It’s not every day you hear someone ask, “Can demons pray?”
At first, it sounds ridiculous, like asking if a criminal writes love letters to the judge he’s trying to outsmart. But underneath that question is something deeper, something we all need to wrestle with: What does it actually mean to talk to God? And who has the right to do it?
If you’ve ever had troubling thoughts about God—or even wondered where your thoughts come from—you’ll relate to Why Do I Have Bad Thoughts About God?. It’s more common than we think, and this post can help untangle it.
Even more unsettling, is it possible that demons speak to God more often than some of us do?
This article isn’t just about demons. It’s about us. Our assumptions about prayer, about God, and about what it means to be in relationship with Him. We’ll walk through Scripture, look honestly at the spiritual realm, and uncover something both sobering and deeply hopeful.
Here’s where we’re going:
- What prayer really is
- Whether demons (and Satan) communicate with God
- Why that communication isn’t prayer
- And what all of this teaches us about the beauty, and urgency, of true prayer
Let’s start with the basics.
What Is Prayer?
Ask ten people what prayer means and you’ll get ten different answers. But the Bible gives us a simple, powerful picture:
Prayer is communication with God, rooted in humility, shaped by relationship, and fueled by trust.
It’s more than just talking. Prayer includes:
- Worship: Honoring who God is.
- Repentance: Turning from sin and returning to God.
- Petition: Bringing our needs before Him.
- Fellowship: Walking with Him daily, like a child with their Father.
At its core, prayer is relational. It’s the heartbeat of a surrendered life. Not performance. Not ritual. Not manipulation. It’s our “yes” to God in the quiet, the messy, and the desperate moments.
That matters because, as we’ll see, demons do talk to God, but that doesn’t mean they pray.
If you want a simple guide on how Jesus actually prayed, and how we can follow His example, read How to Pray Like Jesus.
Can Demons “Pray” in Any Sense?
Let’s look at the Bible. Are there moments when demons speak directly to Jesus? Yes.
Mark 5:6–13: The Demonized Man in the Tombs
Jesus steps onto the shore, and a man possessed by many demons, “Legion,” comes running. What happens?
“When he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” (Mark 5:6–7, KJV)
That’s striking. The demons:
- Recognize who Jesus is (“Son of the Most High God”)
- Speak directly to Him
- Beg Him for mercy
Sounds like prayer, doesn’t it?
But don’t be fooled.
What they’re doing is not worship. It’s fearful acknowledgment. It’s the kind of trembling you see when someone’s about to be judged and they know they’re guilty. They’re not surrendering; they’re scrambling.
They ask Jesus not to send them into the abyss (Luke 8:31). That’s a petition, yes—but it’s not a prayer from a repentant heart. It’s like a criminal begging for a lighter sentence while refusing to admit any wrongdoing.
Demons clearly recognize Jesus’ authority, something we explore more deeply in Overestimating Satan and Underestimating God.
There’s a big difference between petition and prayer:
- Petition can come from anywhere, even from fear or selfishness.
- Prayer comes from relationship and surrender.
Demons may plead with God. They may speak to Jesus. But they do not, and cannot, pray in the biblical sense.
Does the Devil Pray to God?
Surprisingly, yes.
Job 1–2: The Heavenly Court
In one of the Bible’s most mysterious scenes, Satan appears before God along with the other heavenly beings.
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” (Job 1:6)
God asks Satan where he’s been. Satan answers. Then comes a chilling moment:
“Hast thou considered my servant Job…?” (Job 1:8)
And Satan responds with accusations. He basically says, “Job only serves You because You bless him. Take it all away and he’ll curse You to Your face.”
Here’s what we learn:
- Satan speaks to God directly.
- He has access to God, but not relationship.
- He functions as an accuser, not a worshiper.
In fact, in Luke 22:31, Jesus says something sobering to Peter:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
That word “desired” in Greek carries the idea of demanding or begging earnestly.
So Satan not only speaks to God, he makes requests.
But again, this is not prayer.
There’s no love, no trust, no humility. Only accusation. Only schemes. Only control.
The devil may speak up to God, but he never looks up to Him.
Can Demons Pray to God? Why Demons (and the Devil) Can’t Truly Pray
Let’s be crystal clear:
Demons believe in God.
Demons speak to God.
Demons fear God.
But they do not pray.
Why?
1. No Repentance
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19)
Demons aren’t atheists. They have no doubts about who God is. They’ve seen His glory up close.
But belief without repentance is empty. It’s like seeing a doctor, knowing you’re sick, and walking out of the hospital untreated, because you refuse to admit you need help.
Prayer begins with repentance. Without it, any words we speak to God are just noise.
2. No Relationship
Romans 8:15 says:
“Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
True prayer comes from sonship, from knowing God as a loving Father. Demons don’t have that. They never will.
Their relationship to God is one of judgment, not grace. Fear, not love.
They may cry out to Him, but they’ll never call Him “Father.”
3. No Surrender
At the heart of prayer is surrender.
It’s not just asking for things, it’s bowing our will. Saying, “Not my way, but Yours.”
Demons are incapable of this. Their very nature is rebellion. They reject God’s rule and resist His mercy.
So while demons interact with God, they do it like enemies in a courtroom, not children at a dinner table.
Sometimes, bad thoughts or doubts can make prayer feel impossible. If you struggle with this,
Why Do I Have Bad Thoughts About God? might help you.
What This Teaches Us About Prayer
Now, here’s where things get personal.
If demons can speak to God but not pray… what about us?
1. Prayer Is a Privilege of the Redeemed
We often treat prayer like a burden. A box to check. A backup plan.
But demons would trade anything to have what we take for granted:
- Access to God
- Relationship with Him
- The right to call Him Father
- The freedom to repent and be restored
Prayer isn’t just a spiritual tool, it’s a gift of grace.
2. Knowing God Exists Isn’t Enough
You can believe in God. You can fear Him. You can speak His name.
So can demons.
The difference isn’t in belief. It’s in surrender.
It’s in the heart behind the words.
Prayer is not just talking to God, it’s walking with Him.
3. Real Prayer Is Relational, Not Just Transactional
Many people come to God like demons do:
- Only when afraid
- Only when they want something
- Only to avoid consequences
That’s not prayer. That’s bargaining.
True prayer is what happens when you stop performing, stop pretending, and start belonging, like a child with their Father.
Final Thoughts: A Warning and a Hope
Let’s land this plane with two truths; one heavy, one healing.
The Warning: You Can Believe in God and Still Be in Rebellion
Let that sink in.
You can know Scripture. You can feel conviction. You can go to church.
But if you refuse to surrender, if you resist repentance, you may find yourself more aligned with the demons than the disciples.
It’s not belief alone that saves. It’s the kind of belief that bends the knee.
Prayer isn’t always easy. If you ever wonder, Is it a sin to be too tired to pray? or Is it a sin to fall asleep while praying?, check out these honest, encouraging posts:
The Hope: You Still Have a Choice
Unlike demons, you haven’t been locked into rebellion.
You still have breath.
You still have a chance.
You still have an invitation.
“Come boldly unto the throne of grace.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Don’t waste what they’ve lost forever.
Right now, you can kneel before God, not as an enemy begging for a delay in judgment, but as a beloved child coming home.
You don’t have to be perfect. Just surrendered.
Call to Action:
So here’s the question only you can answer:
Are you talking to God like a rebel trying to escape punishment…
Or like a child running to their Father?
Don’t take lightly what demons can never experience.
Talk to Him today, not just with your words, but with your whole heart.
If you want to dig into God’s Word and understand more about His promises, you might like
Questions from Genesis to Deuteronomy.
And if you’re looking for practical prayer help, check out
Prayer Points from Psalm 20.
