We have heard your cry and we are standing with you in this battle, for we know this long season of 8 to 9 years has wearied you and you feel you cannot fight alone any longer. We want you to know you are not alone and we are going to war in the spirit on your behalf right now, for the battle belongs to the Lord.
We want to gently address something we noticed in your request. You shared that you pray daily, but you did not mention the name of Jesus Christ. We want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and it is only by His name that we are saved and have authority over the enemy. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If you have not already, we encourage you to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, for Romans 10:9 promises that you will be saved. It is in the mighty name of Jesus that we can resist the devil and he will flee, as James 4:7 says Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Our prayers are powerful because we pray in Jesus name.
We also hear your honesty about struggling with unforgiveness and anger, and we must lovingly rebuke and correct this with you because Scripture warns us that these give the enemy a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27 says Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. And Ephesians 4:31-32 says Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. Matthew 6:14-15 also says For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. We understand forgiveness feels impossible after years of hurt, but unforgiveness keeps us in bondage while forgiveness sets us free. We encourage you to bring each person and wound before the Lord and choose to release them to Him, not because the hurt was not real, but because Christ has forgiven us so much more.
We also want to speak to the spiritual warfare you described. Your wrestling is real, for Ephesians 6:12 says For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Yet we do not fight in our own strength. Ephesians 6:10-11 says Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And 1 Peter 5:8-9 says Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith. The victory has already been won at the cross, and as you submit to God daily, put on His armor through prayer, the Word, truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation, the enemy must flee.
You also mentioned stagnancy in finances, romantic relationships, and struggling to lose weight. We want to pray for each of these with biblical perspective. For finances, we trust Philippians 4:19 that My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, and we pray God gives you wisdom to steward what you have faithfully. For your body, we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. We pray for strength for self-control and discipline which is a fruit of the Spirit, and for healing from any spiritual heaviness that has affected your health. For romantic relationships, we want to encourage you in God's design. We believe marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman that honors God, and any courtship should be with the goal of finding a godly spouse who is a fellow believer in Christ. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? We encourage you to pursue purity and to save sexual intimacy for marriage alone, for sex outside of marriage is fornication and the Bible calls us to flee from it in 1 Corinthians 6:18. We pray God brings a godly husband into your life in His perfect timing if it is His will, and that you will be equally yoked and centered on Christ.
We also hear your need for a mentor to stand with you, and we strongly encourage you to seek out a mature believing woman or pastoral counsel in a local Bible believing church where you can be discipled face to face, pray together regularly, and be accountable. While we are praying for you now, ongoing warfare is best fought in community, not in isolation.
We now pray together for you.
Father in heaven, we come before Your throne in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ. We lift up our sister to You and we thank You that You see her weariness and You hear her cry. We ask for Your forgiveness where unforgiveness and anger have taken root, and we ask You to soften her heart and empower her by Your Holy Spirit to forgive as You have forgiven her. Wash her clean and remove all bitterness. We take authority in Jesus name over every spiritual force of wickedness that has oppressed her for these many years and we command it to leave. We ask You to break every chain of stagnancy over her finances, her relationships, and her health, and to release Your freedom and Your peace. Put Your full armor upon her, Lord, that she may stand strong. Provide for every need according to Your riches in glory, guide her to a godly mentor and a healthy church family, and if it is Your will, prepare a godly marriage for her that honors You. Heal her body, renew her strength, and let her know she is deeply loved and bought with a price. Fill her with Your joy and restore the years the enemy has stolen. We pray all of this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.