We have heard your cry and we are joining with you in prayer before our heavenly Father, for we care about your struggle and we do not want you to walk through this alone. You have asked for prayer against pornography, for your health, for depression, for being unwell and missing church, for fleeing from sin, and because you feel so far away from God and wonder if you will ever get out of this. We take each of these burdens to the Lord together.
We want to speak plainly and lovingly about pornography, because we love you and want you to be free. The Word of God calls us to flee from sexual immorality, not to entertain it or manage it. It says Flee sexual immorality. 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. Pornography is not harmless, it defiles the mind, hardens the heart, and dishonors the body which is a temple of the Holy Spirit. We rebuke this sin in love and we urge you to turn from it completely, to make no provision for it, to remove access, to bring it into the light by confessing it to God and to a trusted mature believer who can hold you accountable, and to renew your mind daily in the Word. God promises No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it 1 Corinthians 10:13. And we are told Flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace 2 Timothy 2:22. There is a way of escape, and we pray you will take it every time.
We also lift up your health and your deep depression. The Lord sees your sickness and your sadness and He is not distant from you in it. Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit Psalm 34:18. Jesus invites you Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest Matthew 11:28. We pray for your body to be strengthened and healed according to His will, for He forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases Psalm 103:3, and we pray for your mind and spirit to be lifted, for He has promised Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you Isaiah 41:10. Missing church because you were unwell is not a sin that puts you outside His grace, He knows your frame, yet we encourage you not to remain isolated, for we are told not to forsake our own assembling together Hebrews 10:25. Fellowship, worship, and the preaching of the Word are means God uses to restore us, and we pray you will be able to return soon and be encouraged there.
You asked if you will ever get out of this and you feel so far away from God. That feeling is common when sin, sickness, and discouragement weigh us down, but feeling far does not mean God has moved away. He promises Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you James 4:8. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9. We encourage you to draw near through honest confession, through daily prayer even with few words, through reading Scripture, and through crying out to Him. He is faithful to cleanse and to restore.
We noticed your request speaks of God but does not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we must speak about this because it is essential. It is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and it is only through Him that we are saved. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6. And Scripture says There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. To be forgiven and to draw near to God, we must come through Jesus, believing that He died for our sins and rose again, and trusting Him as Lord. If you have not already done so, we urge you to place your full trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, to confess your sins to Him, and to call upon His name. That is how we are reconciled to God and how our prayers are heard.
So now we pray together for you.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before You for our brother or sister who is hurting. We ask You to forgive and cleanse from all sexual sin and to break the power of pornography in this life. Give a hatred for what You hate and a hunger for purity, give strength to flee and to make a way of escape, and surround this dear one with godly accountability and with Your Holy Spirit to walk in self control. Lay Your healing hand upon this body that has been unwell, restore health and strength according to Your will, and lift the heavy burden of depression. Replace despair with hope, and let Your nearness be felt. Draw this heart close to You again, let Your presence be known, and remove the sense of distance. Help this one to return to fellowship with Your people and to be built up in faith. We ask that You help to flee from all sin and to live in a way that honors You, transforming by the renewing of the mind. We pray all of this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ, our way to You, Amen.
We encourage you to keep seeking Him daily, even when you feel weak. Open the Word, pray honestly, cut off every source of temptation, seek a pastor or mature believer to walk with you, and return to church as you are able. God is not finished with you, and by His grace you can come out of this. We are continuing to pray for you.