We thank God with you for opening your eyes to the root of this battle and for the work He has already begun in freeing you from unforgiveness. We stand with you in this struggle and we rejoice that you are choosing obedience to Christ, even while you still find it difficult in some ways. God sees your heart to obey and He is faithful to complete what He has started in you as promised in Phil 1:6.
Scripture makes clear that unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold in our lives. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Matt 6:14-15. We are also told Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, and do not give place to the devil Eph 4:26-27. And we are to forgive just as God also in Christ forgave us Eph 4:32, bearing with one another and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any, even as Christ forgave you, so you also do Col 3:13. This is not optional for us as believers, it is obedience, and it closes the door that the enemy has used against you.
We also hear your discernment about the spiritual nature of what you have endured. 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 Eph 6:12. The enemy prowls as Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet 5:8. Yet we are not to be ignorant of his schemes 2 Cor 2:11, and we take comfort that he flees when we submit fully to God. Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you James 4:7. Your observation that the attacks and even the remorse of those people lessen when you walk in forgiveness confirms that the real battle is spiritual and that obedience is your protection.
We want to encourage you to continue to forgive from the heart, not just as an act of will but as a continual release before the Lord, even seventy times seven Matt 18:21-22. Forgiveness does not mean that what was done was acceptable or that you must place yourself in harm's way without wisdom, but it does mean releasing the debt to God and choosing to bless those who have harmed you. We are commanded Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you Matt 5:44. In this way we overcome evil with good Rom 12:21. Keep bringing that specific person who has been most heavily used and who grew more hostile when you tried to forgive before the Lord. Jesus understands this response, for light exposes darkness and the enemy stirs up greater hostility when his ground is threatened. Continue to pray for their deliverance and salvation, that the blinding influence of the enemy would be broken.
We also lift up the surgery need you mentioned for your loved one. We ask God to guide the hands of the surgeons, to grant wisdom to the medical team, and to bring complete healing and restoration according to His mercy. We pray He will grant peace to you and your family and that His presence will be evident in that operating room.
We pray together now.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we come before Your throne of grace and we thank You for Your mercy and for revealing the area of unforgiveness so that our dear one could repent and obey. We ask You to search the heart fully and help to forgive completely, from the heart, as You in Christ have forgiven us. Wash away any remaining bitterness, resentment or debt held against others and fill that place with Your love and peace. We ask You to break every foothold the enemy has gained through past disobedience and we rebuke the works of Satan in Jesus name. We declare that no weapon that is formed against Your child shall prosper and that You are our refuge and fortress Psalm 91:2. We put on the full armor of God on behalf of our dear one, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the feet fitted with the Good News of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is Your Word Eph 6:10-18.
Lord we lift up those people who have been used to target Your child, and especially the one who has been most heavily influenced. We ask that You have mercy on them, open their eyes, convict them of sin and draw them to repentance and to salvation in Jesus. Set them free from demonic influence and let the light of Christ expose and expel the darkness. Where there has been remorse and embarrassment, let it lead to godly sorrow that brings true repentance. We pray that their attacks would cease and that they would no longer be instruments of the enemy but would become vessels of Your grace.
We also place the upcoming surgery into Your hands. We ask for Your protection, for a successful procedure, for freedom from complications and for swift and complete healing. Let Your peace which surpasses all understanding guard every heart. We trust that You are the Great Physician and that all healing comes from You.
We ask You to strengthen our dear one to remain obedient, to walk in love, to pray for enemies and to resist the devil by submitting daily to You. Help to stand firm, to watch and pray, and to not be drawn backward but to press forward in Christ. We thank You that You who began a good work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. We ask all this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus, for 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, and it is through His name we have access to You. Amen.