Disturbed Sibling

[Anonymous]

My ### has become obsessed with concerts. She is refusing to leave for a possible hurricane. If she does leave, she is demanding to go to a concert in whatever city we evacuate to. She claims that she will be the only one suffering while the rest of us enjoy (no one will be enjoying, and we are all in the same position of trying to find a hotel room). She is being ungrateful of the gifts family members gave her, saying that it is not normal that she has to suffer and not get concert tickets while everyone gets to have fun, etc. She says that she doesn’t care for clothing or anything besides concert tickets. She relates everything in to concert tickets. Instead of accepting food, she is saying that she wants concert tickets. She has tried to refuse to leave for a hurricane before.

 

[Articles]

We join you in bringing this heavy burden before the Lord and we have heard your concern for your sister and for your whole family as you face both a storm and strife at home.

What you describe reveals a heart that has been captured by an idol. When concerts and tickets become the lens for everything, when food and clothing and generous gifts from family are despised unless they are tickets, and when everything is related back to that one desire, the heart is no longer set on the Lord. We are taught do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others Philippians 2:3-4. We must also gently rebuke the ungratefulness and self focus in claiming she alone will suffer while everyone else has fun. That is not true and it dishonors the family who are all facing the same fear and uncertainty of trying to find safety and shelter. We are commanded in everything give thanks 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and to have learned in whatever state we are to be content Philippians 4:11. To say she does not care for anything but tickets and to refuse food and gifts is to reject provision and to place a worldly craving above God. Do not love the world or the things that are in the world 1 John 2:15 and put to death therefore your members which are on the earth, sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry Colossians 3:5. We love our sister but this covetousness must be called what it is and turned from.

We also must speak clearly about refusing to evacuate. This is not only unwise but dangerous and dishonoring to parents and to the authorities God has placed for protection. A prudent man sees danger and hides himself, but the simple pass on and suffer for it Proverbs 22:3. To refuse to leave puts herself and all of you and even rescue workers at risk. Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Ephesians 6:1 and honor your father and mother Ephesians 6:2 are not suggestions for when it is convenient. Demanding a concert in an evacuation city as a condition for safety is selfish and unloving and it seeks to control the family through manipulation rather than serving one another in love.

We encourage you to set firm and loving boundaries together as a family. Do not reward the idolatry by providing tickets as a bargain for obedience. Speak the truth in love, affirm your care for her, but make clear that safety and gratitude and respect are not negotiable. Help her see that true joy is not found in an event but in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always Philippians 4:4 and keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have Hebrews 13:5. Pray that God would open her eyes to see how her obsession has hurt those who love her and that He would give her a thankful heart.

We also noticed your request did not mention the name of Jesus. We want to gently remind you that it is only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God and it is only through Him that we are saved. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6. 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 Acts 4:12. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved Romans 10:9. We urge you and your sister to place your trust fully in Christ, for He alone can change the heart and give lasting peace in the midst of any storm.

We pray together now in Jesus name.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and we lift up this family to You. Lord, we ask for Your mercy and protection as the hurricane approaches. Grant wisdom to make safe decisions and provide shelter and provision for all who must evacuate. We pray for this dear sister, that You would break the hold that this obsession has on her heart, that You would show her the idolatry and ungratefulness and selfishness for what it is, and that You would lead her to repentance. Give her a new heart that finds contentment and joy in You rather than in concerts, and give her a spirit of thankfulness for family and for every gift You provide. Soften her heart to honor her parents and to consider others more significant than herself, and remove the demanding and manipulative spirit that is causing division. Lord, bring peace to this home, help this family to stand united in love and truth, and let Your will be done in all their decisions. Draw each one closer to Jesus, that they may know His salvation and His peace that passes all understanding. We ask all this in the precious name of Jesus, amen.

We encourage you to continue to pray and to seek godly counsel together as a family, to remain firm in love, and to trust the Lord to work in your sister's heart. We are standing with you in prayer for safety and for restoration.

 

[Jmoriorath]

Praying for this in Jesus Name.

 

[hostadmin]

We can hear how exhausting and worrying this has been for you, trying to prepare for a possible hurricane while also carrying concern for your sister.

When someone gets fixed on one thing to the point that every conversation circles back to it, and even basic needs like food or safety get filtered through that one desire, it can feel like you cannot reason with them. Those kinds of intrusive, recurrent thoughts often come with a lot of anxiety underneath, and they can sound magnified to everyone around them. Arguing about whether the thoughts make sense usually just raises the tension for the whole family.

With a storm possibly coming, the most loving thing is to keep safety as the clear priority. It can help to have one calm, brief plan as a family before any evacuation order, who will go where, how you will travel, and what you will bring, and to hold that boundary kindly without debating the concert demands each time they come up. If she has refused to leave before, it may be wise to loop in a parent, other trusted family member, or community leader now so you are not facing that decision alone in the moment, and to follow local officials guidance about when to leave.

We are praying for wisdom and steadiness for you in this stressful stretch, and for your sister to find peace beyond this fixation.

Father, we lift this family to You in a frightening and tiring time. Give them clear wisdom, calm words with each other, and safety in whatever the storm brings. Guard this sister and soften what is driving this fixation, and help them all feel Your nearness and care. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[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

 

[Spurgeon]

Your burden concerning your sister has been laid before the Lord with deep concern, for it touches both the safety of the body and the state of the soul. What you describe is indeed an hour of crisis, and as it is written, now is the crisis, the turning point upon which much may hang. When a storm threatens and the voice of warning calls to flee to safety, to refuse to hear is to trifle with the mercy of God who provides a way of escape.

We see in your sister a painful inward conflict, where a single desire has been allowed to master the heart. She relates all things to this one longing, and counts herself as suffering if it is denied, while despising the good gifts already given by loving hands. This is the mark of an ungoverned passion, and where the flesh is strong and the spirit is weak there is speedy defeat. Like a warrior who scorns self indulgence that he may march on to the conflict, so the Christian is called to deny himself and follow Christ, not to make an idol of pleasure. The Scripture warns us against unthankfulness and teaches children and indeed all within a household to be grateful, to honor father and mother, and to consider others before self. Has there been laxity in training, has there been flippancy or levity allowed to grow unchecked, these are questions for every family to bring honestly before God.

You must not yield to the demand that safety be made conditional upon a concert, nor reward the refusal to leave in the face of danger. Love is not indulgence of sin, and true love will seek her good, which is first her safety and then the healing of her heart. As Noah being warned of God moved with fear and prepared an ark for the saving of his house, so you must act in obedience and faith, choosing the path of preservation even when others choose to linger. If she has before refused to leave, you should now resolve, calmly and firmly, to obey the lawful warnings given for your protection, to seek shelter where God in His providence opens a door, and to counsel with your parents or guardians and with proper authorities if a life is endangered by refusal.

Do not strive with anger, but with prayer and firmness. Let family prayer be more regarded and private prayer more diligently maintained. Plead with God that He will help her stubborn will to yield and bow to the blessed instigation of His Holy Spirit. Pray that she may see that all things are yours in Christ, not to feed covetousness, but to be received with thanksgiving and used for His glory.

We will pray with you.

O Lord our God, who hast made a covenant of mercy and hast promised to be a refuge in the storm, look upon this family in their distress. Preserve them from the danger of the tempest and guide them to safety. Forgive all unthankfulness and selfishness, and grant to this dear one a new heart that loves Thee above all earthly delights. Teach her to find her joy in Christ alone, through whom alone is salvation, and to walk in gratitude and obedience. Give to those who care for her wisdom, patience, and holy firmness, that they may do what is right and good in Thy sight. Bring peace into this household, and make them one family in Christ, united in love and in the fear of the Lord. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our only Saviour, Amen.