Unclean spirits hiding in marriages? Where?

If you’ve ever felt like you’re praying, fasting, and warring against the *SAME* cycles without breakthrough, you’re not alone.

Jesus didn’t shy away from spiritual warfare.

In Matthew 12:29, He actually reveals a key to victory: “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.”

And He didn’t stop there.

Jesus also warned us about the nature of spiritual wickedness and how it intensifies when left unchecked:

“Now when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through waterless (dry, arid) places in search of rest, but it does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So will it also be with this wicked generation.” —Matthew 12:43-45, AMP

This verse doesn’t just describe a singular attack—it reveals levels of wickedness that work against our lives.

When we don’t actively fill the spaces of our heart, home, and marriage with God’s presence and authority, we risk leaving them vulnerable to greater attacks.

Binding the strongman isn’t just about removing what’s wrong; it’s about replacing it with the fullness of Christ, fortifying your life against the schemes of the enemy. Today, we’ll unpack how to identify the strongman in your marriage and take authority over every force working against God’s design.

You must bind the strongman in your marriage

The strongman is the enemy’s foothold, guarding areas of dysfunction, pain, and disunity in your marriage.

Without CONFRONTING and BINDING the strongman, we leave room for spiritual decay to steal the peace and purpose God designed for our covenant.

Binding the strongman requires discernment, courage, and alignment with God’s Word.

The strongman in your marriage may look like cycles of:

• anger
• pride
• generational sin
• financial strain, etc…

…areas where the enemy has planted lies and fortified them with fear, doubt and confusion.

These strongholds aren’t just obstacles; they are spiritual fortresses that can only be demolished by the power and authority of God (2 Corinthians 10:4).

If we are to see breakthrough, we must IDENTIFY these areas with the help of the Holy Spirit and actively apply the authority Christ has given us.

In Scripture, Jesus didn’t just identify the strongman; He gave us the tools to overcome him.

Through prayer, fasting, and faith, we bind the enemy’s influence and invite God’s kingdom authority into our homes.

This is not just a “defensive” strategy—it is an “offensive” act of reclaiming what has been stolen. As Isaiah 61:4 declares, “They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”

Today, we are called to RESTORE, RETURN, and REBUILD—not by our strength, but by the Spirit of the Living God. Binding the strongman isn’t optional; it’s essential.

If you are continually:

…circling the same dysfunctional cycles…

…coming against the same stubborn strongholds without breakthrough…

…returning to your past mistakes and old habits…

…having the same conversation over and over…

…spending hours and years in counseling without freedom…

…suffering from the fallout of generational drama…

…then it is very likely you have a strongman operating in your life and marriage that has been left unchallenged.

It is time to bind the strongman using the authority you have in Christ, and finally live from the inheritance you have as a son and daughter of God!

Binding the Strongman of Division and Unforgiveness

The strongman of division and unforgiveness is a generational thief, passing from one bloodline to the next, leaving behind a trail of broken marriages, estranged families, and hearts hardened by bitterness.

You’ve seen it: families that no longer gather, siblings who hold grudges for decades, and relationships where tension and mistrust silently eat away at unity.

This strongman thrives on keeping people isolated—estranged from each other and ultimately from God’s design for reconciliation.

In marriages, division often shows up as a spouse who retreats instead of engages, arguments that never heal, and a constant undertone of mistrust.

Unforgiveness feeds this spirit, convincing families that holding onto pain is their only defense. But you are called to end this curse.

You are the one chosen to stand in the gap and declare that division and unforgiveness will no longer devour your home. By the authority of Christ, you have the power to uproot this strongman and release generational healing.

Prayer to Bind the Strongman of Division and Unforgiveness:

Heavenly Father,

In the name of Jesus, I come before You to bind the strongman of division and unforgiveness that has plagued my family bloodline. I declare that the cycle of broken relationships, bitterness, and isolation ends with me. Your Word says, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). I declare today that my marriage and my family will stand united under Your lordship.

I renounce every generational curse of strife and unforgiveness. I forgive every offense spoken or committed against me, and I release the debt of those who have wounded me. Your Word commands us to forgive as You have forgiven us (Colossians 3:13), and I choose obedience in this moment.

Lord, let Your Spirit of reconciliation reign over my marriage and family. Break every wall of division and restore the unity that reflects Your kingdom. I declare that the enemy has no foothold here. This home is Yours, and Your peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Binding the Strongman of Pride

The strongman of pride has been a destroyer of marriages for generations. It works in secrecy, feeding on arrogance, stubbornness, and self-righteousness.

Pride whispers, “I’m always right,” convincing husbands and wives to see themselves as adversaries instead of partners. In families, pride creates an inability to apologize, a refusal to ask for help, and an unwillingness to see the pain caused by one’s own actions.

Generations have suffered under the weight of pride—broken homes, cold relationships, and unspoken apologies passed from one generation to the next.

But God is calling you to break the cycle.

You are the one chosen to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, so He can lift you and your family into freedom (1 Peter 5:6).

Today, pride’s hold ends.

Prayer to Bind the Strongman of Pride:

Heavenly Father,

I take authority over the strongman of pride that has infiltrated my marriage, family, and bloodline. I declare that its power is broken in the name of Jesus. Your Word says that You resist the proud but give grace to the humble (James 4:6). Lord, I humble myself before You, renouncing every lie and influence of pride that has sown division and destruction in my home.

I repent for the pride that has blinded me to my own faults and hardened my heart toward reconciliation. I renounce the generational patterns of arrogance, self-righteousness, and stubbornness that have kept my family bound. Father, give me the grace to walk in humility and to see my spouse, my family, and myself through Your eyes.

Let Your Spirit of humility reign in our home.

Tear down the walls pride has built and restore every relationship that has been fractured. I declare that my marriage and family will reflect the humility of Christ, and that the legacy we pass on will be one of unity, love, and peace. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

Binding The Strongman of Self-Righteousness

Self-righteousness blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the flaws in our spouse. It prevents humility, fosters pride, and keeps true unity out of reach. When we operate in self-righteousness, we take a posture of superiority rather than servanthood, distorting the heart of Christ in our marriage.

Binding this strongman allows space for humility, repentance, and genuine reconciliation.

Prayer to Bind the Strongman of Self-Righteousness:

Heavenly Father,

I come before You, renouncing the spirit of self-righteousness that has taken root in my heart and my marriage. I reject every lie that has made me see myself as better than my spouse, or that has blinded me to my own faults. Your Word declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and I acknowledge that I, too, am in desperate need of Your grace.

Lord, I bind the strongman of self-righteousness in my life and marriage, declaring that it has no authority here. I take captive every prideful thought and bring it into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Break down every wall of pride, judgment, and superiority that has hindered intimacy and trust between us.

Father, teach me to walk in humility, to see my spouse through Your eyes, and to love with the same grace and mercy You have shown me. I declare that our marriage will be rooted in servanthood, forgiveness, and unity, reflecting the heart of Christ. In Jesus’ name, I take authority over this strongman and proclaim freedom and restoration in our home. Amen.

Binding the Strongman of Sexual Immorality and Addiction

Sexual immorality and addiction are strongholds that have enslaved families for generations. What began as a small compromise in one bloodline has grown into full-scale bondage, tearing apart marriages, destroying trust, and leaving hearts shattered.

This strongman thrives in secrecy, convincing you that what is hidden will never hurt anyone.

But its devastation is visible in every area of life: broken trust between spouses, an inability to connect emotionally, and children inheriting the shame and consequences of choices they didn’t make.

God is calling you to rise and break this curse.

You are the one chosen to declare that your family will no longer be a slave to this stronghold. The cross has already secured your freedom—today, you claim it.

Prayer to Bind the Strongman of Sexual Immorality and Addiction:

Heavenly Father,

In the name of Jesus, I take authority over the strongman of sexual immorality and addiction that has infiltrated my family and bloodline. I declare that its chains are broken by the blood of Jesus, and every lie and temptation it has used is cast down under the authority of Your Word.

Father, I repent for any door that has been opened to this stronghold—through personal sin, generational patterns, or agreements with the enemy. I renounce the spirits of lust, perversion, and addiction, and I command them to flee from my marriage and family in the name of Jesus.

Your Word declares that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and I consecrate my body, my spouse’s body, and my household to You alone. Lord, restore the purity, trust, and intimacy in my marriage that have been stolen. Let Your Spirit cleanse every wound caused by this stronghold and bring healing to every broken place.

I declare freedom over my family from all forms of addiction—p*rnography, substances, or unhealthy dependencies. I bind every generational curse of immorality and command it to stop at the cross of Christ. In its place, I loose a legacy of holiness, self-control, and righteousness. Lord, let my marriage and family be a testimony of Your redeeming power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Binding the Strongman of Financial Lack and Destruction

The strongman of financial lack and destruction is not just about money—it’s about the spirit of poverty and its generational grip.

This stronghold convinces families that scarcity is normal, that abundance is unattainable, and that provision comes from human effort alone. It creates cycles of debt, overspending, greed, and fear that rob marriages of peace and unity.

In your family, this may look like constant financial arguments, lack of agreement on priorities, or an ongoing sense of “never enough.”

These are not just natural circumstances—they are spiritual battles.

But you are called to break this stronghold and declare that your family will walk in the provision and stewardship of God. The Lord is your Shepherd; you lack nothing (Psalm 23:1).

Prayer to Bind the Strongman of Financial Lack and Destruction:

Heavenly Father,

In the name of Jesus, I declare Your provision and abundance over my marriage and family. I bind the strongman of financial lack and destruction, and I command it to release its hold in every area of our lives. I renounce the spirit of poverty, fear, and greed that have sown division and anxiety in our home.

Your Word promises that You will supply all our needs according to Your riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). I stand on that promise today, declaring that every cycle of debt, lack, and financial destruction is broken in the name of Jesus. I repent for any mismanagement, idolatry, or fear surrounding finances and ask for Your wisdom to steward what You’ve entrusted to us.

Lord, bring unity to our marriage in the area of finances. Restore what has been stolen and bring peace where there has been strife. Teach us to trust in Your provision and to honor You with our resources. Let our family walk in abundance—not for selfish gain, but to be a blessing to others and to advance Your kingdom. I declare that the curse of financial destruction stops with us and that future generations will walk in freedom and prosperity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Binding the Strongman of Witchcraft and Generational Curses

The strongman of witchcraft operates in subtle and overt ways, bringing manipulation, control, and rebellion into families. It thrives on open doors such as unrepented sin, occult involvement, or generational agreements.

Its influence creates confusion, chaos, and spiritual oppression.

Generational curses follow in its wake, perpetuating cycles of bondage that feel impossible to escape.

This may look like patterns of rebellion, relational breakdowns, or persistent misfortune that defy natural explanation. But you are not called to live under a curse.

In Christ, every curse is broken (Galatians 3:13). You are chosen to stand as the one who ends this cycle, declaring freedom for your family and generations to come.

Prayer to Bind the Strongman of Witchcraft and Generational Curses:

Heavenly Father,

I come before You in the authority of Jesus Christ, binding the strongman of witchcraft and breaking every generational curse that has infiltrated my bloodline. I declare that the blood of Jesus cancels every agreement, contract, or foothold the enemy has used to operate in my family.

I repent for any sin—whether mine or those from generations before me—that has opened the door to this stronghold. I renounce all forms of witchcraft, rebellion, and manipulation, and I declare that they no longer have any authority over my marriage or family. Your Word says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13), and I claim that redemption today.

Lord, bring Your light into every dark place in my family’s history. Expose and dismantle every lie and stronghold. I loose the Spirit of truth, peace, and freedom into my home, and I declare that from this day forward, my family will walk in the blessings of the Lord and not under the weight of a curse. Let the legacy we leave be one of righteousness, faith, and victory in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Curse Stops With You

The battle for your marriage is not just a battle of the heart—it’s a spiritual war for your legacy, your covenant, and your family’s freedom.

Binding the strongman isn’t a passive act.

It’s a decisive stand in the authority of Christ, declaring that the enemy no longer has dominion over what God has established.

These prayers are not mere words.

They are weapons forged in the truth of God’s Word, designed to dismantle strongholds, break generational curses, and establish His kingdom in your home.

But the victory isn’t just in speaking them—it’s in believing them, standing on them, and walking them out daily.

As we close, let this truth anchor you: greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

The power of the Holy Spirit is at work within you, equipping you to protect, rebuild, and renew.

You are not fighting for freedom; you are fighting from the victory Christ has already secured.

Let’s walk boldly in faith, aligning our hearts with God’s vision for our marriages, and declaring His promises over our families.

We’re standing with you in prayer and believing for breakthroughs that will not only transform your marriage but set the foundation for generations to come.