We hear your cry for help, and we stand with you in prayer, lifting you up before the throne of grace where mercy and help are found in time of need. The chains of addiction—whether to gambling or alcohol—are heavy, and they do not break easily by human strength alone. But we serve a God who is mighty to save, who delivers the captive and sets the oppressed free. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed" (Luke 4:18 WEB). This is the promise of Jesus Christ, and it is for you today.
First, we must address the root of these struggles with truth and conviction. Gambling and alcohol are not merely bad habits—they are snares of the enemy, designed to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Gambling preys on greed, the love of money, and the false hope of quick gain, which Scripture warns against: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10 WEB). Alcohol, when misused, leads to bondage, dulls the spirit, and opens the door to further sin. "Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18 WEB). These addictions are not just personal failures; they are spiritual battles, and they require spiritual weapons to overcome.
We rebuke the spirit of addiction in the name of Jesus Christ. We declare that no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn (Isaiah 54:17). The power of sin has been broken at the cross, and if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:36). But freedom requires surrender—not just a one-time decision, but a daily choice to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7). You cannot serve two masters; you will either hate the one and love the other, or cling to the one and despise the other (Matthew 6:24). Choose this day whom you will serve.
We also must address the financial bondage you are in. Borrowing from loan firms to feed an addiction is a dangerous cycle, one that leads only to deeper slavery. The Bible warns, "The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7 WEB). We pray that God would break this cycle in your life and give you wisdom to manage what He provides. "But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33 WEB). Your provision comes from the Lord, not from chance or luck. We rebuke the spirit of poverty and lack that has taken hold through these addictions, and we declare that God is your provider. "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 WEB).
Now, we turn to the Lord in prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the name above every name, the name by which we are saved and set free. Lord, we lift up our brother who is bound by the chains of gambling and alcohol addiction. We ask that You would break these chains by the power of Your Spirit. Father, we declare that no addiction has dominion over him, for he is not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). We ask that You would fill him with Your Holy Spirit, that he may walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Lord, we pray for a supernatural deliverance. Where the enemy has sown deception, let Your truth prevail. Where there is bondage, let there be freedom. Where there is despair, let there be hope. We ask that You would restore his mind, renew his spirit, and give him a hunger for Your Word and Your presence. "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10 WEB).
Father, we also pray for his finances. You see the debts that have piled up, the loans that have ensnared him, and the desperation that has driven him to these addictions. We ask that You would provide for him in ways that only You can. Touch the hearts of his clients, Lord, and prompt them to release the funds he is owed. Give him favor in their eyes, and let Your provision flow. But more than that, Lord, give him wisdom to steward what You provide. Help him to break free from the cycle of debt and to trust in You as his provider. "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" (Proverbs 3:5-6 WEB).
We pray for accountability in his life. Surround him with godly men who will walk with him, pray with him, and hold him accountable. Let him not be isolated in this battle, for iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Give him the courage to confess his struggles and the humility to seek help. "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective" (James 5:16 WEB).
Lord, we rebuke every spirit of addiction, poverty, and fear that has taken hold of him. We declare that he is more than a conqueror through Christ who loves him (Romans 8:37). We speak life, healing, and restoration over his finances, his mind, and his spirit. Let him experience the fullness of Your love and the power of Your resurrection in every area of his life.
We pray all of this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, the name by which we are saved, the name by which we are delivered, and the name by which we have access to the Father. There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). We thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer and for moving on his behalf. May he walk in the freedom that Christ has purchased for him, and may his testimony bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Now, we encourage you to take practical steps to walk in this freedom. First, confess your struggles to a trusted believer or pastor—accountability is key. Second, remove every stumbling block from your life. If there are places or people that lead you into temptation, cut them off. "If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna" (Matthew 5:30 WEB). This may mean deleting betting apps, avoiding bars, or even changing your routine. Third, fill your time with godly pursuits—prayer, reading Scripture, fellowship with believers, and serving others. The enemy loves to exploit idle hands and minds (1 Timothy 5:13), so keep yourself engaged in what is good and pure.
Finally, remember that your identity is not in your addiction or your failures. You are a child of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and called to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you (Ephesians 1:19-20). You are not fighting for victory; you are fighting from victory. Stand firm in the freedom Christ has given you, and do not let the enemy deceive you into returning to the bondage from which you have been set free (Galatians 5:1).
We will continue to stand with you in prayer, believing that God is at work in your life. Keep pressing into Him, and do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap if you do not faint (Galatians 6:9). The road to freedom is not always easy, but it is worth it. You are not alone in this battle—God is with you, and so are we.
