Dhitlor

Faithful Servant
Please pray for me: I decided recently to leave the church I'm at after numerous concerns arose. To make a long story short, I actually started getting depressed due to things happening at my church and for the sake of my mental health, I decided to pull away and only attend sometimes. Well, I guess my church members noticed so they have been trying hard to fix the problems that have caused me to pull away (I didn't tell anyone about these concerns I have at all, I guess they just noticed the change in my approach to church). My pastor, who I had the biggest problem with because he is constantly being used by spiritual warfare to target me and be cruel to me with little relief and truly without cause (and part of the problem I have with my church is the heaviness of certain people in church being used to target me constantly by spiritual warfare; even though I knew their behavior wasn't their own, it eventually started to cause depression and I had to step away because I was struggling mentally; I think the reason he is used so much is because he has an undiagnosed mental/emotional disorder, I can see signs that that may be the case), has now invited my mother and I to lunch after church this Sunday. This is unusual and recently he seems to be really trying to fix whatever has caused me to pull away. But I'm very hurt, I don't want to be let down anymore and I'm also generally just down and depressed and feeling defeated and despondent in my faith. I don't feel like going to lunch with him and other church members. We will be going but I just don't feel like it. Please pray for me about all this. Please also pray for me about this: I really love fitness and always loved going to the gym but when Covid came, going to the gym no longer felt safe. Also, I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that hindered my being able to work out as much as I like for different reasons. But I wish I could go back to working out and going to the gym like I used to. Please pray that maybe I will - or at least that I will be able to start running outdoors. Please also pray that I will lose the weight I want to lose and stop overeating. I want to lose weight so much. My eating habits are not good right now partially because of my depression. Please pray for me about all this. Thank you.
 
We hear your heart and the deep struggles you’re carrying—spiritual, emotional, and physical. It’s clear you’ve been through a season of heaviness, and we want to stand with you in prayer and encouragement, trusting God to bring healing and restoration in every area.

First, we must address the spiritual warfare you’ve described. Scripture warns us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world (Ephesians 6:12). The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and it’s heartbreaking to hear how you’ve felt targeted and worn down. But we take authority in the name of Jesus over every scheme of the devil aimed at you. We rebuke the spirit of heaviness and oppression, and we declare that no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). The Lord is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). We pray that you would sense His nearness and protection, even in the midst of this storm.

Your pastor and church members reaching out to you is a sign that they recognize something is amiss, and we pray this becomes an opportunity for healing and reconciliation. However, we also understand your hesitation—hurt can make it difficult to trust again. We encourage you to go into this lunch with an open heart, but also with wisdom. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from it. If you feel led, share your concerns with humility and love, but also be prepared to extend grace, knowing that none of us are perfect. If this pastor has been used by the enemy to wound you, we pray that God would break every assignment of the enemy over his life and bring him into greater awareness of his own struggles. We also pray that the Holy Spirit would give you discernment and peace as you navigate this conversation.

We must also address the depression and despondency you’re feeling in your faith. The enemy wants nothing more than to isolate you and make you feel defeated, but we declare that you are not alone. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). We pray that you would experience the joy of the Lord, which is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Even when you don’t feel like it, draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). We encourage you to spend time in His Word, allowing it to refresh your soul and remind you of His promises. The enemy may have meant this season for harm, but God can use it for good (Genesis 50:20).

Regarding your physical health, we lift up your autoimmune disorder and the limitations it has placed on you. We pray for healing and restoration in your body, believing that by His stripes, you are healed (Isaiah 53:5). We also pray for wisdom in how to care for your body in a way that honors God. Your desire to return to fitness and lose weight is not just about appearance—it’s about stewarding the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We encourage you to seek God’s guidance in this area, asking Him to help you develop healthy habits and discipline. We pray that He would give you the strength to run, not just physically, but spiritually, laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1). We also rebuke the spirit of gluttony and emotional eating, declaring that you have self-control through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We pray that God would give you the desire and ability to honor Him with your body, whether through exercise, nutrition, or rest.

Lastly, we must emphasize the importance of keeping your eyes on Jesus. It’s only through Him that we have access to the Father (John 14:6), and there is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). If you’ve never surrendered your life to Christ, we encourage you to do so today. Confess your sins, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9). If you’ve already made this decision, we pray that you would continue to grow in your relationship with Him, finding your strength and identity in Christ alone.

Father God, we come before You on behalf of our sister in Christ. We ask that You would surround her with Your peace, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Heal her heart from the hurts she has experienced in the church, and restore her joy in Your presence. We rebuke every assignment of the enemy over her life, and we declare that she is more than a conqueror through Christ who loves her (Romans 8:37). Strengthen her body, Lord, and give her the discipline and desire to care for it in a way that honors You. Draw her closer to You, Father, and let her experience Your love in a fresh and powerful way. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
 
We hear your heart, dear friend, and we're right there with you in this. It's tough when the place you've called home feels more like a battlefield than a sanctuary. But remember, even in the darkest nights, God is near. He sees your pain, and He's working behind the scenes to bring healing and restoration.

We're praying for you, that you would feel God's comfort and peace in this lunch with your pastor. It's okay to be cautious, but also remember that God can use this as an opportunity for growth and understanding. Trust that He's got this, and He's guiding your steps.

We're also praying for your physical health. We believe in the power of God to heal and restore. We're asking Him to give you strength, discipline, and a desire to care for your body in a way that honors Him. We're believing for a breakthrough in your autoimmune disorder and for the weight you want to lose.

And finally, we're reminding you to keep your eyes on Jesus. He's the author and perfecter of your faith. He's got you, and He's not going anywhere. Trust in Him, and let His love and strength be your guide.

You're not alone, dear friend. We're standing with you in prayer, and we believe that God is going to turn this around for your good. Keep your heart open to Him, and watch what He does.
 

Similar Requests

Please pray for me about my church: I really am on the fence about continuing to attend this church. There are a lot of concerns that I have about it which have caused me to pull away from it in recent months (these concerns literally started to cause me to deal with depression; some of them may...
Replies
7
Views
60
Please pray for me about my church: I really am on the fence about continuing to attend this church. There are a lot of concerns that I have about it which have caused me to pull away from it in recent months (these concerns literally started to cause me to deal with depression; some of them may...
Replies
7
Views
56
Please pray for me as I have training for a possible new job tomorrow. Training will be for two days and then I believe we're supposed to be able to start earning and working on the third day of training. I have heard some not so good things about this job such as that it involves cold calling...
Replies
9
Views
85
Your donations for running this web site are greatly appreciated.

Click To Make A Donation

Forum statistics

Threads
2,043,619
Messages
16,277,632
Members
601,534
Latest member
Phuirpeanael

Latest Blogs & Articles

Back
Top Bottom