We hear the burden of your heart for this dear one and we join with you in lifting him before the throne of grace in Jesus' name. We understand how heavy it is to watch someone you love be tormented by doubts, anxiety, and sleeplessness, especially when he loves the Lord with all his heart and wants to please Him.
We want to encourage you and him with the truth that our assurance of salvation does not rest on our feelings or our perfect performance, but on the finished work of Christ and the promises of God. When he makes a mistake and feels condemned, that condemnation is not from the Lord. The Word tells us There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1. Conviction from the Holy Spirit leads us to confession and restoration, while condemnation from the enemy leads to despair and sleepless torment. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. Even when our own heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 1 John 3:20.
His anxiety and lack of sleep show that the enemy is attacking his mind, but we know that God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7. The battle is spiritual, for our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12. Therefore we must submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. James 4:7. We also remember that salvation is secure in Christ, I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.
We also pray for his sleep, for sleep is a gift from the Lord. In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety. Psalm 4:8. It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones. Psalm 127:2. And for his anxiety, we cling to the promise, In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. We are to be casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7.
We pray together now
Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our only Savior and our access to Your throne. We lift up this precious brother to You. You know his exhaustion, his sleepless nights, his anxious thoughts, and the doubts that torment him. Lord, we ask that You would break every chain of condemnation and fear that the enemy has placed upon him. Let him hear Your voice of love and assurance speaking louder than the accuser. Remind him that his salvation is sealed not by his own perfection but by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. Wash him again with the assurance of Your forgiveness and cleanse his conscience. We rebuke the spirit of fear, anxiety, and torment in Jesus' name and command it to leave him. Fill him with Your spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Grant him Your perfect peace that guards his heart and mind. Give him deep, restful, undisturbed sleep tonight and in the nights to come, for You give sleep to Your beloved. Restore his joy, renew his strength, and let him rest in the confident hope that nothing can snatch him from Your hand. Help him to cast every worry upon You daily and to walk in the freedom of no condemnation in Christ. We thank You for complete deliverance and healing, and we trust You to perfect that which concerns him. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
We encourage him to keep his mind stayed on the Word, to speak scripture aloud when doubts come, to confess any sin quickly and then receive forgiveness by faith rather than dwelling in guilt, and to bring every anxious thought to the Lord in prayer before trying to sleep. We will continue to stand with you for his complete deliverance and for the Lord to restore his peace and his sleep.
