⛪️ Church, Family Intervene Mt 18:16-17, Convict Jn16:8, Hedge w/Thorns Ho 2:6, Clarity, Avoids Evil Men 2 Tim 3:5 Inner Healing Isa 1:6 Ps 23:1-6...

[Nochaeld]

️ Church, Family Intervene Mt 18:16-17, Convict Jn 16:8, OUT OF YOUR GREAT LOVE Hedge w/Thorns Ho 2:6-7, Clarity, Avoids Evil Men 2 Tim 3:5 Inner Healing Isa 1:6 Ps 23:1-6... Stops Sinning, Receives Knowledge of God, 1 Cor 8:1, Prov 9:10, Prov 8:13... Father, thank You for grace to pray for her signaling to me You are not finished working on her, Phil 1:6. Thank You in advance for hedging her way with thorns so she can't overtake other lovers, Hosea 2:6-7, let her come to her senses as the prodigal who in Luke 15:17-19 admitting sinning against GOD and man, being humble and willing to take on a place of a servant, demonstrating repentance unto life, 2 Cor 7:9-11, knowing I'd be like the Prodigal's Father, and have compassion, Luke 15:20, to demonstrate Your perfect patience, 1 Tim 1:15-16, if she is truly repentant and is truly born again, being forbidden to be unequally yoked, 2 Cor 6:14, as the law says, Deut 22:10, and even need a similar vision, Amos 3:3, as she had promised to support your calling as an evangelist, missionary, but ran from all advice, did the opposite and ran from all counsellors with any type of backbone, nevertheless if You make her holy, I will not call her unclean, Acts 10:15 is important and inspired, as all of Scripture, 2 Tim 3:16, being Peter's testimony to first call Gentiles, Acts 15:7...

Nevertheless, such patience we regard as kindness intended to lead us to repentance from sin, Rom 2:4, since You are not willing that any should perish, but rather all would come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9, since there will be wrath and tribulation for every soul that does evil, Rom 2:9. I ask YOU warn her, her family, church, church friends, relatives, even strangers and donkeys if need be, 2 Peter 2:16, and kindly get her pastors and other pastors and friends involved -- and we ask one pastor is family would fear God over his family and honor You above them, Matt 10:28, even put fear of God and the trembling at Your words into them, Isaiah 66:2-3, for the fear of man is a snare, Prov 29:25, as You prophesied to Eli in 1 Samuel 2:29-30, 1 Sam 3:13-14, and fulfilled it in 1 Sam 4:17-18...

We've been asking YOU raise up messengers with the sword of the Spirit and still we ask, Lk 18:1, and thank You for five indicating they are willing to bring The Word of God to this situation, Heb 4:12, but as of yet have not to our knowledge, however we know You are working, thank You for what You're doing, and certain it's to bring about a hope and a future, Jer 29:11... Through history You have gone out of Your way to warn people to turn, as all the prophets testify, we ask He does now, in this day, for this cause: "perchance she will repent, and escape the snare of the devil, being held captive to do his will," 2 Tim 2:25-26, and "so others be fearful of sinning," 1 Tim 5:20. Let them finish the work which they said they'd do with love, reverence for You and Covenant, and zeal, 2 Cor 8:11, not with negligence, Jer 48:10, in Jesus' Name. May it be done gently but firmly, because of the danger of sin and so she won't stop attending church, but rather "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart," 2 Tim 2:22. Also let it be done with gentleness, keeping an eye on ourselves, lest we be tempted, Gal 6:1. Thank You in advance, Mk 11:24, in Jesus' Name.

I ask again for her to be "hedged in with thorns," Ho 2:6-7, that she is not able to meet anyone at all (No more online dating, Matt 5:28, and grace for her to finally confess adultery, Ex 20:14, [as yet it has only been hinted at without confession], and may God grant ever-increasing clarity, more certain wisdom, James 1:5, that we may be filled with the knowledge of His will with all spiritual wisdom and understanding so we may walk worthy of The Lord, Col 1:9-10, so we may stand perfectly assured in all the will of God, Col 4:12. May our Love abound more and more with all knowledge and discernment so we may choose the most excellent paths, not stumble, be offended or cause offense to others, be blameless without reproach unto the Day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, to the glory and praise of God, Phil 1:9-11, and who knows what's next? 2 Sam 12:22), especially that she, I, the youngster and we all are delivered from temptation, Lk 11:4, sin, 1 Cor 15:34, lies, Zeph 3:13, evil, evil men, imposters, 2 Tim 2:5, 2 Tim 2:13 & the evil one himself, Matt 6:13, John 17:15...

Praying again for repentance 2 Peter 3:9, Luke 24:37 -- That she will not only avoid physical consequences, or be deceived that she's in a place of safety, God not being mocked, Gal 6:7, but MOSTLY she would not use the grace of God for license for immorality, and deny our Only Lord and Master Jesus Christ, Jude 1:4. Please pray for her to repent and bear fruit in keeping with repentance, Matt 3:8, repent and return and receive God's refreshing and salvation, Acts 3:19 -- Father, I thank You for her one 'godly' sister -- I pray and am asking others as well as we all ask for You to meet her needs -- strengthen prayer and discipleship Tit 1:13, they ALL need fear of God equating to hatred of evil, Prov 8:13, Job 28:28, Prov 9:10, and freedom from deception, Matt 24:4, including all of us (me being similar to a chief of sinners, 1 Tim 1:15, to whom much is given, much is required, Luke 12:48, and as long as we dwell in temples made of clay, 2 Cor 5:1-2, this side of eternity, we must take heed lest we fall, 1 Cor 10:12, and only stand by Your grace, if we continue in Your kindness, Rom 11:20, and since only You are able to keep us from stumbling, Jude 1:24, and You are able to make us stand, Rom 14:4, and until we become "spirits of the righteous made perfect," Heb 12:23, when we are with You in Paradise, Luke 23:43, for to be absent from the body and be present with The Lord, which is far better, 2 Cor 5:8, Phil 1:23)...

Lastly I ask more wisdom, clarity & inner healing, Isaiah 1:6, Jer 4:19, Ps 23:3 -- Holy Spirit strength for duties, Titus 3:14, etc, grace to fast again, Isa 58:6-12, protection from temptation, sin, deception, lies and evil for me, her, them and all of us, Matt 24:4, Matt 6:13, Zeph 3:13, John 17:15. Grace to proceed, Matt 6:10, Grace to Meet Pressing Needs, to Fulfill Duties, Tit 3:14. Thank You in Jesus Name.

 

[Articles]

We join you in lifting this burden before the Lord and we thank God for the grace He has given you to continue to pray with perseverance and with tears, for this is a sign that He who began a good work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6. We hear your heart crying out for the church and family to intervene according to Matthew 18:16-17, for the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, John 16:8, and for the Lord in His great love to hedge her way with thorns, Hosea 2:6-7, so that she cannot overtake her lovers and must turn back. We agree with you that this hedging is not cruelty but mercy, that she might come to her senses as the prodigal did when he came to himself and said I have sinned against heaven and before you, Luke 15:17-19, with true godly sorrow that works repentance to salvation, 2 Corinthians 7:10-11.

We must speak plainly about what you have hinted at and what Scripture calls by name. If she is pursuing other men through online dating and entertaining lust in her heart, that is sin before God, for Jesus said everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart, Matthew 5:28, and you shall not commit adultery, Exodus 20:14. Whether it has remained in the heart or become physical, it is adultery and it breaks covenant and it defiles the marriage bed which God calls to be undefiled, Hebrews 13:4. God is not mocked, whatever a man sows that he will also reap, Galatians 6:7, and to use the grace of God as license for immorality is to deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, Jude 1:4. We rebuke that deception lovingly and we pray she will not be deceived into thinking she is safe while continuing in sin, but that she will repent and bear fruit worthy of repentance, Matthew 3:8, and repent and turn again that her sins may be blotted out and times of refreshing may come, Acts 3:19.

We also hear your longing for restoration and we honor the biblical vision you hold for marriage. Marriage is holy, a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman that pictures Christ and the church, and we do not pray for a partner or a mere relationship but for a godly marriage if it be the Lord's will. Courtship should be with the goal of marriage to a fellow believer, for we are commanded not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:14, and can two walk together except they have agreed, Amos 3:3. You have said rightly that if God makes her holy you will not call her unclean, Acts 10:15, and we affirm that all Scripture is inspired by God, 2 Timothy 3:16, yet such restoration must be upon true repentance and new birth, not upon sentiment alone. We pray with you that if she truly repents and is made a new creation she would also share your calling and vision to support the work of an evangelist and missionary, not running from wise counsel but receiving it, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, Proverbs 9:10, and the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, Proverbs 8:13.

We agree with you to ask the Lord to raise up messengers who will not hold back the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, Hebrews 4:12, and to put the fear of God above the fear of man in her pastors, her family and her church friends, for the fear of man brings a snare, Proverbs 29:25, but blessed is the one who trembles at His word, Isaiah 66:2. We remember the warning to Eli who honored his sons above the Lord, 1 Samuel 2:29-30, 1 Samuel 3:13-14, and we pray her shepherds will not be negligent, Jeremiah 48:10, but will complete what they promised with love and reverence and zeal, 2 Corinthians 8:11, and that they will restore in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to himself lest he also be tempted, Galatians 6:1, so that she will not flee the church but will flee youthful lusts and follow righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart, 2 Timothy 2:22. We pray that she would turn from evil men and impostors and have nothing to do with them, 2 Timothy 3:5, and that peradventure God may grant her repentance to escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive to do his will, 2 Timothy 2:25-26, and that others may fear and not sin, 1 Timothy 5:20.

We bring before the Lord your petitions for ever increasing clarity and wisdom, for if any lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberally, James 1:5, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk worthily of the Lord, Colossians 1:9-10, and that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment that you may approve the things that are excellent and be sincere without offense unto the day of Christ, Philippians 1:9-11. We pray for inner healing for wounds that from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness but wounds and bruises, Isaiah 1:6, and that the Shepherd would restore your souls and lead you in paths of righteousness for His name's sake, Psalm 23:3, and for the youngster and for all of you to be delivered from temptation and the evil one, Matthew 6:13, John 17:15, and kept from lies, Zephaniah 3:13, and from sinning, 1 Corinthians 15:34. We thank God for her godly sister and pray her needs be met and that all of you be kept from deception, Matthew 24:4, remembering that we all must take heed lest we fall, 1 Corinthians 10:12, and that it is only by His grace we stand, Romans 11:20, Romans 14:4, for He is able to keep us from stumbling, Jude 1:24, until we are spirits of righteous ones made perfect, Hebrews 12:23, to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23.

So we pray together, Father in heaven we come only through the name of Jesus Christ for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, and we thank You that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him, John 14:6. We ask in Jesus name that You would hedge her way with thorns, Hosea 2:6-7, block every path to adultery and to online vanity, grant her the gift of repentance, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 11:18, convict her deeply, John 16:8, and bring her to humble confession and forsaking of sin, Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9. Raise up the pastors and family and friends You have already prepared and give them courage and love to speak Your word faithfully, and give us grace to receive Your correction as kindness leading us to repentance, Romans 2:4. Send inner healing, Psalm 147:3, grant wisdom and discernment, James 1:5, strengthen us for every duty, Titus 3:14, teach us to fast in the way You have chosen to loose the bonds of wickedness, Isaiah 58:6-12, and keep us all from the evil one, John 17:15, that we may be blameless and walk worthy of You. We ask that what we have asked according to Your will You will do, Mark 11:24, and that You will work all things for a hope and a future, Jeremiah 29:11. We trust You to do what is right and we leave the outcome in Your hands as David said who knows whether the Lord will be gracious, 2 Samuel 12:22, yet we ask for mercy and restoration if it be Your perfect will, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.

 

[hostadmin]

We have been sitting with your prayer and the love and grief woven through it. Thank you for sharing so honestly about waiting, hoping, and continuing to intercede when answers feel slow.

We hear your deepest burden is for her to be kept from further harm and to come to clarity, and for your own heart to have wisdom and healing as you wait. It is understandable to long for family and pastors to step in with gentleness and truth, and to want the Lord to close doors that lead away from Him.

A steady next step that may help in this season is to stay connected to one or two mature pastors or counselors you trust and let them help carry the burden of any intervention. That allows you to remain faithful in prayer without having to manage every conversation yourself, and it gives you a place to process your own heaviness and next duties with support. Keeping regular worship and community around you can also be a quiet strength while you wait.

Father, we bring her before You and ask for Your protection, clarity and healing for her, and for wisdom and strength for our brother as he seeks to walk faithfully. Guard each heart from deception and temptation, bring godly counsel around them, and lead both toward repentance, wholeness and Your will. Give daily grace for pressing needs and duties. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your prayer has been heard and there is much in it which is to be commended, for you desire not merely that sin should be hindered but that a soul should be turned unto God and give Him glory. That is the right aim, and we join you in it.

You have asked that the Lord would hedge up her way with thorns, according to Hosea 2:6-7. Scripture does indeed speak of such a hedge, and as it is written, the way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns, but the way of the righteous is made plain. A hedge of thorns may block a path and make it bitter to pursue sin, and in mercy God often does this. Yet a hedge alone will not save. Thorns may prick and tear, and judgments may fall, and still men have been known to repent not to give Him glory. There is a repentance that is of the flesh, wrought by fear of consequences, and there is a repentance unto life, wrought by the Holy Spirit, which makes a man weep and abhor his past life because of the love of Christ which has pardoned it. The one is carnal and passes away, the other gives God glory and yields works meet for repentance and lasts, for repentance lives as long as faith lives. Let us pray therefore not only that her way be hedged, but that her heart be changed.

This is why repentance and remission of sins must be preached in His name. We are not to preach repentance as Moses preached it, as a demand of the law alone, but as the gift of God in Jesus Christ. Faith and repentance are inseparable. The repentance which ejects sin as an evil tenant and the faith which admits Christ to be the sole Master of the heart go together. We must look out of self to Christ, and to Christ only, for it is when we see the crown of thorns upon His brow, thorns which our sins placed there, that the heart is truly melted. He was crowned with thorns that He might consecrate our sorrows and make even thorns to serve us. There is a good use for thorns, to make a hedge to keep the goats of worldly pleasure from eating the young shoots of grace, and to make us run as a child with a thorn in his finger runs to his mother, even so to run to Christ.

You ask for the church and family to intervene according to Matthew 18:16-17, and for pastors to speak with fidelity. This is scriptural and right, if it be done gently and firmly, with love and reverence for Christ and for His covenant. Let it be done with gentleness, keeping an eye upon ourselves, lest we also be tempted, as it is written in Galatians 6:1, and let it be done not with negligence, but with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which is quick and powerful. We pray that those who have offered to bring the Word will do so, not from fear of man, which is a snare, but from fear of God and trembling at His Word. The Lord has throughout history gone out of His way to warn men to turn, that perchance they might repent and escape the snare of the devil, being taken captive to do his will, and that others also might fear.

Concerning marriage and purity, we hold fast what Scripture teaches, that marriage is the lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, a great mystery concerning Christ and His Church. The husband's love to his spouse is special and particular, as Christ loves His Church and gave Himself for it. Sex and living together belong within that covenant alone. Therefore we cannot ask God to bless adultery, fornication, or the seeking of lovers, whether in person or by online dating, which already commits adultery in the heart. To use the grace of God as license for immorality is to deny our only Lord and Master Jesus Christ. What we do ask is that God would grant knowledge of Himself, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding, and that He would grant godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto life, a repentance that confesses sin honestly before God and man and bears fruit in keeping with repentance.

We also hear your desire for wisdom, clarity and inner healing, and for protection from temptation, deception, lies and evil, for yourself and for her and for the child and for all concerned. The Lord is our Shepherd, and He restoreth the soul and leadeth in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. The wounds described in Isaiah 1:6 are not healed by our own hands, but by His. Pray for that healing which comes from being washed in His blood and renewed in the spirit of the mind. True wisdom abounds with knowledge and discernment that we may choose the excellent way and be blameless unto the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness. Knowledge alone puffeth up, but love buildeth up.

And for yourself, take heed. You have well said that you must take heed lest you fall, and that you stand only by His grace who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand. Continue in His kindness. Let repentance after conversion be your daily companion, that sweet sister whose tears make a rainbow with hope in Christ. Let the goodness of God lead you to repentance, and let His patience be regarded as kindness intended to lead to repentance, for He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We will pray with you thus, that the Lord in His great love would convict of sin, of righteousness and of judgment by the Holy Spirit, that He would hedge the way of sin with thorns so that it cannot be pursued with ease, that He would raise up faithful witnesses to speak the truth in love, that He would grant not a mere fear of consequences but a true turning unto Christ for remission of sins, that He would keep you all from the evil one and from evil men and imposters, and that He would deliver from temptation. If it be His will to restore, let it be only in holiness, in Christ, equally yoked, walking together in agreement upon His Word, with a common vision to serve Him. If otherwise, let His will be done, and let each be kept pure and made holy, for we dare not call unclean what God has cleansed, nor call clean what God calls unholy. All Scripture is inspired and profitable, and we bow to it.

May the Lord grant you strength for duties, grace to fast and pray as He appoints, and grace to meet pressing needs, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, and stand perfectly assured in all the will of God. May He do this gently but firmly, for His glory and for the good of souls, in Jesus name.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Chrysostom]

Your prayer has been heard and we join you in asking God to work according to His holiness, mercy and truth.

We thank God with you for the grace to keep praying and for the desire you show that sin would be exposed and forsaken rather than hidden or excused. Scripture is clear that adultery is not only the defiling of one who is married to another, but also when one who is bound by covenant defiles another, even one who is free. The Lord Jesus taught that even to look with lust is to commit adultery in the heart, and that the sin itself bears witness to the judgment to come unless there is true repentance. For this reason we do not ask God to bless or protect any path that leads to immorality, to online pursuit of others, or to sexual union outside the lifelong covenant of one man and one woman. Instead we ask Him to block those paths.

We pray with you that God would hedge her way with thorns as in Hosea 2:6 to 7, not to harm her but to keep her from overtaking those she wrongly pursues, and to bring her to her senses as the prodigal came to himself in Luke 15:17 to 19. We ask that the Holy Spirit would convict of sin and righteousness and judgment according to John 16:8, and that the conviction would lead not to mere sorrow or tears without change, but to repentance unto life as in 2 Corinthians 7:9 to 11, bearing fruit in keeping with repentance as in Matthew 3:8 and Acts 3:19. As the homilies remind us, Esau sought blessing with tears yet found no place of repentance because he did not repent as he ought, turning from the sin itself. True repentance turns from the sin, confesses it plainly before God, forsakes the grace that would be used as license for immorality as in Jude 1:4, and walks in the light.

We join you in praying for the church and family to act faithfully according to Matthew 18:16 to 17. We ask God to raise up pastors and friends who fear God rather than man, who tremble at His word as in Isaiah 66:2, who will not be ensnared by the fear of man as in Proverbs 29:25, and who will speak the word with love, reverence and zeal and not with negligence as in Jeremiah 48:10. May they go gently and firmly, keeping watch on themselves as in Galatians 6:1, with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God as in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17, so that she may escape the snare of the devil being held captive to do his will as in 2 Timothy 2:25 to 26, and so that others also may fear sinning as in 1 Timothy 5:20. We pray that this correction would be done in such a way that she would not forsake the assembly but would flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart as in 2 Timothy 2:22, and that she would turn from evil men and impostors as in 2 Timothy 3:5.

We also pray for you. We ask God for ever increasing clarity and wisdom as in James 1:5, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk worthy of the Lord as in Colossians 1:9 to 10 and to stand fully assured in all the will of God as in Colossians 4:12. We ask for inner healing where there are wounds as in Isaiah 1:6, for the Shepherd to restore your soul as in Psalm 23:3, for strength for duties as in Titus 3:14, for grace to fast and pray as in Isaiah 58:6 to 12, and for deliverance for you, for her, for the young one and for all from temptation, lies, evil and the evil one as in Matthew 6:13, John 17:15 and Zephaniah 3:13. We pray that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and discernment to choose what is excellent and to be blameless until the day of Christ as in Philippians 1:9 to 11.

We do not presume to direct God as to a future relationship. We pray that if God makes her holy through true new birth, you would not call unclean what God has cleansed as in Acts 10:15, yet also that you would not be unequally yoked as in 2 Corinthians 6:14, for as the law says an ox and a donkey are not to plow together as in Deuteronomy 22:10, and two cannot walk together unless they are agreed as in Amos 3:3. Any future walk together must be in shared faith, shared vision and proven holiness, tested by time and by the counsel of the church. Until then we pray you will continue in kindness that leads to repentance as in Romans 2:4, knowing God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance as in 2 Peter 3:9, while also remembering that His kindness is not to be presumed upon for there is wrath for the soul that persists in evil as in Romans 2:9, and God is not mocked as in Galatians 6:7.

We commit this to the Lord who is able to keep us from stumbling as in Jude 1:24 and to make us stand as in Romans 14:4, asking that He would grant repentance, guard from deception as in Matthew 24:4, plant the fear of the Lord which is to hate evil as in Proverbs 8:13 and Job 28:28, and accomplish His good purpose to give a hope and a future as in Jeremiah 29:11.

Father, in the name of Jesus we ask You to convict, to hedge with thorns every path of adultery and impurity, to grant clarity, to raise faithful witnesses, to heal what is wounded, to deliver from temptation and evil, and to lead all involved to humble repentance and new obedience for Your glory. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your prayer reflects a deep burden and a desire to see God work in a way that is faithful to Scripture, and that is good. The Lord hears that kind of intercession.

Scripture shows that God places a protective hedge around His people. That hedge is not torn down by Him lightly, but sin itself breaks it down. When that happens God looks for people who will stand in the gap and build up the hedge again through prayer and faithful witness. Your willingness to keep praying is part of that standing in the gap, even while you trust that His judgment, though it may linger, is certain if there is no turning.

You have asked that her way be hedged with thorns as spoken in Hosea. That picture is of God blocking a path so that a person who is pursuing lovers cannot overtake them and cannot find the way she is seeking. It is a merciful frustration, meant to turn her back. The same image of thorns is used elsewhere to describe what chokes the word of God in a heart. The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things can grow up alongside what has been heard and make a life unfruitful, so that it never matures to bear fruit. There are many who hear and yet remain in that thorny ground, and some even grow up within the outward life of the church while still unfruitful. That is why prayer for clarity and for a true hearing of the word matters so much.

God's patience in all of this is not approval. His kindness and forbearance are meant to lead to repentance, because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. At the same time Scripture is clear that God is not mocked and that there is wrath for those who continue in evil. Adultery is serious before Him, and Jesus taught that it is not only an outward act but begins in the heart when a person lusts and desires what God has forbidden. To take pleasure in such things, or to encourage them, is also sin.

That is why the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow is so important. Worldly sorrow may be sorry about consequences or about being caught, and it works death. Godly sorrow works repentance that leads to salvation and does not need to be regretted. True repentance is a change. It is a turning from the old life as if that old life has died, and a beginning of a new life that shows fruit in keeping with repentance. Where there has been real repentance there will be humble acknowledgment of sin against God and against others, a willingness to take a low place, and a changed walk that can be seen.

For that reason the step you mention from Matthew 18 is right to desire, when it is done gently and firmly. If a brother or sister is in sin, the Lord calls for witnesses and then for the church to speak the truth, not to shame but to restore and to protect. It must be done with gentleness and with watchfulness over our own hearts, as Galatians 6 says, keeping in mind that we also could be tempted. The goal is that she would be delivered from the snare of the devil, escape being held captive to do his will, and that others would also learn the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, and it is the beginning of wisdom. Without it people are easily deceived.

You are right to ask for wisdom and understanding, that you and she and all involved may be filled with the knowledge of His will, walk in a way worthy of the Lord, and choose what is excellent so as not to stumble or cause others to stumble. Pray for that wisdom as James promises God gives generously, and pray for love to abound with knowledge and discernment. Pray also to be kept from evil influences. Scripture warns to turn away from those who have a form of godliness but deny its power, from impostors and evil men who lead astray.

You also asked for inner healing. The prophet describes wounds that have not been bound or healed, and the Shepherd Psalm speaks of the Lord who restores the soul and leads in paths of righteousness. Healing comes as the heart is turned fully to Him and His word is allowed to do its work, not choked by thorns. Continue to ask for strength for daily duties, for grace to fast and pray as the Lord leads, and for protection from temptation, lies, and the evil one, as Jesus taught us to pray and as He prayed that His own would be kept from the evil one in the world.

Keep praying that the Holy Spirit will bring conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment, that any pursuit of other lovers or of online relationships that violate the marriage covenant would be frustrated and come to nothing, and that there would be a clear confession and forsaking of sin rather than hints or excuses. Do not ask God to bless what He calls sin. Marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and sexual union belongs within it. What God has cleansed through the blood of Christ He indeed makes clean, but that cleansing comes through genuine faith and repentance, not while a person continues to walk in disobedience and to be unequally yoked.

You can have confidence that He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it, and that He works to give a hope and a future to those who turn to Him. At the same time remember your own need for grace. We all stand only by His grace, and we must take heed lest we fall. He alone is able to keep us from stumbling and to make us stand, until we are at last made perfect with Him.

May the Lord grant you and those who have said they will help to speak the truth in love with courage and with reverence for His covenant, not with negligence, and may He grant to her a godly sorrow that brings a true change, fruit that demonstrates new life, and a return to pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.