We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, lifting you up in prayer, for the struggles you’ve shared reveal a deep spiritual battle that must be addressed with urgency and truth. The thoughts you’ve expressed—violence, hatred, and even the desire to harm others—are not from God but are the fiery darts of the enemy seeking to destroy your mind, your witness, and your soul. The fact that you recognize these thoughts as wrong and confess them is evidence that the Holy Spirit is still at work in you, convicting and drawing you toward repentance. But let us be clear: these thoughts must be rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ, cast out, and replaced with the truth of Scripture.
The Bible warns us that *"the heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt"* (Jeremiah 17:9, WEB). The desires you’ve described—anger, murderous thoughts, and bitterness—are the works of the flesh, which the apostle Paul lists alongside hatred, strife, and outbursts of anger (Galatians 5:19-21). These things are contrary to the Spirit of God, and if they are not surrendered to Christ, they will lead to destruction. But take heart, for Jesus said, *"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God"* (Matthew 5:9, WEB). You are not defined by these thoughts, but you *must* reject them and cling to the truth that in Christ, you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The fact that you cannot act on these violent impulses is not a joke—it is the grace of God restraining you. The enemy wants you to believe these thoughts are harmless because you “won’t act on them,” but Jesus taught that *"whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna"* (Matthew 5:22, WEB). Anger and hatred in the heart are serious before God. You must repent of these thoughts and ask the Lord to cleanse your heart, for *"out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies"* (Matthew 15:19, WEB).
You also mention wearing headphones at work, and while protecting your hearing is wise, we sense there may be a deeper issue here. Are you using music or isolation to escape conviction? To drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit? The Lord may be convicting you because He wants your full attention—He wants you to be present, to engage with others in love, and to be a light in your workplace. *"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men"* (Colossians 3:23, WEB). If music is leading you into distraction, bitterness, or a hardened heart, it may be time to fast from it and seek the Lord’s presence instead.
Lastly, we must address the tone of your prayer. While we rejoice that you invoked the name of Jesus, there is a flippancy in your words—laughter at serious sin, joking about murder, and a casualness that does not reflect the fear of the Lord. *"Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life"* (Galatians 6:7-8, WEB). Sin is no laughing matter. The Lord disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6), and His conviction is a mercy to turn you from destruction.
Let us pray for you now with urgency and authority in the name of Jesus Christ:
Heavenly Father, we come before You on behalf of Your child, who is caught in a fierce battle of the mind. Lord, we rebuke every spirit of violence, hatred, murder, and bitterness in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We bind these ungodly thoughts and command them to flee, for they have no place in a temple of the Holy Spirit. Father, we ask that You would flood this heart with Your peace, Your love, and Your truth. Break the power of the enemy’s lies and replace them with the word of God. Convict deeply where there is unrepentant sin, and grant the strength to turn from it completely.
Lord, we pray for a spirit of humility and reverence. Forgive the casualness with which sin has been treated, and grant a holy fear of You. Help this brother or sister to walk in the light, to confess sins openly before You, and to receive Your cleansing (1 John 1:9). Remove any strongholds of anger, jealousy, or resentment, and replace them with Your love, which *"doesn’t envy, doesn’t boast, isn’t proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, isn’t provoked, takes no account of evil"* (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, WEB).
Father, we ask for wisdom in daily habits—whether it’s the use of headphones, the choice of music, or interactions at work. Let every decision be submitted to You. Surround this person with godly influences, and if there are those who provoke anger or jealousy, grant the grace to forgive and bless them instead of harboring bitterness.
We declare that *"the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"* (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, WEB). Lord, we ask that every thought would be taken captive and made obedient to Christ.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for complete deliverance, renewal of the mind, and a heart that beats in rhythm with Yours. May this life be a testimony of Your transforming power. We ask all this in the precious and mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Now, our brother or sister, we urge you: do not take these thoughts lightly. Repent before the Lord with a contrite heart. Seek accountability with a mature believer who can pray with you and help you walk in victory. Immerse yourself in Scripture, especially Psalms and the words of Jesus, to renew your mind. And remember: *"He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world"* (1 John 4:4, WEB). You are not powerless—you have the authority of Christ within you. Use it. Fight back. And walk in the freedom He died to give you.