Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your prayer has been heard and we join you in bringing your family before the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is our Savior and Redeemer and who alone can deliver from evil and bring us into sonship with the Father.
We pray with you for a hedge of protection over you, your daughters and your son. We ask the Lord to cover your home, every room and every doorway, with His peace that surpasses all understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and to send His help to guard you from division, exhaustion, isolation, chaos and every scheme meant to harm your family. We plead the blood of Christ over you, not as a formula, but trusting in His finished work on the cross for forgiveness, protection and favor.
We stand with you in praying for your older daughter. We do not ask God to bless a living arrangement outside of marriage, for Scripture teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman and that living together and sexual union belong within that covenant. To treat cohabitation as if it were marriage opens the door to deception, manipulation and spiritual bondage, as you have rightly discerned. Instead we pray that the Lord would open her eyes to see this clearly, remove the false sense of obligation and commitment she feels toward this young man, and break the hold of control, pride and manipulation that has weighed her down. We pray that she would remember who she is as a child of the Most High God, that she has a loving and supportive family, a purposeful work that God has given her, and a church family to return to. We pray that she would again put Christ first, honor her parents, be thankful for the good gifts God has provided, and hunger for righteousness rather than for the approval of those who do not lead her in His ways.
We also pray for the young man and his mother, not that their influence would remain, but that any plan to divide, isolate, humiliate or exploit would be frustrated and brought to nothing, for the Lord fights for His people. We pray that their motives would be exposed, that they would turn from jealousy, disrespect and control, and that they would come to know the truth of the gospel themselves. We pray that this young man would be led to step away and take responsibility for his own life, and that his family would no longer exercise an ungodly authority over your daughter.
We join you in praying for your younger daughter, that the Lord would keep her steadfast in faith, protect her studies, her health and her heart, and surround her with godly friendships and mentors who encourage her to honor God and to seek a spouse, when the time comes, who loves Christ, leads with gentleness and piety, and honors the sanctity of marriage. As the Scriptures warn not to be unequally yoked, we pray she will never see living together outside of marriage as an acceptable path.
For your son, we thank God for his life and declare with you that he is deeply loved, valued and never a burden. We ask the Lord to shine His light in every dark place, to grant him peace and joy, to restore what has been strained in his relationship with his sister, and to give you and all who care for him wisdom, patience and strength to help him grow in his ability to express his needs in a godly and peaceful way. We rebuke every word of hatred, mockery and exclusion spoken against him and ask that he would always know he is included, protected and cherished.
We pray for you, that in this long season of affliction that has weighed you down beyond your own strength, you would be renewed by faith. A considerate and trusting mind is needed, and the Lord honors the faith of a mother who intercedes for her children, as He honored the faith of the women who sought Him for their daughters and heard Him say be of good cheer, your faith has made you whole. Great is the power of such faith when it is placed in Christ alone. He does not always promise immediate removal from every trial, but He does promise to be with us in it, to teach us to overcome fear, and to plant in our hearts the hope of resurrection and eternal life.
We pray that God would restore what has been stolen, mend what has been torn, heal family unity, joy and fellowship, provide for your financial needs so you may be a blessing to others, grant safe travel, and fill your home with the Holy Spirit and with light. We pray for godly spouses for your daughters in the Lord's time, men who will love them as Christ loves the church and lead them in righteousness.
May the Lord grant you wisdom and discernment each day, keep you from growing weary, and help you to continue in prayer, committing this matter into His hands and beseeching Him to provide what is best. We trust that every scheme to divide and destroy will not stand, for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We pray with you for a hedge of protection over you, your daughters and your son. We ask the Lord to cover your home, every room and every doorway, with His peace that surpasses all understanding to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and to send His help to guard you from division, exhaustion, isolation, chaos and every scheme meant to harm your family. We plead the blood of Christ over you, not as a formula, but trusting in His finished work on the cross for forgiveness, protection and favor.
We stand with you in praying for your older daughter. We do not ask God to bless a living arrangement outside of marriage, for Scripture teaches that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman and that living together and sexual union belong within that covenant. To treat cohabitation as if it were marriage opens the door to deception, manipulation and spiritual bondage, as you have rightly discerned. Instead we pray that the Lord would open her eyes to see this clearly, remove the false sense of obligation and commitment she feels toward this young man, and break the hold of control, pride and manipulation that has weighed her down. We pray that she would remember who she is as a child of the Most High God, that she has a loving and supportive family, a purposeful work that God has given her, and a church family to return to. We pray that she would again put Christ first, honor her parents, be thankful for the good gifts God has provided, and hunger for righteousness rather than for the approval of those who do not lead her in His ways.
We also pray for the young man and his mother, not that their influence would remain, but that any plan to divide, isolate, humiliate or exploit would be frustrated and brought to nothing, for the Lord fights for His people. We pray that their motives would be exposed, that they would turn from jealousy, disrespect and control, and that they would come to know the truth of the gospel themselves. We pray that this young man would be led to step away and take responsibility for his own life, and that his family would no longer exercise an ungodly authority over your daughter.
We join you in praying for your younger daughter, that the Lord would keep her steadfast in faith, protect her studies, her health and her heart, and surround her with godly friendships and mentors who encourage her to honor God and to seek a spouse, when the time comes, who loves Christ, leads with gentleness and piety, and honors the sanctity of marriage. As the Scriptures warn not to be unequally yoked, we pray she will never see living together outside of marriage as an acceptable path.
For your son, we thank God for his life and declare with you that he is deeply loved, valued and never a burden. We ask the Lord to shine His light in every dark place, to grant him peace and joy, to restore what has been strained in his relationship with his sister, and to give you and all who care for him wisdom, patience and strength to help him grow in his ability to express his needs in a godly and peaceful way. We rebuke every word of hatred, mockery and exclusion spoken against him and ask that he would always know he is included, protected and cherished.
We pray for you, that in this long season of affliction that has weighed you down beyond your own strength, you would be renewed by faith. A considerate and trusting mind is needed, and the Lord honors the faith of a mother who intercedes for her children, as He honored the faith of the women who sought Him for their daughters and heard Him say be of good cheer, your faith has made you whole. Great is the power of such faith when it is placed in Christ alone. He does not always promise immediate removal from every trial, but He does promise to be with us in it, to teach us to overcome fear, and to plant in our hearts the hope of resurrection and eternal life.
We pray that God would restore what has been stolen, mend what has been torn, heal family unity, joy and fellowship, provide for your financial needs so you may be a blessing to others, grant safe travel, and fill your home with the Holy Spirit and with light. We pray for godly spouses for your daughters in the Lord's time, men who will love them as Christ loves the church and lead them in righteousness.
May the Lord grant you wisdom and discernment each day, keep you from growing weary, and help you to continue in prayer, committing this matter into His hands and beseeching Him to provide what is best. We trust that every scheme to divide and destroy will not stand, for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
