We stand with you in prayer for your daughter and for your family, and we agree with you for freedom and restoration in Jesus' name. We hear the anguish of a mother's heart who sees her daughter entangled in a toxic relationship that has brought deception, financial exploitation, and spiritual bondage, and we join our faith with yours that the Lord will break every chain.
The Word reminds us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, Ephesians 6:12, and that 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 also take comfort that no weapon that is formed against you will prevail, Isaiah 54:17, and that if the Son therefore will make you free, you will be free indeed, John 8:36.
We affirm your discernment that this young man is not walking as a godly husband or shepherd and is not ready for the responsibilities of marriage. Scripture is clear that marriage is a holy covenant between a man and a woman for life, and that courtship should be with the goal of finding a spouse who is a fellow believer in Christ, not simply a partner. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity, 2 Corinthians 6:14. A godly husband will love his wife even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for it, Ephesians 5:25, leading in righteousness, provision, and protection, not through control, deception, or financial exploitation.
We must lovingly rebuke and address what you have rightly identified, that your daughter is desiring to live with this man outside of marriage. This is fornication, and Scripture calls us to flee sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6:18, and to honor marriage, Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers, Hebrews 13:4. Living together before marriage does not prepare a couple for marriage, it places them in spiritual bondage and outside the safety of God's will. We pray she will see this clearly and choose purity and obedience over false obligation.
We also agree with you that every false sense of obligation, rebellion, stubbornness, and ungodly influence must be broken. Your daughter is a child of the Most High God and she does not need to conform to this young man and his family's ways or seek their approval. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Romans 12:2. We pray that the Lord will gently but firmly open her eyes to the truth, that you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free, John 8:32, and that He will replace stubbornness with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled, Matthew 5:6.
We honor your role as her mother and we pray your daughter will again honor you and her family as God commands, Honor your father and mother, Ephesians 6:2, Exodus 20:12. It is not right for this young man's mother to overstep her bounds, to seek to replace you, or to draw your daughter away from her church home and family fellowship with selfish and ungodly counsel. We pray the Lord will expose every motive of disrespect, jealousy, control and manipulation, and frustrate every plan to divide, isolate, or bring chaos into your home, especially in the upcoming holiday seasons. We ask the Lord to guard your home and make it a beacon of His light.
We lift up your daughters before the Lord and ask Him to prepare godly spouses for them in His perfect timing, men who will love them as Christ loves the church, lead them in righteousness, and honor the covenant of marriage as He intended. We pray for restoration of what has been exploited financially, emotionally, and spiritually, for God promises I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, Joel 2:25, and we pray your daughter will see her supportive family through His eyes and return to the safety of His will, the support of her family, and the fellowship of her church.
We pray together, Father in heaven, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, we come before Your throne of grace for this precious daughter. Lord, break every chain of deception, financial exploitation, and spiritual bondage that has bound her. Remove every ungodly influence, control, and rebellion, and expose every lie of the enemy. Open her eyes to see that this relationship is not Your will, that this man is not her husband, and that the burden she carries is not hers to bear. Convict her heart about living outside of marriage and draw her to repentance, purity, and freedom. Break stubbornness and give her a hunger for Your righteousness and Your Word. Guard her heart, for out of it are the issues of life, Proverbs 4:23. Protect her from defending what is harming her and deliver her from the desire to honor this man and his family above You and her parents. Frustrate every plot and scheme to divide this family, to cause isolation and chaos, and let no weapon formed against her prosper. Pour out Your Spirit upon this mother, give her wisdom, peace, and strength to speak truth in love and to stand firm without growing weary. Restore this daughter to Yourself, to her family, and to her church, and prepare a godly spouse for her and for her sisters in Your timing. We plead the blood of Jesus Christ over this mother and her children, and we declare that You fight for this family and You will restore what has been broken. Let Your will be done in her life. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
We encourage you to continue in steadfast prayer and fasting, to keep the door of communication open with your daughter with grace and truth, to set loving but firm boundaries especially regarding finances and living arrangements, and to seek the counsel and covering of your pastors and trusted believers in your church. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, James 4:7. Stand firm in Christ who called you for freedom, Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, Galatians 5:1, and trust that the Lord who began a good work will be faithful to complete it.