Silas
Beloved of All
Your concern for your mother and for others around you is heard, and it is right to bring this burden to the Lord in prayer. It is painful to watch someone you love struggle with deep emotional and behavioral disturbance, especially when you see patterns that seem to go beyond ordinary struggles and sense a spiritual element at work.
Scripture is clear that demonic spirits are real, intelligent beings. They can influence words and actions, and the Gospels show them speaking out and crying out when confronted by Jesus. They are not equal to God in power. Jesus has authority over them, and they themselves know they are accountable to Him and will in the end be confined in the abyss, the place of incarceration for evil spirits that is distinct from where human souls are held. They begged Jesus not to send them there before their time. Because they are spirit beings, they are not limited by physical barriers, and their work is often deception, accusation, and driving people toward what is harmful and untrue. The Bible also shows that their influence can extend to those in places of influence, leading to behavior that cannot be explained simply by human weakness alone.
Scripture also shows how powerful a mother's influence can be. A godly mother can be a profound influence for good in her children and in those around her, and an ungodly influence can lead those who listen to her counsel into painful and wicked paths. When a mother becomes a counselor toward what is wrong, the effect on a family can be very heavy. That does not mean every difficult behavior is directly caused by a demon, but it does mean we should take seriously both the personal responsibility for wrong beliefs and actions and the reality of the enemy seeking to use a person negatively in the lives of others.
Jesus Himself helps us here. When He was told His mother and brothers were outside wanting to speak with Him, He asked, who is my mother and who are my brothers, and then pointed to His disciples and said that His true family are those who hear the word of God and do it. He did not point people to go through His mother to reach Him. There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, and we have direct access to Him. A profession of faith is not enough on its own. What matters is hearing His word and obeying it, walking in His light and truth. When someone professes to be a Christian yet believes things that are clearly contrary to Scripture, that is a sign that truth is needed, not affirmation of the error.
So we will pray with you along these lines. We ask the Lord to send out His light and His truth to lead your mother, to expose deception and bring her into a love for what is true according to Scripture. We pray for deliverance and freedom where the enemy has influence, that Jesus, who has all authority over evil spirits, would set her free and bring her mind and behavior under His lordship. We pray for protection over you and others in your life, that those who belong to God, who are sealed in Him, would be guarded from torment and manipulation, and that you would have wisdom to set healthy and loving boundaries while still honoring your mother. We pray that you would keep watch and keep your garments, staying close to Christ, clothed in His righteousness, walking in the Word daily, and not drawn into confusion.
Continue to seek wise, biblical counsel face to face, and where there is severe emotional and behavioral disturbance, do not hesitate to seek help from qualified and biblically grounded counselors as well as pastors who can know you and your family personally, pray with you, and help you discern what is spiritual, what is emotional, and what steps to take. Stay in prayer, stay in the Word, and keep bringing your mother before the one who alone can save and transform. He is able to accomplish His purposes even when people fail, and He hears the prayer of a child who comes to Him in faith seeking help.
Scripture is clear that demonic spirits are real, intelligent beings. They can influence words and actions, and the Gospels show them speaking out and crying out when confronted by Jesus. They are not equal to God in power. Jesus has authority over them, and they themselves know they are accountable to Him and will in the end be confined in the abyss, the place of incarceration for evil spirits that is distinct from where human souls are held. They begged Jesus not to send them there before their time. Because they are spirit beings, they are not limited by physical barriers, and their work is often deception, accusation, and driving people toward what is harmful and untrue. The Bible also shows that their influence can extend to those in places of influence, leading to behavior that cannot be explained simply by human weakness alone.
Scripture also shows how powerful a mother's influence can be. A godly mother can be a profound influence for good in her children and in those around her, and an ungodly influence can lead those who listen to her counsel into painful and wicked paths. When a mother becomes a counselor toward what is wrong, the effect on a family can be very heavy. That does not mean every difficult behavior is directly caused by a demon, but it does mean we should take seriously both the personal responsibility for wrong beliefs and actions and the reality of the enemy seeking to use a person negatively in the lives of others.
Jesus Himself helps us here. When He was told His mother and brothers were outside wanting to speak with Him, He asked, who is my mother and who are my brothers, and then pointed to His disciples and said that His true family are those who hear the word of God and do it. He did not point people to go through His mother to reach Him. There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, and we have direct access to Him. A profession of faith is not enough on its own. What matters is hearing His word and obeying it, walking in His light and truth. When someone professes to be a Christian yet believes things that are clearly contrary to Scripture, that is a sign that truth is needed, not affirmation of the error.
So we will pray with you along these lines. We ask the Lord to send out His light and His truth to lead your mother, to expose deception and bring her into a love for what is true according to Scripture. We pray for deliverance and freedom where the enemy has influence, that Jesus, who has all authority over evil spirits, would set her free and bring her mind and behavior under His lordship. We pray for protection over you and others in your life, that those who belong to God, who are sealed in Him, would be guarded from torment and manipulation, and that you would have wisdom to set healthy and loving boundaries while still honoring your mother. We pray that you would keep watch and keep your garments, staying close to Christ, clothed in His righteousness, walking in the Word daily, and not drawn into confusion.
Continue to seek wise, biblical counsel face to face, and where there is severe emotional and behavioral disturbance, do not hesitate to seek help from qualified and biblically grounded counselors as well as pastors who can know you and your family personally, pray with you, and help you discern what is spiritual, what is emotional, and what steps to take. Stay in prayer, stay in the Word, and keep bringing your mother before the one who alone can save and transform. He is able to accomplish His purposes even when people fail, and He hears the prayer of a child who comes to Him in faith seeking help.
