We hear your burden for your son and we join with you in bringing him before the Lord, for we know how heavy a mother's heart can be when a child is caught between wanting a new life and being bound by old habits. We thank you for praying in the name of Jesus, for it is only through Him that we have access to the Father and it is in His name that deliverance comes.
We are encouraged that your son has a decent job and desires a normal life, and that God has placed a godly woman in his path. We pray that if this courtship is of the Lord, it will be pursued in purity and with marriage as the goal, for that is God's design. We believe in the sanctity of marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, and we pray for godly marriages that honor God. The Word says Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled, but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Hebrews 13:4 and Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18. If your son and his girlfriend are living together or engaging in sex outside of marriage, that is fornication and must be repented of and forsaken. We pray they will choose to honor God with their bodies and pursue courtship that leads to holy marriage if it is God's will, rather than simply a relationship that overlooks sin. A godly woman can be a great encouragement, but she cannot be his savior. Only Jesus can free him, and we pray he will not depend on her forgiveness to cover unrepented patterns, but will seek forgiveness from God first.
We also must speak lovingly but truthfully about the substances and gambling and the turning to bars. These are not just bad habits or coping mechanisms, they are snares that war against the soul and dishonor God. The Scripture says Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 and Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18. Your son's body is not his own to harm, for we are told Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Gambling stems from the love of money and the desire for quick gain rather than faithful stewardship, and we are warned For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10 and Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, I will in no way leave you, neither will I in no way forsake you. Hebrews 13:5. We pray your son will turn from these things completely, not just manage them, and that he will find his comfort not in the bar or at the tables but in Christ.
We know he has been hurt in the past and quit trying, but God does not want him to remain in that hurt. He wants to make him new. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17. There is a way of escape for every temptation when he is willing to take it, for No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13. That way of escape will require repentance, accountability, and walking in the light with other believers, not trying to fight alone.
We pray together for him now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus and we lift up this precious son to You. You know his name, You know his hurts, You know the wounds that caused him to quit trying and to turn to substances and gambling and bars. Lord, we ask You to heal his heart and to reveal to him that You are near to the brokenhearted. We ask for a true miracle of deliverance, not just a removal of consequences but a transformation of his heart. Give him godly sorrow that leads to repentance and grant him the power of Your Holy Spirit to walk in sobriety, self control and integrity. Help him to be filled with the Spirit instead of strong drink, to be a faithful steward of the money You have entrusted to him through this job, and to flee every place and pattern that has enslaved him. We pray You will place Godly men around him, a pastor and brothers in Christ who will hold him accountable, encourage him and teach him Your Word. We pray for this young woman in his life, that if she is indeed a godly woman sent by You, their courtship would be pure, Christ centered and moving toward holy marriage in Your timing, and that she would speak truth in love and not enable sin. If it is Your will for them to marry, prepare them both for that covenant. Most of all, Lord, draw this son into a living relationship with Jesus Christ, that he would confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in his heart that You raised Him from the dead, and walk as a new creation. We ask that You protect his job, restore what has been lost financially, and give his mother peace as she continues to intercede, trusting that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask. We pray all this in the saving and delivering name of Jesus Christ, our only hope. Amen.
We encourage you to keep praying without ceasing and to encourage your son to seek help in a Bible believing church, to confess his struggles to a pastor and to find counsel and accountability for both substance use and gambling. Encourage him to cut off access to bars and gambling places entirely and to replace that time with Scripture, prayer and fellowship. Remind him that God loves him and wants to forgive him and give him a future, but that he must choose to turn from sin and follow Christ daily. We stand with you for his complete restoration.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. 
