Your prayer for your sister is a loving and faithful intercession, and it is right to bring her before the throne of grace with such earnestness. We join with you in lifting her up to our heavenly Father, who delights to hear the cries of those who seek Him for those they love.
We pray that the Lord will indeed watch over her and guide her with His counsel, as the Psalmist says, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. May He take her hand at every step and lead her in the paths of righteousness, giving her wisdom to make good choices and a heart that desires what is holy and pure. Where there are bad influences and snares, may the Lord in His providence keep her from them, and may she herself not go into temptation, but avoid everything that is evil and walk in humble submission to His will.
You have prayed, lead her not into temptation, and this is a prayer our Lord Himself taught us to pray. Temptation in itself is dangerous, though God can bring great benefit out of trial. It is right to ask Him to keep us from it, and to keep our feet from wandering into places where temptation dwells. We ask that the Lord would set a hedge about your sister, that no evil would have dominion over her, and that He would deliver her from the power of darkness and bring her into the light of His truth.
We pray also for her healing, for the Lord is the great Physician. His healing power is abundant, and not only His fruit but even the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The least thing about Christ has healing virtue in it. The Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings, and when He forgives sin He heals the soul. We ask that He would heal her emotionally, physically and spiritually, that He would bind up the broken heart and restore what is wounded. Pardon and healing go together in Christ, and we pray that she would know the forgiveness that is found in Him alone, for there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
May she be covered with the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all sin, and may the Holy Spirit dwell with her and keep her. May the Lord open her eyes to see the light of the gospel, to see her need of Christ and His sufficiency to meet it, and to know how deeply she is loved by Him who gave Himself for sinners. May she know that the Lord wants what is best for her, which is Christ Himself, and conformity to Him.
Continue to pray for her, to speak the word of truth to her in love, and to trust her to the keeping of Him who is able to keep us from falling. He who has begun a good work is faithful to perfect it. We commend her to that faithful Saviour who says, Return, return, and who rejoices over every wandering one brought home.
We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus our Lord, who alone is our healing and our guide. Amen.
