prayers with being outdated or insincere. The devils take advantage of this by steering us toward a focus on our emotions or vague devotional moods, rather than concentrating on God himself. While spontaneous prayer can be meaningful, it can also become self-focused if we’re not careful. The enemy’s goal is to make prayer about how we feel, not about encountering God.

The Body Matters in Prayer

Another key tactic the devils use is to make us believe that our physical posture during prayer doesn’t matter. We live in a culture that often separates the physical from the spiritual, making it easy to think that how we position our bodies has no effect on our prayers. Screwtape suggests that convincing Christians to be casual about their posture—whether standing, sitting, or kneeling—makes them less focused and engaged in prayer.

But here’s the truth: our body and soul are deeply connected. When we kneel, fold our hands, or bow our heads, we physically express surrender and reverence. These actions help align our hearts and minds with God’s will. The devils would much prefer that we ignore this, treating prayer as a purely mental exercise, because then it’s easier for us to drift away from real focus and into distraction.

Feelings vs. Faith in Prayer

Another trick Screwtape highlights is shifting the focus of our prayers from God’s will to our own feelings. For instance, if we pray for love, courage, or forgiveness, the devils would prefer that we become preoccupied with feeling loving, brave, or forgiven, rather than asking God to help us live out those virtues. This tactic leads us to measure the success of our prayers by our emotional response—did we feel something in the moment?—rather than trusting that God is at work even when our feelings aren’t involved.

This is a subtle but effective strategy. If we’re always looking for emotional highs during prayer, we may become discouraged when they don’t come. But Scripture reminds us that prayer isn’t about how we feel; it’s about trusting in the God who hears us, regardless of our emotions.

Praying to the Real God, Not an Image of Him

One of the more dangerous tactics the enemy uses is to keep us from truly praying to the living God by encouraging us to pray to a false mental image of God instead. Whether it’s an image of God as a distant, stern figure or a vague idea of light and warmth, these mental pictures can distort our understanding of who God really is.

Screwtape warns that when we create mental images of God, we are not praying to Him, but to a figment of our imagination. To counter this, we must consciously remind ourselves that no matter what picture comes to mind, we are praying to the true and living God—the Creator of the universe who is beyond any human representation. When we recognize that God is more than what our minds can conceive, we begin to pray with a deeper sense of awe and humility.

The Power of Honest Prayer

Despite all these tactics, Screwtape admits that prayer is still dangerous territory for the devils. Why? Because when Christians pray with honesty and vulnerability, when they bring their raw selves before God, transformation happens. Screwtape fears what he calls “the nakedness of the soul in prayer”—those moments when we are fully transparent before God, acknowledging our weaknesses, needs, and dependency on Him.

This kind of prayer opens the door to God’s grace and self-awareness. In those moments, God meets us, offers us growth, and fills us with His presence. The devils know that if Christians reach this point, it becomes much harder to manipulate them, as they are grounded in the truth of God’s love and mercy.

How to Strengthen Your Prayer Life

So, how do we counter these demonic strategies and deepen our prayer life? By being aware of these tactics and intentionally focusing on God. Here are a few practical steps:

1. Focus on God, Not Your Feelings: Prayer is about connecting with God, not about how you feel in the moment. Trust that God is working even when emotions aren’t present.
2. Embrace Set Prayers: If you struggle with focus, don’t shy away from using structured prayers. These have been a source of deep spiritual growth for Christians throughout history.
3. Honor the Body in Prayer: Engage your whole self in prayer. Kneel, fold your hands, bow your head—these postures can help you focus and show reverence.
4. Pray to the Real God: Acknowledge that any image of God in your mind is just that—an image. Remind yourself that you’re praying to the living God who transcends all human understanding.

By recognizing the enemy’s tactics, we can reclaim the power of prayer and strengthen our connection with God. It’s in this place of honest, focused prayer that true spiritual growth happens. So, don’t let distractions, emotions, or false images get in the way of your communion with God. Keep your eyes on Him, and trust that He is always present, ready to transform and renew your heart.