We join with you in lifting up your mother and your loved ones before the Lord, and we thank you for calling upon Yeshua Hamashiach, who is Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. We understand your heart is burdened about a demand for punishment and about walking in faithful footsteps, and about whether consequences and resistance have their proper time and place and language.
We want to gently address the matter of demanding punishment. Our human heart can quickly desire justice on our own terms, but Scripture teaches us that vengeance and final judgment belong to the Lord alone, not to us. We are called to desire mercy and repentance for others, even when wrong has been done. As it is written, Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19. And again, For we know him who said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay. Hebrews 10:30. The Lord does not delight in punishment for its own sake, for He says, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Ezekiel 33:11. We are therefore to pray not that people would be punished, but that they would come to repentance, that consequences would lead to conviction and restoration. If we hold onto a demand to punish others ourselves, we give ground to bitterness. Instead we are taught, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15. We encourage you to release any demand for personal retribution into God's righteous hands and to pray for His mercy and justice to work together for good.
You also speak of resisting and not giving an opportunity, and this is deeply biblical. We are indeed called to resist the enemy and not give him a foothold in our lives, in our families, and in our time and place. We are told, Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 and Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27. We are to Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9. Whether in any language, culture, time or place, the call is the same to put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11. Following in faithful footsteps does not mean following any man perfectly, but following Christ Himself, for He is the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6 tells us Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And 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. Acts 4:12. Yeshua Hamashiach is that name, Jesus Christ, and through Him alone we have access to the Father.
You ask about consequences for all, and whether they are bound to time and place and language. The Word makes clear that God's moral law transcends every language and generation, and that our choices bear fruit. Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23. Consequences may unfold in this life in time and place, but eternal consequences are settled before God. For this reason we pray for your mother and your loved ones that they would be covered by the blood of Jesus and walk in obedience, so that they reap life and peace.
We pray together now in Jesus' name.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Yeshua Hamashiach, Jesus Christ Your Son, and we thank You that through Him we can approach Your throne of grace. We lift up this dear one's mother and the others placed upon their heart. We ask You to surround them with Your protection, to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and to lead them in Your footsteps and not their own. Lord, where there has been hurt or wrongdoing, we release any demand for personal punishment into Your hands, trusting Your perfect justice and Your great mercy. Teach us to forgive as You have forgiven us, and to desire repentance and restoration rather than retribution. Help us to resist the devil and give him no opportunity in our thoughts, words, or homes, in any time or place or language. Clothe us in Your armor, make us sober and watchful, and cause us to stand firm in faith. Show all of us the consequences of sin that we might turn from it, and show us the gift of eternal life in Jesus that we might receive it with joy. Let Your will be done in this family, and let Your name be glorified. We ask that Your Holy Spirit bring conviction where needed, comfort where there is sorrow, and unity where there is division. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Messiah, we pray. Amen.