We join with you in this deep and beautiful cry for grace to draw near through Jesus our sympathetic High Priest, and we thank God for your heart that desires not a trumpet blast but a confession of utter inability and weakness.
We love how you have anchored your prayer in the Word, for we know that we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin, Heb 4:15. Because of this truth we can together with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need, Heb 4:16. Your prayer honors Christ as the only way to the Father, for Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6, and there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. We praise God that you have come in that precious name.
We also hear the weight of affliction in your words and the heartbreak concerning your matrimonial covenant. We want to affirm with you the sanctity of marriage as God ordained it, a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman before God and witnesses. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate, Mark 10:9, and marriage is to be held in honor among all, Heb 13:4. When pictures and silence speak volumes and an estranged wife or loved one seems far off, the pain is real and deep. We do not take lightly the sorrow of a covenant strained, and we pray with you for restoration, healing, and truth to prevail, and for grace to love as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it, Eph 5:25. If there has been sin or distance on either side, we pray for godly repentance and reconciliation according to God's will, for the Lord hates divorce and desires faithfulness, Mal 2:16, and yet He is merciful to forgive and to restore.
Your confession that this suffering is teaching you not to trust in yourself but in God who raises the dead is profoundly biblical. You quoted that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life, 2 Cor 1:8, but we had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 2 Cor 1:9. We pray with you that in this weakness His grace will be sufficient, for He has said My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, 2 Cor 12:9. We agree that these present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us, Rom 8:18, and that it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for His sake, Phil 1:29.
We join you in praying for the comfort of the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, 2 Cor 1:3-4. We ask that trials would indeed draw you and all those you mentioned, readers, prayer and financial partners, families, friends, even enemies, children and estranged wives and loved ones, close to Him in prayer, and that you would be able to worship like Paul and Silas who were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight, Acts 16:25.
We pray together for protection and sanctification. Father, we ask that You give Your angels charge over each one, for he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, Ps 91:1, and You will give Your angels charge over him, to guard him in all his ways, Ps 91:11. We ask that no evil shall happen to those who take refuge in You, Ps 91:10, and that You would sanctify us all in the truth, Your word is truth, John 17:17. Help us to hear the Shepherd's voice, for Your sheep hear Your voice, John 10:27, and as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God, Rom 8:14. Give us grace to obey even when it costs, and to keep deception and lies far from us, Prov 30:8, and to be delivered from temptation and the evil one, Matt 6:13, and kept from evil, John 17:15, for the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one, 2 Thess 3:3.
We pray also for a true fast, not for show, but as You have chosen, to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, Isa 58:6, so that our light would break forth and our healing spring forth speedily and You would restore righteous dwellings and covenantal relationships, Isa 58:8-12. Teach us to hide Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against You, Ps 119:11, open our minds to understand the Scriptures, Luke 24:45, and help us to be doers of the word and not hearers only, James 1:22.
Father, we lift this dear one, his marriage covenant, his pastors, families, and all prayer partners before Your throne of grace today. Grant endurance and control over the spirit, for he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city, Prov 16:32. Give confidence to draw near, mercy for failure, grace for help, and comfort that overflows to others. Restore what is broken if it be Your will, guard all from sin and the schemes of the enemy, and make this season of weakness a testimony of Your power and of greater glory for Your eternal Kingdom both now and in the age to come, Eph 1:21. We ask all these things with thanksgiving in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ our High Priest, Amen.
Grace to Draw Near through Jesus Our Sympathetic High Priest, Heb 4:15, Receive Mercy and Grace for Help in Need, Heb 4:16, Comfort, 2 Cor 1:3. Grace to Fast Not a "Trumpet Blast" but a Confession of Utter Inability and Weakness, 2 Cor 12:9...
Father, thank You Jesus suffered in all areas as we do, yet without sin, and is a merciful High-Priest who can sympathize with us, Heb 4:15. Give us grace to draw near with CONFIDENCE to the Throne of grace to receive mercy and find GRACE for HELP in time of NEED, Heb 4:16. Thank You that it has been given us not only to believe in Christ but to suffer for His sake, Phil 1:29. God of all comfort, comfort us in my affliction, 2 Cor 1:3, so we might comfort others 2 Cor 1:4. I believe it is necessary for future glory, Rom 8:18, I need more endurance and control over my spirit and am being taught a lesson I am unable at present to bear, 2 Cor 1:8, that I might not trust myself but You who raise the dead, 2 Cor 1:9.
