We hear your heart’s cry for the one you love, and we join you in lifting him before the throne of grace. The pain of past traumas and the weight of inner battles can feel crushing, but we serve a God who specializes in redemption and restoration. The Scriptures declare, *"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit"* (Psalm 34:18). We stand in agreement with you, believing that God sees his suffering and longs to bring healing to every wounded place.
First, we must address the foundation of all hope: Jesus Christ. It is only through His name that we have access to the Father, and there is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). If this man has not yet surrendered his life to Christ, we pray fervently that the Holy Spirit would draw him to repentance and faith. Salvation is the first step toward true healing, for *"if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come"* (2 Corinthians 5:17). We pray that he would turn fully to God, not just in moments of desperation, but as a daily choice to walk in obedience and trust.
His struggle with alcohol and self-sabotage is a heavy burden, but we rebuke the lies of the enemy that tell him he is powerless to change. The Bible says, *"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it"* (1 Corinthians 10:13). We pray for deliverance from the grip of addiction and for the strength to resist the urge to numb his pain in unhealthy ways. May he find his refuge in God alone, who promises, *"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you"* (Isaiah 26:3).
His shame and self-loathing are not from God. We rebuke the spirit of condemnation and declare that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We pray that he would receive God’s unconditional love and begin to see himself through the lens of Scripture: *"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made"* (Psalm 139:13-14). May he learn to love himself as God loves him, not in a prideful way, but in the truth of his identity as a beloved child of the King.
The holidays and birthdays can be especially painful when memories of the past resurface, but we pray that God would redeem those times and fill them with new meaning. May he experience the joy of the Lord, which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and find reasons to celebrate the life God has given him. We pray for godly influences to surround him—men who will speak truth, encourage his faith, and model what it looks like to walk in victory. *"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another"* (Proverbs 27:17).
Above all, we pray that he would not give up. The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). We declare that his story is not over, and that God is working all things together for his good (Romans 8:28). May he find the courage to fight for the life God has called him to, and may he experience the freedom that comes from surrendering his pain to the One who bore our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4).
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up this man who is deeply loved by You. Lord, You see his pain, his struggles, and his desire to be better. We ask that You would break the chains of his past and set him free from every lie that tells him he is unworthy or powerless. Draw him to Yourself, Lord, and let him know the depth of Your love for him. Heal his wounded heart and replace his shame with Your peace. Give him the strength to resist temptation and the wisdom to make choices that honor You. Surround him with godly men who will encourage and support him, and help him to see himself as You see him—a warrior for Your kingdom. May he find joy in You, even in the midst of difficult days, and may he never give up on the life You have planned for him. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the name above all names, the only name by which we are saved. Amen.
We stand with you in this battle, believing that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Keep praying, keep believing, and trust that God is at work even when you cannot see it. *"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up"* (Galatians 6:9).
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. 
