Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing your heart so openly and for standing in prayer for your family. The heaviness you feel is understandable, and the spiritual battle you describe is real, yet Scripture assures us that Jesus has already overcome every power of darkness and triumphed over it at the cross, as Colossians 2:15 teaches, and that the Lord Himself will fight for you, as Exodus 14:14 declares.
God did not send His Son to keep you in a cold legal duty or in ritual bondage. He sent His Son, born of a woman and born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters. He wants a loving relationship with you, not just outward observance, and that relationship is one of freedom. The way of the flesh and the way of trying to earn favor only brings bondage, but the life given from above is free. You have been set apart for His exclusive purpose, sanctified by His Spirit, and set free from the old bondage of the flesh so that you can walk in liberty and serve Him with your whole life.
That is why your prayers for protection and peace are so fitting. You are right to plead the blood of Jesus over your household and to ask that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds according to Philippians 4:7. Fear, chaos, division, control, manipulation and every word spoken against you have no rightful place in the home of God's children. You can ask God to break every chain and to frustrate every scheme meant to isolate and divide your family, trusting that no weapon formed against you will prosper because Christ has already won the victory.
Your concern for your older daughter is spoken in love and in truth. Scripture is clear that living together outside of marriage is fornication and that we are to flee it, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 to 20 teaches. The body is not our own, it is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him, so we are not to join Christ to an ungodly relationship or defile what belongs to Him. Joseph is a good example of one who purposed in his heart to remain pure before God and fled from temptation. You are right not to ask God to bless that living arrangement, but to ask Him to open her eyes to His Word, to reveal what is toxic and exploitative, and to break stubbornness and replace it with a hunger for righteousness. Pray that she will see the red flags she has been blinded to, that she will no longer defend what is harmful or carry responsibilities that are not hers to bear, and that pride, shame or pressure will not keep her from returning to the safety and love of her family and above all to the Lord. As Malachi 4:6 speaks of turning hearts, pray that her heart would be turned back to God and to those who love her, and that God would guide her away from harmful counsel and back to stability, wisdom and health.
For your younger daughter, continue to pray that she will remain steadfast and not be swayed by an ungodly example. Ask God to surround her with godly friendships and mentors who encourage her in the Lord, and to help her understand that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and that she should not be unequally yoked but should wait for a spouse who honors God and values that covenant, as 2 Corinthians 6:14 and Ephesians 5:25 teach. Pray that the bond between you and your children, including between your daughters and your son, will be strengthened and protected from any attempt to damage it.
For your son, pray with confidence that God sees him as a blessing and not a burden. Ask for a hedge of protection around him, that he would be saturated with God's peace and kept from mockery, hatred, shame and hurtful words. Ask God to remove any friendship or influence that looks down on him and to bring instead those who will uplift, respect, love and cherish him, and to strengthen his relationship with you, his sisters and your extended family.
At the heart of all of this is your relationship with God. When that relationship is right, relationships with others can begin to be made right. If love has grown cold or distant in any part of the family, the way back is to return to the first works, to build one another up, to share openly, to show kindness and to give love again. Egypt in Scripture pictures the old life of bondage, and coming through the sea pictures being born again into a new relationship with God, delivered from that bondage. Walk in that new life day by day, following after the Spirit and not after the flesh.
Bring your practical needs to Him as well, including finances and the needs of your home. God promises to supply what you need according to His riches, as Philippians 4:19 says, not for selfish gain but so that you can live as a testimony of His provision and be a blessing to others. He cares about the details that affect your daily life and your ability to provide a peaceful sanctuary where love, unity and peace reign.
May the Lord mend what has been torn, heal what has been wounded, and restore what has been lost in your family. May He remove every spirit of lack, division and exhaustion, and fill your home with His presence, His protection and His joy. Continue to stand on His victory, to pray in Jesus' name, and to trust His mercy and favor to do what only He can do.
God did not send His Son to keep you in a cold legal duty or in ritual bondage. He sent His Son, born of a woman and born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters. He wants a loving relationship with you, not just outward observance, and that relationship is one of freedom. The way of the flesh and the way of trying to earn favor only brings bondage, but the life given from above is free. You have been set apart for His exclusive purpose, sanctified by His Spirit, and set free from the old bondage of the flesh so that you can walk in liberty and serve Him with your whole life.
That is why your prayers for protection and peace are so fitting. You are right to plead the blood of Jesus over your household and to ask that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds according to Philippians 4:7. Fear, chaos, division, control, manipulation and every word spoken against you have no rightful place in the home of God's children. You can ask God to break every chain and to frustrate every scheme meant to isolate and divide your family, trusting that no weapon formed against you will prosper because Christ has already won the victory.
Your concern for your older daughter is spoken in love and in truth. Scripture is clear that living together outside of marriage is fornication and that we are to flee it, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 to 20 teaches. The body is not our own, it is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him, so we are not to join Christ to an ungodly relationship or defile what belongs to Him. Joseph is a good example of one who purposed in his heart to remain pure before God and fled from temptation. You are right not to ask God to bless that living arrangement, but to ask Him to open her eyes to His Word, to reveal what is toxic and exploitative, and to break stubbornness and replace it with a hunger for righteousness. Pray that she will see the red flags she has been blinded to, that she will no longer defend what is harmful or carry responsibilities that are not hers to bear, and that pride, shame or pressure will not keep her from returning to the safety and love of her family and above all to the Lord. As Malachi 4:6 speaks of turning hearts, pray that her heart would be turned back to God and to those who love her, and that God would guide her away from harmful counsel and back to stability, wisdom and health.
For your younger daughter, continue to pray that she will remain steadfast and not be swayed by an ungodly example. Ask God to surround her with godly friendships and mentors who encourage her in the Lord, and to help her understand that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and that she should not be unequally yoked but should wait for a spouse who honors God and values that covenant, as 2 Corinthians 6:14 and Ephesians 5:25 teach. Pray that the bond between you and your children, including between your daughters and your son, will be strengthened and protected from any attempt to damage it.
For your son, pray with confidence that God sees him as a blessing and not a burden. Ask for a hedge of protection around him, that he would be saturated with God's peace and kept from mockery, hatred, shame and hurtful words. Ask God to remove any friendship or influence that looks down on him and to bring instead those who will uplift, respect, love and cherish him, and to strengthen his relationship with you, his sisters and your extended family.
At the heart of all of this is your relationship with God. When that relationship is right, relationships with others can begin to be made right. If love has grown cold or distant in any part of the family, the way back is to return to the first works, to build one another up, to share openly, to show kindness and to give love again. Egypt in Scripture pictures the old life of bondage, and coming through the sea pictures being born again into a new relationship with God, delivered from that bondage. Walk in that new life day by day, following after the Spirit and not after the flesh.
Bring your practical needs to Him as well, including finances and the needs of your home. God promises to supply what you need according to His riches, as Philippians 4:19 says, not for selfish gain but so that you can live as a testimony of His provision and be a blessing to others. He cares about the details that affect your daily life and your ability to provide a peaceful sanctuary where love, unity and peace reign.
May the Lord mend what has been torn, heal what has been wounded, and restore what has been lost in your family. May He remove every spirit of lack, division and exhaustion, and fill your home with His presence, His protection and His joy. Continue to stand on His victory, to pray in Jesus' name, and to trust His mercy and favor to do what only He can do.
