During one of the years when we lived in Berlin, Germany, Jan and I began receiving unsettling phone calls in the middle of the night. A female voice spoke disturbing things in perfect English with a German accent. I could hear other voices in the background.

The first call came while I was still half-asleep and in shock. I simply hung up. By the second call I realized these might be more than pranks. The Lord gave me a clear assignment for the next one: answer in a calm, cheerful voice and recite Scripture along with the promises He had spoken over my life.

When the third call came at midnight, I did exactly that—even as I heard a group of people on the other end laughing and mocking the words I spoke.

On the fourth call I noticed a shift. The conversation was much shorter. By the fifth call I answered with these words: “I am so glad you called. I’ve been expecting you. I love to hear the Word of God and His promises over my life in the middle of the night.”

There was no response. The phone went dead.

I knew that if another call came, I would begin declaring God’s promises of destiny over those on the other end of the line. I remember the joy that rose in me at the thought. I would gladly exchange sleep for the next demonstration of His goodness and power. The call never came.

When spirits of darkness call, we have two tremendous weapons at our disposal: the Word of God and the promises He has declared over us. These weapons are empowered by Him—not by our strength, our maturity, the gifts we carry, or whether we are having a good or bad day.

I knew an argument, an emotional reaction, or an abrupt hang-up would not stop those calls. Hell feeds on frustration and denial. I needed to engage and speak truth. Truth is reality, and reality dispels hell’s illusions, bluffing, and lies.

If you are under attack, speak God’s Word and His promises in response to the voices assigned to assault your place of rest. At some point those voices will stop calling. God’s words are powerful—sharper than a two-edged sword—able to pierce the darkness and illuminate our own hearts. To the adversary they become a tormenting sound, because we are not growing weaker. We are growing stronger.