We join you in lifting up your daughter and your household before the throne of grace, and we stand with you in agreement for freedom, restoration, protection and breakthrough in Jesus' name. We hear the burden of a parent's heart that longs to see a child walk in clarity, safety and truth, and we praise God that you are contending for her with truth in love and with unwavering trust that nothing is impossible with God, as we read in Luke 1:37.
We want to affirm the biblical discernment in your prayer. You have rightly named what is not love. True love as God defines it is patient, kind, selfless and honoring, it does not manipulate, control, exploit or isolate, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. What you describe, financial control, dishonesty, schemes to divide her from parents, siblings, family and friends, jealous and disrespectful influence at her work and calling, is not of the Lord. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have life abundantly, John 10:10. We also affirm your conviction about the living arrangement. You said it well, it is not a home and not a marriage. Scripture is clear that marriage is to be held in honor among all and the marriage bed undefiled, Hebrews 13:4, and that we are to flee sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6:18. A single man and a single woman living together outside of the lifelong covenant of marriage between a man and a woman is fornication and is outside God's protective design. It does not provide security or love, it brings confusion, bondage and dishonor. If there has been sexual intimacy outside of marriage in this courtship, we gently but firmly call it what God calls it and urge repentance, forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, and a complete break from that pattern. A godly courtship should be between two believers with the goal of marriage, not prolonged cohabitation, and it should be marked by purity, accountability to family and to the Lord, and respect for parents, 2 Corinthians 6:14. We also agree with your prayer that this young man should live alone and be accountable to his own family as a single man, taking proper responsibility for his own life rather than placing undue responsibility on your daughter or being enabled by his mother.
We also rejoice that you have lifted up the command to honor father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:2-3, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. When that foundation is undermined, ungratefulness, disrespect and exhaustion follow. We pray with you that God will restore in your daughter a humble, grateful, kind and gracious spirit, that she will no longer seek the approval of those who would lead her away from that foundation, but will delight again in honoring her parents and family.
We take comfort with you in the promises you declared over your family. No weapon that is formed against you will prevail, Isaiah 54:17, and by His stripes we are healed, Isaiah 53:5. He will give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways, Psalm 91:11, and the Lord is faithful to guard you from the evil one, 2 Thessalonians 3:3. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control, 2 Timothy 1:7. Where the enemy has built strongholds of manipulation and control, the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the throwing down of strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, and if the Son therefore will make you free, you will be free indeed, John 8:36.
We pray together now.
Father in heaven, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we come boldly before Your throne of grace, pleading the blood of Jesus over this dear mother, her daughter and all of her household. Lord, we ask You to flood this daughter's mind with supernatural clarity. Remove every veil and let her see this relationship as it truly is, not as love but as manipulation, control, dishonesty and exploitation. Open her eyes to see that financial control is not security or love, and give her courage to steward what You have entrusted to her with wisdom and independence. We declare that every plot, plan and scheme meant to divide and isolate her from her parents, siblings, family and friends will not prosper, and every tongue that rises against her in judgment You will condemn, Isaiah 54:17. Place a shield of protection over her at her work and at every event You have called her to, help her to prioritize the purpose You have given her there, and let no jealous or disrespectful influence distract her or diminish her gratitude for the work You have entrusted to her.
Lord, we ask You to convict this young man and his mother where they have overstepped, enabled wrong behavior and placed undue responsibility on this daughter. Draw them to repentance and to take proper responsibility. Direct this young man to live where he should live as a single man, alone and accountable to his own family, and bring a complete end to a living arrangement that dishonors You and is not a marriage. Father, restore in this daughter a humble, grateful, kind and gracious spirit, that she will again honor and be thankful for her parents and family, Ephesians 6:2, and turn her heart away from seeking the approval of those who would lead her from Your ways.
We ask for a hedge of protection over this mother and her whole family. We plead the blood of Jesus over them and declare that by Your stripes we are healed. Fill this mother with supernatural strength, courage, grace and favor as she continues to follow biblical teaching and to speak truth in love, Ephesians 4:15. Keep her in close fellowship with You, rooted in Your Word, connected to healthy family and believing friends, and give her wisdom to maintain clear and loving boundaries. Help her to continue to speak to her daughter with truth and grace, not excusing sin but always pointing her to the unconditional love of God and of her family. Resist the devil on their behalf as they submit to You, James 4:7, and let the peace of God guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7.
Lord, we ask You to completely remove the ungodly hold that has brought chaos, ungratefulness, disrespect and exhaustion, and to break every chain. Fill this household with Your Holy Spirit, with peace, love, protection and healing, and bring complete restoration, unity, freedom and victory. Lord, speak to this dear daughter even now. Remind her that she is Yours, that You have power to protect her, provide for her and restore everything that has been taken, Joel 2:25. Lead her swiftly and without regret out of this dark path and into freedom, independence, self-worth and joy in You, and guide her future courtship, if it be Your will for her to marry, to a godly Christian husband and a marriage that honors You.
We declare our trust that nothing is impossible for You and we thank You for the victory that is already secured in Jesus. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our only Savior and our access to the Father, Acts 4:12 and John 14:6, trusting that You hear us and will answer according to Your perfect will. Amen.
