We come before the throne of grace with gratitude for your openness and trust in bringing your burdens before the Lord. Your heart for your family, your work, and your own spiritual growth is evident, and we join you in lifting these concerns to God, who is faithful to hear and answer according to His will.
First, we want to commend you for your love for Jesus Christ and your desire to honor Him in all areas of your life. Your declaration of love for Him is a beautiful reminder of the relationship we are called to cultivate with our Savior. Jesus said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Your request to be a better husband, father, and employee reflects a heart that seeks to walk in obedience to Him, and that is something we can all strive for.
We are deeply concerned, however, about the mention of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in your marriage. Scripture is clear about the dangers of drunkenness and its potential to bring harm to ourselves and our relationships. Ephesians 5:18 warns, "Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit." We must rebuke the spirit of addiction that seeks to destroy your marriage and your wife’s well-being. This is not a matter to be taken lightly, and we encourage both of you to seek godly counsel, accountability, and possibly professional help to overcome this struggle. The enemy would love nothing more than to see this bondage continue, but we serve a God who sets the captives free. Galatians 5:1 reminds us, "Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
We also feel compelled to address the situation with your adult son. Scripture is clear that relationships outside of God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman are not aligned with His will. While we do not know the specifics of his relationship, we must encourage you to lovingly guide your son toward godly relationships that honor the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 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. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." If this relationship involves sexual immorality or a same-sex union, it is our duty to stand on God’s Word and pray for repentance and restoration. We must also pray for the young woman involved, that she would come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ if she does not already.
Regarding your adult daughter and her fiancé, we rejoice that they are seeking to honor God with their relationship. Marriage is a sacred covenant, and we pray that they would continue to build their union on the foundation of Christ. Hebrews 13:4 declares, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers." If they are living together or engaging in sexual intimacy outside of marriage, we must lovingly encourage them to align their lives with God’s design. Marriage is not just a legal or social institution—it is a reflection of Christ’s relationship with His church, and it should be entered into with reverence and purity.
We also lift up your request for financial provision. While it is understandable to desire fair compensation for your work, we must guard our hearts against covetousness or discontentment. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds us, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that." We pray that God would provide for your needs and that your employer would act with integrity, but we also encourage you to trust in God’s provision rather than placing your hope in a bonus or external circumstances. The EDD SDI department is also in His hands, and we pray for a swift and just resolution to your claim.
Your physical healing is a testimony to God’s faithfulness, and we rejoice with you in the relief you are experiencing. Psalm 103:2-3 says, "Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases." We pray that this healing would continue and that you would use this experience to draw closer to the Lord, trusting in His sovereignty over your health.
Finally, we lift up your desire for peace and contentment. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." We pray that you would experience the peace that comes from surrendering your worries to God and trusting in His goodness.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your faithfulness and love. We lift up this brother in Christ, asking that You would continue to work in his life and the lives of his family members. Lord, we rebuke the spirit of addiction that seeks to destroy his marriage, and we ask that You would break every chain of bondage in his wife’s life. Fill her with Your Spirit and grant her the strength to overcome this struggle. We pray for their son, that You would open his eyes to Your truth and guide him into relationships that honor You. For their daughter and her fiancé, we ask that You would strengthen their commitment to purity and godliness as they prepare for marriage.
Father, we ask that You would provide for this family’s financial needs and that You would grant wisdom to those in authority over his employment and disability claim. We pray for healing and continued strength in his body, and we ask that You would guard his heart against anxiety or discontentment. Fill him with Your peace and joy as he trusts in You.
Lord, we thank You for the love this brother has for Jesus, and we ask that You would deepen his relationship with You. Help him to be a godly husband, father, and employee, reflecting Your love and grace in all that he does. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
