Praying for my brother

[Anonymous]

And his girlfriend, they are going through a tough time, they are breaking up and his girlfriend is having a hard time because my brother is the one who is asking to break up and he found another person, they have been together ### years . I don’t know how to pray or what to pray.

 

[Articles]

We join you in bringing your brother and his girlfriend before the Lord in this painful season, and we understand your desire to pray rightly when hearts are hurting and the path forward is unclear. The Lord sees both of them and we ask Him to bring comfort, truth and healing according to His perfect will.

We want to share some biblical perspective to help guide your prayers. In Scripture we see that marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman ordained by God, and the time of being a boyfriend or girlfriend is to be viewed as courtship with the goal of discerning marriage to another Christian believer who loves the Lord. It is not to be treated lightly or as a commitment to be set aside when another person seems more appealing. To leave one relationship because another person has been found reveals a heart that needs examination before God, and it causes deep wounding to the other person. We also want to gently address that when a man and woman have been together for several years, there is often sexual intimacy outside of marriage. If that has been the case, Scripture calls that fornication and calls us to repentance and purity. Hebrews 13:4 says marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the bed undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 1 Corinthians 6:18 tells us to flee sexual immorality. 2 Corinthians 6:14 reminds us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, and courtship should always be seeking a godly spouse who will help one walk closer with Christ.

We know his girlfriend is suffering greatly now, and our hearts ache for her. The Lord is near to those with a broken heart. Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Psalm 147:3 says He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. We pray that she will find her comfort and identity not in this relationship but in Christ, and that the Lord will heal her pain and give her hope for a future that honors Him. For your brother, we pray that the Lord will convict his heart where needed, grant him honesty and integrity rather than leading someone on or pursuing another while still committed to one, and teach him to seek the Lord's will above his own desires. Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. If there is sin to confess, 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We noticed your request did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and that our prayers are heard. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. We encourage you and both of them to put your trust in Jesus, to believe that He died for our sins and rose again, and to call upon Him for salvation and for daily grace. Romans 10:9 says that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We lift this prayer together in Jesus name. Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus and we lift up this brother and his girlfriend to You. Lord, You know the pain, the confusion and the hurt that is present after these years together and now this breaking up. We ask You to be near to the young woman who is hurting and to heal her broken heart, to comfort her, to remind her that she is deeply loved and valued by You, and to lead her into wholeness in Christ. For the brother, we ask that You search his heart, convict him of any selfishness, unfaithfulness or sexual sin, and lead him to repentance and to a desire for purity and righteousness. Teach him what it means to honor You in courtship and to pursue marriage in a way that is holy and faithful, seeking a godly wife who loves You, rather than pursuing relationships lightly. Give both of them clarity, godly counsel, and a willingness to surrender their future to Your will. Help our friend who is interceding to pray with wisdom and to be a loving and truthful support to both. We ask all of this in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, our Savior and hope, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

It is painful to stand in the middle when someone you love is hurting someone else you also care about, and not knowing what to pray in that moment is completely understandable.

We hear how much you want to love both your brother and his girlfriend well through this breakup after so many years together. You don't need perfect words. God hears simple, honest prayers, and you can keep them very plain when you feel stuck.

One way that often helps is to pray for each person by name for what is truly good for them right now. For your brother, for wisdom and honesty and to take responsibility for his choices with care. For his girlfriend, for comfort in the hurt and for steady support around her as she grieves. And for yourself, for grace to be a kind, listening presence without feeling you have to fix it or take sides.

If you are close to either of them, just letting them know you are praying and are there to listen can mean a lot. You don't have to have answers, just a willingness to stay present and point them toward trusted, godly support if they want it.

Father, we lift this family to You in Jesus' name. Bring comfort to this young woman in her pain, give wisdom and integrity to her brother in this difficult decision, and give our friend peace as they seek to pray and love well. Lead each of them in Your will and draw them closer to You through this hard time. Amen.

 

[Violetblue]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

It is a good thing that you have been moved to pray in this sorrow, and that you confess you know not what you should pray for as you ought. That very confession is where true prayer begins, for the Holy Spirit Himself helps our infirmities and makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered, and He creates prayers within us offered in a proper manner.

There is no power like that of intercession, and God Himself writes it upon the heart. When you feel this burden for your brother and for this young woman, it is the Lord calling you to stand in the gap for them, and to be quick to seize every advantage in pleading with God for their souls.

You can bring them both before the throne of grace, but not by asking God to bless what is contrary to His holy will. The Scriptures teach us that salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, and that marriage is a lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, and that the union of bodies and of households belongs within that covenant. To leave one relationship to pursue another outside of that covenant is not a path God will bless, and love requires that we pray not for the prospering of sin, but for pardon and healing.

Pray therefore in this way.

For your brother, pray that the Lord would show him his need of Christ, and grant him repentance and faith. Pray that he would be convicted where he has acted selfishly or unfaithfully, that he would turn from any impurity or unfaithfulness, and that he would learn to walk in holiness and truth before God. Pray that he would not follow his own desires, but would seek first to be reconciled to God through the blood of Christ, and then to act with honesty, purity and responsibility toward others.

For this young woman who is suffering the pain of being forsaken, pray that the Lord who heals the broken in heart would draw near to her. There is an abundance of healing power in Jesus Christ, and even the leaves of the tree of life are for healing. The least thing about Christ has virtue to change the life blood and make the nature new. Pray that she would find comfort not in man, but in the pardoning and healing hand of God, that her sorrow would lead her to seek the Lord Himself, and that He would bind up her wounds and give her peace.

For them both, pray for salvation above all. Apart from being made saints by grace through faith in Christ, neither can know the indwelling and intercession of the Holy Spirit. Pray that both would hear the gospel, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive forgiveness of sins, for pardon and healing go together. When the Sun of Righteousness rises, He brings healing in His wings.

Do not cease in this work. As Samuel said, God forbid that we should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. Pursue them with persistent intercession, even when the way is dark. The Lord hears the secret cries of His people, and He will in His own time and mercy answer according to His perfect will.

A prayer you may offer:

O Lord, our Father, we know not how to pray as we ought, and we ask Your Holy Spirit to intercede for us. Have mercy upon these two souls. Bring them to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, forgive their sins, and heal their hearts. Lead my brother to repentance and to walk in Your holy way, to forsake sin and to honor You in all his relationships. Comfort this young woman in her grief, heal her broken heart, and draw her to Yourself as her refuge and strength. Do Your will in their lives, and make them new creations in Christ. For Your glory we ask it, Amen.

 

[EnricoLange]

Lord Jesus please richly bless, protect and guide them. Please help them in accordance with your perfect will Father. Thank you and praise you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[usha rani]

Praying in Jesus Name.