Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing your heart so honestly and for bringing these deep needs before the Lord. Your desire for gratitude, deliverance, rest, peace, mercy and forgiveness is precious to God, and He hears you when you call on the name of Jesus Christ.
You quoted the promise that Jesus has given authority to overcome all the power of the enemy and that nothing will harm you. That is true, and that authority belongs to those who are in Christ. The evil you are facing is spiritual in its root, and God has given us spiritual weapons to stand against it, especially prayer in the name of Jesus. You do not stand in your own strength, but in His.
There is a difference between having peace with God and having the peace of God in daily life. Peace with God comes first, through the blood Jesus shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. When you turn to Him and receive that forgiveness, the war with God is over. You are no longer running from Him or fighting against His ways, you are brought near and reconciled.
The peace of God is what you are longing for now, that inner rest and quietness of heart while living in a troubled world. That peace does not come from your own efforts, skills, or works, and it cannot be found in philosophy, religion, pleasure or prosperity. It comes only through trusting completely in Jesus and in what He has finished for you. Scripture says God will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him. It is a peace that passes human understanding, and the world cannot understand it. Jesus said, Peace I leave with you. He made the way for you to have it.
Rest is found in faith. It is hard to rest in faith, but it is the only place you will ever truly rest. You cannot rest in trying harder. You rest when you commit your life fully to God and abandon yourself to Him. That complete commitment brings complete rest. The invitation still stands to enter into His rest. We enter it by believing, by ceasing from our own works to earn His favor, just as God rested from His work. We are called to labor to enter that rest, which means choosing daily to trust Him, to keep your mind on Him, and to let Him do what you cannot do for yourself. He is able to do for you what you cannot do.
You asked for mercy, help and forgiveness, and also for healing where there may be unforgiveness in your own heart. God is merciful and gracious, and He wants to forgive and to heal. If you have sinned, confess it to Him and receive His forgiveness through Christ. If you are holding unforgiveness toward others, ask Him to soften your heart and help you release it, as you have been forgiven. God knows His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hopeful future. He says peace to those who are far off and to those who are near, to all who will come to Him.
You mentioned reaching out to priests and hearing nothing back. People may fail to answer, but Jesus Himself is your great High Priest who always hears and always intercedes for you. Bring your burdens directly to Him. You do not need to wait for a person to mediate. Go to the Father through Jesus with confidence.
For the evil that is afflicting you, ask God to rebuke it and remove it. Hate what is evil because God hates evil, but do not try to fight it in the flesh, which only leads to failure and discouragement and loss of peace. Stand against it in prayer, keep your heart stayed on Christ, seek peace and pursue it, and guard your lips and heart from evil.
I will pray for you now.
Heavenly Father, thank You for this one who is seeking You. Thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus who shed His blood so we can have peace with You and forgiveness of sins. Lord, have mercy and pour out Your grace. Grant deliverance, rebuke every evil influence, and remove what is oppressing. Fill this heart with Your peace, Your rest, and Your mercy. Heal any unforgiveness and help to walk in forgiveness as You have forgiven. Teach how to rest in the finished work of Jesus, with mind stayed on You, trusting You to do what cannot be done alone. Keep this life in perfect peace. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
You quoted the promise that Jesus has given authority to overcome all the power of the enemy and that nothing will harm you. That is true, and that authority belongs to those who are in Christ. The evil you are facing is spiritual in its root, and God has given us spiritual weapons to stand against it, especially prayer in the name of Jesus. You do not stand in your own strength, but in His.
There is a difference between having peace with God and having the peace of God in daily life. Peace with God comes first, through the blood Jesus shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. When you turn to Him and receive that forgiveness, the war with God is over. You are no longer running from Him or fighting against His ways, you are brought near and reconciled.
The peace of God is what you are longing for now, that inner rest and quietness of heart while living in a troubled world. That peace does not come from your own efforts, skills, or works, and it cannot be found in philosophy, religion, pleasure or prosperity. It comes only through trusting completely in Jesus and in what He has finished for you. Scripture says God will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him. It is a peace that passes human understanding, and the world cannot understand it. Jesus said, Peace I leave with you. He made the way for you to have it.
Rest is found in faith. It is hard to rest in faith, but it is the only place you will ever truly rest. You cannot rest in trying harder. You rest when you commit your life fully to God and abandon yourself to Him. That complete commitment brings complete rest. The invitation still stands to enter into His rest. We enter it by believing, by ceasing from our own works to earn His favor, just as God rested from His work. We are called to labor to enter that rest, which means choosing daily to trust Him, to keep your mind on Him, and to let Him do what you cannot do for yourself. He is able to do for you what you cannot do.
You asked for mercy, help and forgiveness, and also for healing where there may be unforgiveness in your own heart. God is merciful and gracious, and He wants to forgive and to heal. If you have sinned, confess it to Him and receive His forgiveness through Christ. If you are holding unforgiveness toward others, ask Him to soften your heart and help you release it, as you have been forgiven. God knows His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hopeful future. He says peace to those who are far off and to those who are near, to all who will come to Him.
You mentioned reaching out to priests and hearing nothing back. People may fail to answer, but Jesus Himself is your great High Priest who always hears and always intercedes for you. Bring your burdens directly to Him. You do not need to wait for a person to mediate. Go to the Father through Jesus with confidence.
For the evil that is afflicting you, ask God to rebuke it and remove it. Hate what is evil because God hates evil, but do not try to fight it in the flesh, which only leads to failure and discouragement and loss of peace. Stand against it in prayer, keep your heart stayed on Christ, seek peace and pursue it, and guard your lips and heart from evil.
I will pray for you now.
Heavenly Father, thank You for this one who is seeking You. Thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus who shed His blood so we can have peace with You and forgiveness of sins. Lord, have mercy and pour out Your grace. Grant deliverance, rebuke every evil influence, and remove what is oppressing. Fill this heart with Your peace, Your rest, and Your mercy. Heal any unforgiveness and help to walk in forgiveness as You have forgiven. Teach how to rest in the finished work of Jesus, with mind stayed on You, trusting You to do what cannot be done alone. Keep this life in perfect peace. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
