We join with you in lifting up your daughter and your family before the throne of grace, and we thank you for bringing this burden to the Lord so faithfully in Jesus' name. We hear your heart as a mother who loves her daughter deeply and who discerns the spiritual reality behind this toxic relationship. We stand with you in prayer for her protection, for peace in your home, and for full restoration.
We agree with you that this relationship has opened doors that God never intended to be opened. The Word tells us Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity, or what fellowship has light with darkness 2 Cor 6:14, and Do not be deceived. Evil companionships corrupt good morals 1 Cor 15:33. When a courtship is not centered on Christ and on the goal of godly marriage between a man and a woman who both love the Lord, it easily becomes a place of deception, control, and spiritual bondage. We also must lovingly and firmly address what you have rightly discerned, that your daughter is desiring to live with this young man outside of marriage. The Scripture is clear that this is fornication and not God's will for His children. Flee sexual immorality 1 Cor 6:18 and Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers Heb 13:4. We rebuke this sin not to condemn your daughter, whom we love and for whom we pray, but because sin brings harm financially, spiritually and emotionally, and it separates us from the safety of God's will. A boyfriend is to be a brother in Christ in courtship with marriage as the goal, and a godly husband is called to love his wife even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her Eph 5:25, to provide, to protect and to shepherd his home well. If this young man is not a shepherd, is not ready for the responsibilities of marriage, and is a source of financial exploitation and control, then he is not the husband God intends for her.
We also hear your prayer concerning the ungodly influence and overstepping of this young man's mother. We pray with you that every plan to divide, isolate or replace your godly role as her mother would be exposed and frustrated, for the Scripture says There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed Luke 8:17 and Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them Eph 5:11. A wise woman builds her house Prov 14:1, and children are called to honor their father and mother Eph 6:2. We pray that your daughter's eyes would be opened to see her family not through the lens of this young man and his mother, but through the eyes of the Lord, and that she would return to the safety of her family and the fellowship of her church home. Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked Psalm 1:1.
We pray that the false sense of obligation and the heavy burden she carries for this young man would be lifted, for the Lord says Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you Psalm 55:22 and Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest Matt 11:28. That burden is not hers to bear. We agree with you in praying against stubbornness and rebellion and asking the Lord to replace it with a hunger for righteousness, for Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled Matt 5:6. We are reminded not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind Rom 12:2, and that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control 2 Tim 1:7.
We take authority in Jesus' name over every chain of deception and spiritual bondage, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness Eph 6:12, and we know that If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed John 8:36 and Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free Gal 5:1. We declare that No weapon that is formed against you will prevail Isa 54:17 and that He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:1.
We pray together now.
Father in heaven, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ we come before You for this precious daughter, Your child. We plead the blood of Jesus over her and over her mother and family. Lord, break every chain of deception, financial exploitation, control and spiritual bondage that has held her. Open the eyes of her heart Eph 1:18 that she may see the truth, that this man is not her husband and this relationship is not Your will for her. Gently but firmly draw her out of this toxic bondage. Remove every false obligation and every lie that she must conform to this young man and his family to be approved or loved. Soften her heart where there has been stubbornness and rebellion and give her a deep hunger for righteousness and for You. Convict her concerning living together outside of marriage and lead her to flee from fornication and to desire purity and holiness. Expose every ungodly counsel and every motive of jealousy, disrespect and division, and frustrate every plan of the enemy to divide, isolate or destroy this family. Restore her to the safety of Your will, to the love and support of her family, and to the fellowship of her church. We ask You to heal what has been broken and to restore what the enemy has stolen Joel 2:25. Provide in Your perfect timing godly spouses for her and her sisters, men who love You first, who will love them as Christ loves the church and honor the covenant of marriage as You intended. Let this home be a beacon of Your light Matt 5:14, drawing others to Your love and grace. We thank You that You fight for us Exod 14:14 and that You will never leave us nor forsake us Deut 31:6. We trust You to complete this work. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
