What Is a Spiritual Covering and How Does It Work?

A spiritual covering is a godly leadership role in a ministry, church, or Kingdom-focused organization intended to point you to Jesus, help you grow in your faith, and give you guidance and instruction based on the Word of God to protect and fulfill Kingdom assignments.

Why You Need a Spiritual Covering 

We have a real enemy (Ephesians 6:12), and his plans involve distraction, doubt, and fear. If he can get you to come into agreement with these things, you are drawn out from under the shelter of the Most High—your ultimate spiritual covering—where he has full view of your vulnerability and will strike accordingly. 

Your spiritual covering—your godly leader—has the responsibility to hold you accountable and provide direction that keeps you under God’s spiritual covering. 

A Spiritual Covering Is a Gift from God

Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” (emphasis added) 

The Lord gave these roles as spiritual coverings so that the body of Messiah would be equipped and edified to do His work. Therefore, we must appreciate and understand these gifts and roles to step into our Kingdom destinies. 

This doesn’t mean that the spiritual leader won’t say something that “rubs you wrong.” After all, they are human and being perfected in Jesus as well, but they do have a high call and the Bible tells us to honor their position. When something is said by your leader, inquire of the Lord and deal with it in your heart. Ask the Spirit if there are other steps to take or if it is simply a heart issue that He is cleansing in you.  

Natural vs. Spiritual Covering

The concept of a spiritual covering has been a challenge for some because they view it the same way they view a natural covering, such as parents, teachers, coaches, or managers. If they had negative experiences with leaders in the natural—natural coverings—then negative mindsets could be brought into the concept of a spiritual covering, distorting God’s intentions and purposes. 

Even spiritual coverings within the Church have been misused, creating church hurt and emotional pain. Just as with all things, the enemy attempts to creep in, twist, and distort what God has sanctioned and assigned.  

Natural coverings, such as fathers or parents, were designed to reflect God’s purposes for a spiritual covering. Yet, not all fathers and parents point their children to Jesus because we live in a broken and sinful world. So, God also gave us spiritual leaders to come alongside us for seasons to equip and edify us. 

Spiritual covering is all about relationships, not ownership. For example, a father covers his child in the midst of a storm because he loves and wants to protect him. The child responds with honor, respect, and obedience to step under the umbrella because he knows his father’s heart is for him. He feels safe and loved. 

He doesn’t demand or threaten the child. He will warn him of the consequences, but it is ultimately up to the child to come into agreement with the instruction for his protection.

The relationship with a spiritual covering works in a similar way. The spiritual leader is to guide and protect the flock, but the flock also has the choice to come under the umbrella of protection and receive godly counsel or not. True spiritual covering will grow and mature you so your relationship with God continues to produce good fruit, even after you step under another covering at another time in your life. 

Beware of These Things

Control and manipulation: A spiritual covering is not to control or manipulate but to provide guidance and wisdom. Godly leaders will honor your privacy, not needing to know every detail of your life. 

Co-dependency tendencies: If you have co-dependency tendencies operating in your life, they can cause over-dependency in your spiritual leader. The leader is not to replace your relationship with the Lord but instead fulfill the need for accountability and provide godly instruction that releases spiritual protection. 

Carnal nature: In our carnal nature, carnal teaching tickles our ears. Resistance to coming under a spiritual covering could indicate battling a carnal spirit. In other words, a resistance to come under a covering could indicate a desire to live according to the flesh and the world rather than the Spirit and the Kingdom.

Stepping out from under the covering: The enemy is constantly at work twisting and perverting God’s ordained plans. Marriage and family are a perfect example in today’s culture. When under a spiritual covering, we must also protect our words and actions toward our spiritual leaders. We can be under their covering, but when we start to talk poorly, gossip, and sow seeds of bitterness and strife, we place ourselves outside of their leadership in the spirit, and the enemy knows it and gains easy access to us.  

Bible Verses Reflecting Spiritual Coverings

Read the following verse and notice the Father’s heart toward those in leadership roles, what they have been called to do, and how they are to love others and point them to Christ.

Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.”

1 Corinthians 11:2-16, “Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

“Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”

1 Peter 5:5, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

Hebrews 13:17, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Living Positioned 

Second Chronicles 20:15-17 unpacks the nature of a spiritual covering. It says, “‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them… You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

The Lord is speaking to Israel and says, “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” Instead, they are to position themselves. The Lord spoke through a leader who said, “Position yourself, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem.” 

Positioned for God’s Purposes

Position is a divine repositioning. It’s the best position to be in to live the life God has for you. 

Being positioned under a spiritual covering is when your calling, purpose, time, tasks, and activities come together, creating a funnel in the spirit that pours out supernatural blessings and peace upon you. 

• It is accepting God as your covering.
• It is accepting the leadership covering God has given you.
• It is accepting the instruction with responsibility provided by the covering.

Alignment under a Spiritual Covering

After “positioning yourselves” under the covering of the Lord, you are to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” 

It says “yourselves,” plural. There is spiritual alignment that needs to take place personally, but there is also spiritual alignment that needs to take place for your family and corporately. In short, spiritual alignment happens when you step under a spiritual covering for yourself, family, work, congregation, etc., and intercede and decree God’s Word on their behalf.

Second Chronicles 20:20 goes on to say, “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”  

You’ll be established when you believe God’s Word and operate under it for your life. Then comes spiritual authority.

Spiritual Authority and Spiritual Covering Go Together

Acts 19:13-15 says, “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’” (emphasis added) 

When your assignment or calling is under attack, and you struggle to exercise your spiritual authority in the battle, it’s time to take inventory of your prayer life, including those who come alongside you in prayer. 

When you go into the Courts of Heaven and war in prayer in the spirit, you must have spiritual authority and the power of agreement in prayer—agreement with God’s Word. Those who are praying for and with you must also agree. It’s a three-stranded cord in the spirit. 

In the Courts of Heaven, the accuser will remark, “What authority do you have?” Before going into the heavenly courtroom, come out of agreement with doubt, unbelief, and fear. Stand firm in who you are in Yeshua and the authority you have in Him. 

Your spiritual covering and prayer partners must also understand this so they can encourage you to step into the authority you have in Yeshua and your Kingdom destiny! 

Signs of a Godly Spiritual Covering

• Encourages you in your spiritual walk with God. 
• Teaches the whole counsel of God—the Word.
• Points you back to Jesus, as Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” 
• Resists dependency upon him/her; does not replace God.
• Provides space for you to develop and grow in your gifts.
• Reminds you where God is taking you in the future by reflecting on His promises, not only focusing on what you have been rescued from.
• Teaches you how to pray, get into the presence of God, give, forgive, and other practical ways of living out your faith.
• Encourages corporate unity, prayer, and growth. 

In Summary…

A spiritual covering refers to godly leadership that guides individuals and Kingdom-minded groups in their faith, protecting and equipping them for God’s work. Rooted in biblical principles, spiritual coverings aim to foster growth in Jesus, accountability, and alignment with God’s purposes. 

While ultimate protection comes from God, spiritual leaders help Believers stay under His shelter by offering counsel and support. 

A spiritual covering’s focus is relationships, not control or dependency. Spiritual leaders guide with love and wisdom, while followers respond with trust and respect, maintaining their direct relationship with God. 

Prayerfully ask God to show you who He wants you to come under for direction, counsel, and instruction. He will guide you there. He longs to see you thrive and fulfill your Kingdom destiny.

Positioned rightly under a godly spiritual covering, you will experience supernatural blessings, authority, and the fulfillment of their Kingdom purposes.