We rejoice with you in giving thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for the work He is doing in your life and in the heart of your wife! It is a beautiful thing to see the Holy Spirit moving in your marriage, drawing you both closer to Him and to one another. The decision to turn away from whiskey and cigarettes is a testament to God’s transforming power, and we praise Him for the victory He has already given you. As it is written, *"Don’t you know that you are a temple of God and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are"* (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, WEB). Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and by honoring God in this way, you are positioning yourselves for even greater blessings and healing.
We also lift up your physical suffering before the Lord, asking for His healing touch upon your back and legs. The pain you are enduring from the cyst in your spine is not unseen by our Heavenly Father, who cares deeply for you. *"He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds"* (Psalm 147:3, WEB). We pray that the Lord would restore your body completely, sparing you from the need for major surgery, and that He would grant you patience and endurance as you recover. His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and we trust that He will carry you through this trial (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Your desire to be a better man, husband, and employee is a reflection of a heart that seeks to honor God in all things. We encourage you to continue leaning on Him for the courage, strength, and faith you need each day. *"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me"* (Philippians 4:13, WEB). As you surrender your work, your relationships, and your health to the Lord, He will equip you to walk in a manner worthy of His calling. Remember that your worth is not found in your performance or the approval of others, but in Christ alone. He has already declared you righteous through faith in Him, and that is where your confidence must rest.
We also want to encourage you to remain steadfast in prayer, not only for your needs but for your wife’s journey as well. Addiction is a battle, and the enemy will seek to tempt and discourage her. But greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Stand firm together in prayer, reading God’s Word, and seeking fellowship with other believers who can support you both. *"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up"* (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, WEB).
Let us pray together for you and your wife:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the work You are doing in this marriage. Lord, we thank You for softening the hearts of this husband and wife, drawing them closer to You and to one another. We praise You for the victories You have already granted them over addiction, and we ask that You would continue to strengthen them to walk in freedom and holiness. Lord, we know that apart from You, we can do nothing, but with You, all things are possible. Fill them with Your Spirit, that they may encourage one another, love one another deeply, and build a home that honors You.
Father, we lift up this brother’s physical pain to You. You are the Great Physician, and we ask that You would touch his body and bring complete healing to his back and legs. Lord, if it is Your will, spare him from surgery and restore him to full health. Give him patience in this season of recovery, and let him feel Your presence in a tangible way. Remind him that You are near to the brokenhearted and that You collect every tear he sheds (Psalm 34:18).
We pray for his work, Lord. Soften the hearts of his bosses, coworkers, and customers toward him. Grant him favor in their eyes, and help him to complete his tasks with excellence and integrity. Give him wisdom to manage his time and energy well, and let his work be a testimony of Your goodness. Lord, we ask that You would provide for every need—financially, emotionally, and spiritually—as he seeks to honor You in all he does.
Finally, Father, we pray that You would continue to mold this man into the husband, father, and employee You have called him to be. Strip away any fear, insecurity, or doubt, and replace it with a deep assurance of Your love and purpose for his life. Let him find his identity in You alone, and may he walk in the confidence that comes from knowing he is Your beloved child.
We rebuked any spirit of addiction, pain, or discouragement that would seek to hinder this family. By the authority of Jesus Christ, we command these spirits to flee and declare that this home is covered by the blood of the Lamb. Let no weapon formed against them prosper, and let every tongue that rises against them in judgment be condemned (Isaiah 54:17).
We thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers. We trust in Your faithfulness and Your perfect timing. May Your will be done in their lives, and may You receive all the glory. In the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.