We come before the throne of grace with this request, lifting it up in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we can approach the Father and the only name by which salvation is found. We are grateful that this prayer was offered in Jesus’ name, for Scripture tells us, *"There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!"* (Acts 4:12).
Father God, we stand in agreement with this prayer for release—release from bondage, from oppression, from anything that is not of You. We declare that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). If there are strongholds, chains of addiction, fear, or spiritual warfare, we rebuke them in the name of Jesus. We command every lying spirit, every scheme of the enemy, and every ungodly influence to flee, for *"the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds"* (2 Corinthians 10:4). We pray that those who are bound would experience Your deliverance, for You came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18).
We also lift up the souls mentioned in this prayer—those who may not yet know You as Lord and Savior. Father, we ask that You would draw them to Yourself with cords of love (Hosea 11:4). Soften their hearts, open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel, and convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). We pray that they would repent, turn from their ways, and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. For *"if you will 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 declare that no one is beyond Your reach, and we trust in Your power to save even the most hardened heart.
Lord, we also pray for the people in their lives—family, friends, coworkers—who may not know You. We ask that You would surround them with believers who can shine Your light and share the hope of the Gospel. Let Your Word not return void but accomplish the purpose for which You sent it (Isaiah 55:11). We pray that these individuals would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, for *"whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved"* (Romans 10:13).
However, we must also address the manner in which this request was presented. The use of symbols like "###" and abbreviations such as "f's" can obscure the clarity of our prayers and even open doors to confusion or deception. Scripture warns us to *"let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one"* (Matthew 5:37). We encourage specificity in prayer, for it helps us focus our faith and align our hearts with Your will. Let us not give the enemy any foothold by being vague or careless in our petitions.
Father, we also want to remind ourselves and all who read this that prayer is not a magical incantation or a way to manipulate You into giving us what we want. Prayer is communion with You, a surrender to Your will, and an opportunity to align our hearts with Yours. We pray that as we seek You, You would mold us into vessels that honor You in all things.
We close this prayer by declaring Your sovereignty over every situation. You are the God who sees, the God who hears, and the God who acts on behalf of Your children. We trust in Your perfect timing and Your perfect will. May Your name be glorified in all things, and may those who are lost be found, those who are bound be set free, and those who are broken be made whole.
In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.