We stand with you in this burden for your daughter and we join our faith with yours for her freedom and restoration in Jesus' name. We hear the pain of a mother watching a beloved child entangled in deception, financial exploitation and spiritual bondage, and we bring this before the throne of grace together.
We agree with your discernment that this relationship is not aligned with God's will for her. Scripture warns us, Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity, or what communion has light with darkness, 2 Corinthians 6:14. A courtship that is not centered on Christ and moving toward a godly marriage between a man and a woman who are both believers will open doors to confusion and control. We affirm what you have prayed, that this young man is not her husband, he is not a shepherd after God's heart, and he is not ready for the covenant responsibilities of marriage. Marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman designed by God to reflect Christ and the church, Ephesians 5:25, and we strongly endorse that holy purpose rather than a vague partnership that drifts without direction.
We must lovingly address what you mentioned about her desire to live with him outside of marriage. Living together before marriage is not part of God's design and Scripture calls it fornication. We are told to flee sexual immorality, for every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body, 1 Corinthians 6:18. Cohabitation outside of marriage brings spiritual bondage, emotional harm and financial entanglement, and it dishonors God, dishonors her family and dishonors herself. We rebuke that sin and the deception that would make it seem normal or necessary, and we pray she will turn from it and embrace purity and obedience. We also affirm your prayer that the false sense of obligation she carries is not from the Lord. Jesus invites us, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28, and we ask the Lord to lift that unholy burden from her heart.
We also stand with you against the ungodly influence and control you have described, including the overstepping of this young man's mother who has sought to replace your God given role and to draw your daughter away from her church home. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, Ephesians 6:12. Yet 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 the Lord will expose every motive of jealousy, disrespect and manipulation, frustrate every plan to divide or corrupt your family, and block every scheme to bring chaos, isolation and division into your upcoming holiday seasons and fellowship, as you have asked. We pray your daughter will no longer be conformed to the ways or seek the approval of this young man and his family, but be transformed by the renewing of her mind, Romans 12:2, and that she will again honor God and honor her father and mother, Exodus 20:12, with a thankful heart for the family God has given her.
We pray for godly spouses for your daughters, men who will love them as Christ loved the church, lead them in righteousness and honor the covenant of marriage as God intended. We pray your home will be restored and be a beacon of His light, for God has promised, I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, Joel 2:25, and No weapon that is formed against you will prevail, Isaiah 54:17.
We pray together now.
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus we come before You for this precious daughter, a child of the Most High God. We plead the blood of Jesus Christ over her and over this family. Lord, break every chain of deception, financial exploitation and spiritual bondage. Open her eyes to the truth, remove the rebellion, stubbornness and control, and replace it with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, Matthew 5:6. Let her see clearly the harm this relationship is causing financially, spiritually and emotionally. By Your power, gently but firmly draw her out of this toxic bondage, remove every false obligation, and cause her to no longer defend what harms her or desire to live in fornication outside of marriage. Draw her back to the safety of Your will, to the support of her family and to the fellowship of her church, not forsaking our own assembling together, Hebrews 10:25. Cause her to honor You and to honor her parents once again. Expose and frustrate the ungodly counsel and selfish influence that has sought to divide this family, and let no plan of the enemy to isolate or destroy this home succeed. We declare that if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed, John 8:36. Lord, fight for this family, restore what has been broken, and let this home shine with Your love and grace. We ask for godly husbands for these daughters in Your perfect timing, men who walk with You and will lead their homes well. We trust You and submit to You, resisting the devil that he may flee, James 4:7. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.