Hi Sarahm,
First of all praise the Lord for your desire to have a more intimate walk with Yeshua. This desire has been placed on your heart by Holy Spirit who lives in you, abides in you. It is His desire that you walk and live in the fulness of His plans and purposes for you. The most important way to accomplish this is to read the word of God and find out what His will is. His word says "according His divine power has given us, EVERY THING we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be made partakers of His divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3,4
As for your dad, the traditions of the Catholic church as been to deny parishoners from reading their bible, yet, I believe many are coming away from that and are reading the word of God. Traditions of man and doctrines of man (and church doctrine) has hindered the walk of many believers. The bereans were a people who when they heard a thing, went to the bible to see if it was part of scripture. Sadly many Christians are like those who hear a thing and believe it without seeking direction, truth and revelation from the One who is our Counselor, our teacher, Holy Spirit. So, just as Yeshua/Jesus was merciful to us in being obedient to the will of God, so also we must be merciful to them who are in darkness and for this reason, He cried out, "Father, forgive them they know not what they do!"
So with your dad, he is lost and in need of salvation so we pray that truth will prevail and darkness flee from him. I would say that he is not in his 'right mind' and not saying he is crazy or that nonsense, but that he is walking in darkness and can't see the light. He is living life from his soulish needs which waver constantly depending on what his day brings.
As for your boyfriend, I pray he is a believer in Yeshua and if so, then I encourage you to encourage him to trust the Lord. The other area I want to bring in is so many Christians live as the world, living together and such, so I encourage you with this, that abstaining until marriage is pleasing to the Lord because it shows Him your desire to live rightly before Him and obedience to His will.
Thank you FAther for Sarahm and for the desire that has been placed in her heart to live rightly before you. I pray that you would continue to give her spiritual wisdom and understanding concerning your word, that her spiritual eyes be flooded with light so she will know what you have called her to do. Thank you for her 14 yr old daughter and I ask for discernment be given her as she to know to make the right decisions that not only bless her abundantly but also her mother. May daughter rise up and call her mother blessed. I thank you that provision comes from You, Lord, so I ask a release of those provisions in a mighty way.
We ask for Your word, the light of the glorious gospel to hit it's mark on dad's heart and mind. We bind him to the truth of your word and loose, crush smash and destroy man's teachings and doctrines and also church 'religious' teachings and doctrines, that the scales that have been planted there by those things be removed from his spiritual eyes and open his spiritual ears to hear the truth of your word, Yeshua is Lord! In this, cause him to have a repentant heart for the decisions he has been making that has caused hardship on his family and even his business. May you shut his mouth from speaking negative concerning his family business and only speak positive.
In the name of Yeshua, I bless this family with shalom (wholeness, soundness, health, protection) and joy. May they continually day and night speak of your glorious wonders and meditate day and night on your word, speaking of them as they walk, sit, lie down and rise up. In the name of Yeshua. Amen.
