Family Protection

[Chrysostom]

Your cry for your family has been heard and we stand with you in prayer before the throne of grace where our Lord hears His children. We share your heavy burden for restoration, respect, gratefulness and fellowship in your home, and for the protection of each member of your household.

We affirm with you what Scripture teaches, that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, and that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and that sexual intimacy and living together belong within that covenant. Living together outside of marriage does not honor God and Scripture warns that it opens the door to spiritual and practical harm, as you noted from 1 Corinthians 6:18 to 20. For that reason we cannot ask God to bless that arrangement, but we do ask Him to bring clarity, conviction, and freedom, and to draw your older daughter to Himself and to a life that honors His Word.

We join you in asking the Lord to guard your family, for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world, and the blood of Jesus has overcome every power of darkness as Colossians 2:15 declares. We pray that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds as promised in Philippians 4:7. A considerate mind and a steadfast faith are needed after the Lord delivers us, so that we do not return to what harmed us. We pray your daughter will have that clarity of mind and that her faith will make her whole, as Christ said, Daughter be of good cheer, thy faith hath made thee whole. May she see the exhaustion, financial hardship, sense of worthlessness, isolation and division this relationship has brought, and may she no longer defend what is harming her or feel she must carry responsibility for a man who is not her husband. We ask the Lord to break every unhealthy tie and controlling influence, to remove stubbornness and replace it with a hunger for righteousness, and to give her courage to step away from this living arrangement and return to safety, stability and wisdom in her family home if that is where she can be restored. We pray also for the young man and his mother, that God would convict their hearts, bring them to repentance and faith in Christ, and that any plans to divide, isolate or exploit your family would be frustrated and come to nothing, as you prayed from Malachi 4:6 that hearts would be turned toward what is right.

We lift up your younger daughter and ask the Lord to keep her steadfast in faith and not swayed by an ungodly example. May she be protected from division and from tactics that would weaken the sweet bond with her sister and brother. We ask God to surround her with godly friendships and mentors who encourage her in the Lord, and to help her see marriage as God intends, as taught in 2 Corinthians 6:14 and Ephesians 5:25, and to keep her heart grateful and respectful toward you and her brother.

We lift up your son and thank God for his life as a blessing. We ask the Lord to surround him with love, acceptance and protection, and to guard him from any mockery, exclusion, hatred or harmful words. May he know deeply that he is valued and cherished by God who has made us sons and daughters through Christ and given us the Spirit of adoption, and may his relationships with you, his sisters, caregivers and extended family be strengthened in love and peace.

We pray for you as well, for strength, courage and rest from exhaustion, and for protection from bullying, judgment and hurtful words. We ask the Lord to provide for your financial needs according to Philippians 4:19, not for selfish gain but so your home may be a sanctuary of His presence and a testimony of His provision, and to guard your daughter's health, especially her breathing which is worsened by smoking in the home, and to guard her finances, credit, faith and reputation from further harm. We ask God to heal what has been wounded, to mend what has been torn, and to restore joy and unity where the enemy has sought to divide, remembering that the Lord will fight for you as Exodus 14:14 says.

Continue to seek the Lord daily in prayer and in His Word, stay rooted in a faithful local church where you can receive wise counsel and support, and set loving and clear boundaries that protect your home while still showing Christlike love. Trust not in signs alone but in a faithful and obedient walk with Christ, knowing He both delivers from evil and supplies every good gift.

Father, in the mighty name of Jesus we place this family before You. Cover each member with Your protection, break every influence that leads away from You, and bring complete restoration in Your truth and love. Lead the older daughter into freedom, safety and joy, guard the younger daughter and son, strengthen this mother with Your peace, and make this home a place where love, unity and holiness reign. Let Your will be done and let Your name be glorified in this family. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your prayer for your family has been heard, and I join you in lifting each one before the throne of grace where our Lord hears the cries of His children.

I stand with you on the truth you have declared, that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world, that the blood of Jesus has overcome every power of darkness, and that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding can guard hearts and minds. The victory of the cross is complete, and we rest in that finished work as we ask for His protection and restoration over your home.

Scripture gives us a solemn picture in the life of Lot. God is merciful and He knows how to deliver the righteous, even when they are vexed by the manner of life around them, while reserving the ungodly for judgment. Lot himself was delivered, and his early walk with God gave him strength to survive in a corrupt place, but living in the midst of that corruption cost him his family and the morals of his children. Parents can make the painful mistake of thinking they can endure an unhealthy environment, yet the spiritual and moral cost to the family is great. This is why your concern for your older daughter is so right. Living together outside of marriage is not marriage, and Scripture warns that it opens the door to bondage and deception. It dishonors God, brings exhaustion and confusion, and weakens the bonds of family. We do not ask God to bless what He calls outside His design for marriage as a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, with intimacy belonging only within it. Instead we ask Him to open eyes, bring conviction, and lead to freedom.

That is also why the promise God gave to Jacob is so fitting for your daughter. God told him to return to the land of his fathers and to his family, and promised, I will be with you and I will deal well with you. When Jacob prayed he reminded the Lord of that very word. I pray that same calling over your older daughter, that God would draw her heart to return to family, to safety and stability and wisdom, where He promises to be with her and to do her good. Pray that the stubbornness that has taken root would be replaced with a hunger for righteousness, that she would see clearly the selfishness, laziness and dishonesty that has brought financial hardship, debt, exhaustion and a sense of worthlessness, and that she would no longer feel responsible to carry a man who is not ready for marriage and is not her covering. Pray that she would stop defending a false image of him and see the division, disrespect and isolation he has brought, and that she would choose freedom, joy and peace without regret.

I also join you in asking God to plead your cause. As the psalmist prayed, plead my cause against an ungodly influence and deliver me from the deceitful and unjust. You are the God of my strength. In your weakness, He is strong, and He can frustrate every plan and scheme meant to isolate, divide and destroy, and turn hearts back to Himself and to one another. This is your hope for the influence of this young man and his mother. That mother is not called to take your place or to place an undue burden of care for her son upon your daughter. Pray that God would correct that interference, teach proper responsibility, and remove manipulation, pride and harmful words that make your daughter feel small or dependent. Ask the Lord to protect your daughter's health, including her breathing which is harmed by habits in that home, and to guard her credit, finances, faith and reputation from further damage.

For your younger daughter, I pray with you that she would remain steadfast and not be swayed by an ungodly example. May she not see living together outside marriage as acceptable, but may she desire a spouse who honors the Lord and values the sanctity of marriage, as Scripture warns not to be yoked with unbelievers. Pray that God would surround her with godly friendships and mentors, protect the sweet bond with her siblings, and keep her from ungratefulness or hatred toward you and her brother.

For your son, who is such a blessing and never a burden, I pray that he would be surrounded by love, acceptance and protection. May the Lord silence every word curse, mockery and hatred directed at him, and keep him from any influence that looks down on him. Pray that his relationships with you, his sisters, caregivers and extended family would be strengthened, and that he would know daily the unconditional love of God and the joy and peace that comes from it.

For your whole home, I pray that God would make it a sanctuary of His presence where love, unity and peace reign, mending what has been torn and restoring what has been lost. I pray for the turning of hearts within the family to one another as God promised, for restored communication, respect and gratefulness, and for protection from bullying, judgment and hurtful words. And I pray for His provision, that He would supply all your needs according to His riches, not for selfish gain but so your family may be a testimony of His care and a blessing to others.

Finally, I pray for godly spouses for your daughters in the Lord's time, men who will love as Christ loves the church and lead in righteousness and honor the covenant of marriage. And I pray for you, for courage, strength and peace as you wait on the Lord who fights for you.

Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, we ask for complete deliverance and restoration. Lead this daughter out of bondage and back to safety, guard this family from every negative influence, and let Your presence reign in this home. Cover each member with Your protection and favor, and let their lives reflect Your glory. Amen.