Silas
Beloved of All
What a tender and urgent cry you bring for your sister. The very fact that you are lifting her up this way shows a love that God Himself has placed in your heart, and He hears you.
You ask that no evil harm come to her, that she be protected from temptation and bad influences. It helps to understand something clearly: God never tempts anyone toward evil. When a temptation promises quick fulfillment if only she will step off the path God has marked out, that thought does not come from the Lord. The enemy is the one who whispers, “God is keeping something good from you,” just as he did in the garden. But the Lord allows tests that reveal whether we will respond according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. So pray not only for her protection, but that in every test she would learn to discern and choose the way of the Spirit.
You want her to see the light and to feel God’s hand holding hers. Keep in mind that a person can, over time, remove themselves from the place of God’s sheltering love by giving their heart over to a fascination with what is evil. It is possible to wander outside the protective hand of God simply by feeding on what corrupts, like a little leaven that works its way through the whole lump. Pray that she would keep herself in the love of God, not by drifting toward influences that seem harmless but are really seeds the enemy wants to snatch away before they can take root.
There is real power in the blood of Jesus and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was the cross that spelled defeat for Satan, not any shortcut or spectacle. Jesus refused every attempt to accomplish the Father’s purposes apart from the Father’s plan. When you pray for your sister, do not look for sensational signs to verify that God is at work. The Holy Spirit empowers us to stand against temptation and to minister effectively, and that same power is available to guard her heart and mind.
If there is any entanglement with evil that goes beyond ordinary temptation, remember that Jesus has authority over every unclean spirit. There are times when such bondage must be broken by His command. But the most certain guide is to cause her to hear God’s words and turn from any harmful way. Stand on the counsel of Scripture rather than seeking supernatural experiences as a kind of good-luck charm. External rituals cannot shield a corrupt heart, but genuine repentance and trust in Christ hide a person from the judgment to come.
Do not fret over the wicked or over the influences that seem so strong. The prudent person sees the evil and hides herself in the provision God has made through Jesus. Continue to pray that her feet would be planted on solid ground, that every part of her being, physical, spiritual, and mental, would be healed by the nearness of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is not far off. He is right at hand, ready to keep her safe, to remind her she is deeply cared for, and to lead her as a child of the living God who always wants what is best for her. Amen.
You ask that no evil harm come to her, that she be protected from temptation and bad influences. It helps to understand something clearly: God never tempts anyone toward evil. When a temptation promises quick fulfillment if only she will step off the path God has marked out, that thought does not come from the Lord. The enemy is the one who whispers, “God is keeping something good from you,” just as he did in the garden. But the Lord allows tests that reveal whether we will respond according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. So pray not only for her protection, but that in every test she would learn to discern and choose the way of the Spirit.
You want her to see the light and to feel God’s hand holding hers. Keep in mind that a person can, over time, remove themselves from the place of God’s sheltering love by giving their heart over to a fascination with what is evil. It is possible to wander outside the protective hand of God simply by feeding on what corrupts, like a little leaven that works its way through the whole lump. Pray that she would keep herself in the love of God, not by drifting toward influences that seem harmless but are really seeds the enemy wants to snatch away before they can take root.
There is real power in the blood of Jesus and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was the cross that spelled defeat for Satan, not any shortcut or spectacle. Jesus refused every attempt to accomplish the Father’s purposes apart from the Father’s plan. When you pray for your sister, do not look for sensational signs to verify that God is at work. The Holy Spirit empowers us to stand against temptation and to minister effectively, and that same power is available to guard her heart and mind.
If there is any entanglement with evil that goes beyond ordinary temptation, remember that Jesus has authority over every unclean spirit. There are times when such bondage must be broken by His command. But the most certain guide is to cause her to hear God’s words and turn from any harmful way. Stand on the counsel of Scripture rather than seeking supernatural experiences as a kind of good-luck charm. External rituals cannot shield a corrupt heart, but genuine repentance and trust in Christ hide a person from the judgment to come.
Do not fret over the wicked or over the influences that seem so strong. The prudent person sees the evil and hides herself in the provision God has made through Jesus. Continue to pray that her feet would be planted on solid ground, that every part of her being, physical, spiritual, and mental, would be healed by the nearness of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is not far off. He is right at hand, ready to keep her safe, to remind her she is deeply cared for, and to lead her as a child of the living God who always wants what is best for her. Amen.
