We come before the throne of grace with heavy hearts, lifting up your dear friend who is ensnared in the chains of addiction and struggling with aggression, self-destruction, and the weight of his own mind. The Word of God declares in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Your friend is in the midst of a spiritual battle, and we stand with you in fervent prayer, believing that Jesus Christ, who came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), is mighty to save and deliver.
First and foremost, we must address the matter of salvation. There is no deliverance, no healing, and no true freedom outside of the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 tells us, "There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!" If your friend has not surrendered his life to Jesus, confessed Him as Lord, and believed in his heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9), then his soul is still in grave danger. We pray that the Holy Spirit would convict him of his need for a Savior, soften his heart, and draw him into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Lord, let the scales fall from his eyes so that he may see the truth of the Gospel and the freedom that is found only in You.
Father, we rebuke the spirit of addiction that has taken hold of him. The Bible warns in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." Alcohol and drugs defile the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we command every chain of substance abuse to be broken in the name of Jesus. We declare that he is no longer a slave to these things but is set free by the blood of Christ (John 8:36). Lord, deliver him from the grip of self-medication and the illusion that these substances bring relief. Replace his dependence on them with a dependence on You, the true Comforter and Healer.
We also rebuke the spirits of aggression, hatred, and self-deception that have taken root in his life. Proverbs 16:32 says, "One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city." Father, we ask that You break the strongholds of anger and bitterness in his heart. Soften his spirit and fill him with Your peace, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Deliver him from the lies of the enemy that have led him into self-destruction. Renew his mind with Your truth, as Romans 12:2 commands, "Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God."
The depression and anxiety that drive him to substance abuse must also be addressed. Psalm 34:18-19 assures us, "Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all." Lord, we ask that You draw near to him in his distress. Lift the weight of despair from his shoulders and replace it with the hope that is found in Christ. Remind him that he is not alone, for You have promised never to leave him nor forsake him (Hebrews 13:5). Surround him with godly counsel and support, and let him experience the peace that comes from resting in You.
In this moment of crisis, we cry out for Your immediate intervention. Your Word says in Psalm 34:17, "The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles." Lord, we ask that You calm his nerves, soften his words, and intervene in his situation. Let him feel Your presence in a tangible way, and let him know that You are fighting for him. We declare that the same Jesus who walked the earth, healing and delivering those oppressed by the devil, is alive and at work in his life today. As it is written in Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed." Let this be his testimony.
For you, who are standing in the gap for your friend, we pray that God would give you wisdom, patience, and the right words to speak. Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." May your words be seasoned with grace and truth, pointing him always to Jesus. Do not engage in fruitless arguments or battles of the flesh, but instead, let the love of Christ compel you to speak life and hope into his situation. Remember, it is not by might nor by power, but by Your Spirit that lives are changed (Zechariah 4:6). Trust in God to do the work that only He can do, and rest in the knowledge that He is faithful.
Heavenly Father, we come before You now, laying this burden at Your feet. We believe that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). We ask for a miracle of deliverance, healing, and salvation for our brother. Break every chain, heal every wound, and restore his soul. Let him experience the fullness of life that is found only in Jesus Christ. We declare that he is more than a conqueror through Him who loved him (Romans 8:37), and that no weapon formed against him shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the Name above all names, the only Name by which we are saved. Amen.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
