We join you in bringing this broken heart before the Lord and we thank you for honestly pouring out your pain. We hear your cry for God to order your steps, to take away anxiety, to create in you a clean heart, and to help you forgive and not hate, and we stand with you in prayer.
The Lord is near to you in this suffering, for Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 37:23 says A man's goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. And Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. We pray He will order your steps day by day as you lean on Him and not on the confusion and lies surrounding you.
We must speak clearly about what has happened. What this man has done in lying and cheating is sin before God, and to rationalize it as not sin and to laugh when confronted is to mock what God calls holy. Lying is an abomination to God as Proverbs 12:22 says, and sexual immorality outside of marriage is grievously sinful. If you are married, this is adultery which violates the covenant of marriage that God ordains between a man and a woman for life, for Hebrews 13:4 says Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. If you are in courtship, this is fornication, for 1 Corinthians 6:18 says Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. God is not mocked, for Galatians 6:7 says Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. And Proverbs 14:9 says Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will. His laughter does not change God's standard, and Isaiah 5:20 warns against calling evil good and good evil. We rebuke that deception and we pray for true accountability to come, whether through godly counsel, pastoral intervention, or church discipline according to Matthew 18:15-17, so that he may be confronted in love and come to repentance, for James 5:16 says Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
Your anger, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and anxious thoughts are understandable, yet God calls us to handle anger without sin. Ephesians 4:26-27 says Be angry, and don't sin. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. And Ephesians 4:31-32 says Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. To hate would allow a root of bitterness to defile you as Hebrews 12:15 warns, and vengeance belongs to the Lord as Romans 12:19 says Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord. Forgiveness as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:14-15 is commanded for our freedom, but forgiveness does not mean pretending the sin did not happen or immediately restoring trust without repentance and fruit worthy of repentance.
We also hear your beautiful prayer from Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. God delights to answer that prayer. And for your anxiety, we cling to Philippians 4:6-7 which says In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. And 1 Peter 5:7 says casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you. He also gives rest, for Psalm 4:8 says In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.
We notice you cried out to the Lord, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through the name of Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father and salvation. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says 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. It is by believing in Jesus, His death and resurrection for our sins, that we are forgiven and can forgive others, and that our prayers are heard.
We pray together now. Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, lifting up this dear one whose heart is broken and whose mind is overwhelmed with anxiety and sleeplessness. Lord, order her steps, guard her heart and thoughts with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, and grant her sleep and strength to eat and live. Create in her a clean heart and renew a right spirit within her, remove bitterness and hate, and help her to forgive as You in Christ have forgiven us, while also giving her wisdom and godly counsel to set righteous boundaries and not enable sin. Lord, we pray for this man who has lied and cheated and rationalized his sin, have mercy on him and bring him to true repentance and salvation, open his eyes to see his sin as You see it, grant him godly sorrow that leads to repentance, and bring accountability into his life. Let Your will be done in this relationship, that if it is to continue it would be only on the foundation of repentance, truth, and a marriage that honors You between a man and a woman, or if it is courtship, that it would be pursued only toward a godly marriage to a fellow believer or be brought to an end rather than continuing in fornication and deceit. Help her not to hate but to love with Your love while hating what is evil. We cast all her cares on You because You care for her. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
