Orphan Spirit - Identify It

February 8, 2026 

“I will not leave you as orphans." John 14:18

The single greatest enemy of prayer is the orphan spirit.

Many Christians have never heard of the orphan spirit. For this reason, it must be identified.

Jesus didn't say to the disciples that he would not leave them as orphans because they were biological orphans, but because they were spirit orphans. And Jesus wanted them to identify this insidious spirit. 

We were all born spirit orphans. God is not your Father until you are born-again. 

The orphan spirit tells you that you are rejected. Abandoned. All alone. Worthless. Useless. Hopeless. 

The orphan spirit is a demon, and like all demons it lies to you. The orphan spirit tells you things like, you're a failure. God doesn't love you. He doesn't hear your prayers. You'll always be poor. You have a terminal illness. You will die young. You will never have children. Your calling will never be fulfilled. And the list goes on.

The orphan spirit is the greatest single enemy of prayer because it attacks the greatest advocate of prayer--Father. Everything the Father tells you about how much he loves you, protects you, accepts you, the orphan spirit tries to undercut.

The orphan spirit cannot make you an orphan, but it can make you think you're an orphan. Feel like an orphan. Talk like an orphan. And even pray like an orphan.

The night before Christ was crucified he told the disciples that he was going back to Father, and that they could only come to the Father through him. He wanted to assure them that they would not be left as orphans.

God wants you to know emphatically that you are not an orphan. 

When you are born again, you are God's child and he is your Father.

Loving Father, today I take you as my Father and I recognize I am your son (daughter). Thank you for identifying this ugly, demonic orphan spirit. I reject that spirit now in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

YEAR ON FIRE

© Fred A. Hartley, III

All rights reserved

The English Standard Bible (ESV) is normally used, unless otherwise indicated.

This daily Christ-encountering, fire-starter is not intended to replace your daily Bible reading and prayer time, but rather to motivate you to spend extended time in His presence.