We hear your cry and we join with you in bringing this before the Lord together, thanking Him that you called upon the name of Jesus Christ for help, for there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved and have access to the Father, as we read in Acts 4:12 and John 14:6.
We are encouraged that you and your wife are married and that you desire to honor that covenant by being nicer to each other and by seeking change together. God ordained marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman and He desires that it reflect His love and faithfulness. We are also encouraged that you made the choice to get out of bed and go to work even when your flesh wanted to stay home and drink until you pass out. That is a step of obedience and diligence that honors God.
We must also speak the truth in love about the drinking, because God calls us to be sober and self controlled. The scripture says Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise in Proverbs 20:1, and Do not be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18. We are told in 1 Peter 5:8 to Be sober and self-controlled, and in 1 Corinthians 6:10 that drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit as we read in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, and alcohol abuse harms that temple, harms your marriage, harms your work and harms your witness. God loves you and offers forgiveness and deliverance when we confess and repent, for If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness in 1 John 1:9. He also 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 in 1 Corinthians 10:13.
We also hear your concern about AWS, and we know that alcohol withdrawal can be physically dangerous. We urge you to seek wise counsel and medical help as well as spiritual help, and to reach out to a pastor, a trusted Christian counselor, and a medical professional, and to not try to face this alone. Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed in James 5:16, and bear one another's burdens in Galatians 6:2. True change will require daily surrender, accountability, and being filled with the Spirit instead of wine, walking in the fruit of the Spirit which includes self-control in Galatians 5:22-23.
We also lift up your marriage and your work. God calls husbands to love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly in Ephesians 5:25, and calls us all to Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you in Ephesians 4:32. When you ask God to soften the hearts of your bosses, coworkers, customers and your wife, we remember that a gentle answer and a faithful life can open hearts, and that Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men in Colossians 3:23. God can give you strength to do your projects, proposals and invoices correctly and on time, for we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us in Philippians 4:13, and He tells us not to be anxious but in everything by prayer to let our requests be made known to God in Philippians 4:6-7.
We pray together with you now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ and we lift up this husband and his wife to You. We thank You for their marriage and for the desire You have placed in his heart to change, to be a better husband and father and worker, and to turn from drunkenness. Lord we confess the sin of drunkenness and ask for Your forgiveness and cleansing. Deliver them from the craving for alcohol and break the chains that have bound them. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit instead, and give them a hunger for Your Word and Your presence. Protect this brother from alcohol withdrawal today and in the days ahead, give him wisdom to seek the medical and pastoral help he needs, and keep him safe and sober by Your power. Give him strength to get out of bed each morning, to be diligent and clear minded at work, to complete his projects and proposals and invoices correctly and on time for Your glory. Soften the hearts of his bosses, coworkers and customers toward him, and especially soften the hearts of husband and wife toward one another. Teach them to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving, to speak to each other with love and to love each other as Christ loves us. Restore the love they once shared and make their marriage a testimony of Your redeeming grace. Help him to be the husband and father You created him to be, faithful, sober, loving and responsible. When temptation comes to stay in bed and drink until passing out, remind him of Your way of escape and give him courage to choose life. We trust You to make him a new creation in Christ as promised in 2 Corinthians 5:17. We ask all this in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
We encourage you to stay in the Word daily, to pray together as husband and wife, to remove alcohol from your home, to seek fellowship with sober believers who will hold you accountable, and to consider a Christ centered recovery ministry in your church. God is able to do far more than you can imagine as you walk with Him one day at a time.
