We lift you up before the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, knowing that He alone is your refuge and strength in times of trouble. It is clear that your heart is heavy with the strain in your marriage and family, and we want you to know that God sees your pain and desires to bring restoration. Marriage is a sacred covenant before the Lord, designed to reflect Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5:25, WEB: *"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for it."*). When conflict and distance creep in, it is not His will, but an opportunity for Him to work mightily in your hearts if you both turn to Him.
First, we must address the mention of "black magic." As believers, our trust must be in the Lord alone, not in superstitions or fears of unseen forces. Scripture is clear: *"For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control"* (2 Timothy 1:7, WEB). If you are entertaining thoughts of spiritual attacks outside of God’s sovereignty, we gently rebuke that line of thinking. The enemy seeks to distract and divide, but *"greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world"* (1 John 4:4, WEB). Focus on the Lord’s power, not on fear. Repent of any fear or distrust in His protection, and ask Him to fill you with His peace.
Now, regarding your marriage: fighting and distance are symptoms of deeper issues—often pride, unmet expectations, or unconfessed sin. The Bible instructs husbands to *"dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered"* (1 Peter 3:7, WEB). Notice how unresolved conflict can even hinder your prayers! This is serious. We urge you to examine your heart: Are you loving your wife as Christ loves the church? Are you serving her sacrificially, or are you demanding your own way? Similarly, wives are called to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33), but as the husband, your role is to lead in love, humility, and repentance.
Here’s what we encourage you to do:
1. **Repent and Seek God First**: Confess any bitterness, anger, or selfishness to the Lord. Ask Him to soften your heart and show you where you’ve failed to love your wife as He commands. *"Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way"* (Psalm 139:23-24, WEB).
2. **Pray Together**: If your wife is willing, begin praying together daily. If she isn’t, pray for her fervently. *"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective"* (James 5:16, WEB).
3. **Serve and Pursue**: Actively pursue your wife in love. Small acts of kindness, listening without defensiveness, and speaking words of affirmation can break down walls. *"Don’t let any corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear"* (Ephesians 4:29, WEB).
4. **Seek Counsel**: If the division is deep, involve a mature, biblical counselor or pastor. *"Where no counsel is, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established"* (Proverbs 15:22, WEB).
We also sense a need to ask: Is there any unconfessed sin in your life or marriage? Fornication, adultery, or even emotional affairs can create immense division. If this is present, repent immediately and turn to the Lord for cleansing. *"He who covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy"* (Proverbs 28:13, WEB).
Now, let us pray for you:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, lifting up our brother who is weary and burdened by strife in his marriage and family. Lord, You hate divorce (Malachi 2:16) and desire unity and love in the home. We ask You to break every chain of bitterness, anger, and division between this man and his wife. Convict both of their hearts of any sin, and grant them the humility to repent and seek reconciliation.
Father, guard his mind against fears of the enemy. Let him fix his eyes on You, the author and perfecter of his faith. Fill him with Your Spirit, that he may love his wife as Christ loves the church—sacrificially, patiently, and without condition. Soften his wife’s heart toward him, and let Your peace rule in their home.
We rebuke every scheme of the enemy to destroy this marriage. Let no weapon formed against them prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Restore what has been broken, Lord, and let their home be a testimony of Your redeeming grace.
Give our brother wisdom to lead his family in Your ways. If there are children involved, protect their hearts and draw them to You. Let this family be knit together in love, rooted in Your Word.
We ask all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone can heal and restore. Amen.
Stand firm, brother. The Lord is with you, and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Trust Him, obey His Word, and watch Him work. Keep us updated on how we can continue to pray for you.