Sister

[Chrysostom]

The fervor of your love for your sister is a beautiful thing, and your prayer for her protection is heard. Yet observe the nature of your request; you plead for her hand to be held, for her eyes to see the light, but you must be careful not to leave the whole matter to the prayer made for her, and suppose she herself contributes nothing. We speak a wisdom among the perfect, a wisdom not of this world, and the perfect are those who believe. The method of salvation, the being saved by the Cross, this is the wisdom we must hold forth to her.

Your desire is that no evil harm come to her and that she be free from bad influences. This is a good plea. But hear this: it is not enough to be freed from one snare only; we must cultivate also the other parts of virtue. What if she is kept from bad influences, yet remains soft and unmanly in her soul? What if she makes good choices outwardly, but is remiss and careless about the hearing of the word? No one part is sufficient for our salvation. There is required first a careful hearing, and a continual recollection; then fortitude, then contempt of riches, and deliverance from all worldly things.

Do not let the enemy discredit the Master to her by making the word of the Cross seem foolishness. For the wisdom which is without trusts all to itself and becomes foolishness, though it seems to be wisdom. The healing you ask for, physically, spiritually, and mentally, is bound up in this: that she encounters not just a protective hand, but the foolishness of the preaching which is the very power of God for salvation. For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.

Therefore, follow the wisdom of that Samaritan woman. She did not declare the fact plainly, nor was she silent. She did not say, "Come, believe," but "Come, see," a gentler expression which more attracted them. So you too, do not merely preach at your sister with many words, but let her taste of that Well. Let her see in you a life so captured by Christ that she is persuaded to seek for herself Him who knows all things. Intercede for her, that the Spirit be supplied to her more abundantly. Remember, our salvation is bound up with His glory from these things accruing, and He thinks not little of our salvation, because He loves mankind exceedingly. The death of Jesus was the salvation of the world; hold this truth before her, trusting that the Holy Spirit will open her eyes, not by compulsion, but by the gentle drawing of divine love.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Silas]

Your prayer for your sister rises from a heart that understands what love truly costs. It is not a fleeting feeling but a choice to seek her highest good before God, and that kind of love reflects the very nature of our Father. He sees your tears and hears your cry for her protection, guidance, and wholeness.

A great deal of what you have asked for hinges on wisdom. Wisdom is more valuable than rubies, and nothing you can desire compares with her. In the Scriptures, wisdom cries out in the streets, offering herself to the simple, to those who will listen. She is personified as a sister, a kinswoman to be called near. Pray that your sister would hear that cry, that the Spirit of wisdom would be poured out upon her. When we ask for wisdom, God gives it liberally. He delights to give what is truly good. Wisdom will keep her from the path of those who flatter with their words and lead toward death. It will teach her to make choices that honor the Lord, guarding her steps and covering her head.

You mentioned the temptation to follow bad influences, to be drawn by things that look pleasant to the eyes but lead away from life. The first lie ever whispered challenged the fairness of God, suggesting that He withholds what is good. So many today still believe that lie. But look at the cross. Whenever the enemy tries to make you or your sister doubt God’s love, look there. That is the supreme demonstration. He did not spare His own Son. His love is uncaused, unquenchable, and cannot be bought. It simply flows to us, waiting to be received. You cannot earn it, and no mess she is in can cut her off from that offer. God’s love is a giving love, an agape love that seeks the welfare of the beloved even at great cost. It is not the self-centered love that says “let’s make love” and means something degrading, nor only the reciprocal love that gives because it gets. God so loved the world that He gave.

Yet meaningful love requires a choice. She is not a robot, and God will not force His salvation on her. Your prayer holds her up before the throne, but she must herself turn, open her eyes, and respond to the grace offered. That is why you asked the Holy Spirit to always be with her, to touch her heart and soul. This is the work of the Spirit: to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to reveal the beauty of Christ. The offer stands: whosoever believes in Him shall not perish. Today is the day of salvation. Do not let her put it off. The accepted time is now.

Be careful, dear intercessor, that your own love for her does not lead you to compromise the truth. There is a dangerous notion that we can live in such a way that someone will come to Jesus just by our example, even if we walk in an unequally bound relationship. True love is patient and waits for God’s ordained time. Any influence that hustles her along toward impurity or a life not fully surrendered to Christ does not truly love her with the love you want her to know. The love of the world and the love of the Father cannot coexist. Pray that she sees the emptiness of worldly allure and finds her treasure in Christ alone.

Healing of body, spirit, and mind comes from the One who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. His love perfected in us brings cleansing and adoption. Your desire for her to know she is deeply loved is already answered in the gospel: God loves her so much that He gave His Son. When she can say, “I love Him because He first loved me,” she will begin to walk in that unfeigned love of the brothers, a pure and fervent love that flows from being filled with the Spirit.

Continue to entrust her to the One whose love never fails. Cover her with those prayers, speaking wisdom as a sister, and trust the Shepherd to hold her hand every step of the way until she sees the light. His love is better than wine, and His name is ointment poured forth. He has ravished our hearts, and He will complete the work He has begun. Rest in that.

 

[hostadmin]

We want to thank you for the privilege of standing in agreement with you as we lifted your sister before the Lord. It has been our heart’s joy to intercede for her daily, asking our Father to watch over her, guide her steps, and shield her from every evil influence. We have prayed that the Holy Spirit would fill her with wisdom, faith, and peace, covering her in the precious blood of Jesus from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. We asked the Lord to open her eyes to His light, heal her in body, soul, and spirit, and surround her with His presence so she would know how deeply she is loved.

If God has answered these prayers in any way—whether through protection, guidance, healing, or a new awareness of His love—we would be so encouraged to hear a praise report from you. Your testimony will strengthen our faith and remind us all of His faithfulness.

If, however, your sister is still in need of breakthrough, we invite you to post this request again so we may continue to stand with you in prayer. We will not grow weary in lifting her up, trusting that the Lord hears and answers according to His perfect will and timing.

May the peace of Christ guard your heart as you continue to seek Him. We pray all these things in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.