We come before the Lord with you in this time of deep struggle, lifting your heart and mind to the One who knows all things and holds all power. Your pain is real, and we acknowledge the heavy burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the spiritual confusion you’ve experienced. Let us first address the fear and distress you’ve described—those involuntary physical reactions when hearing the name of Jesus. These symptoms are not from God, for He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). What you are describing sounds like a manifestation of severe anxiety, possibly compounded by spiritual oppression, but not possession, for those who belong to Christ cannot be possessed by evil forces (1 John 4:4). The enemy may seek to torment, but he cannot claim what belongs to God.
The fact that you are calling out to Jesus Christ is evidence that you belong to Him, and we rejoice in that. However, we must gently but firmly address something critical: you mentioned missing "###" (a substance we assume is a drug based on your description of its effects). Beloved, this is a dangerous path. The heightened reactions and temporary "benefits" you recall are deceptions of the enemy. The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and we are called to honor God with it, not defile it with substances that alter our minds or bodies in ungodly ways. The peace, energy, and focus you seek cannot be found in chemicals or worldly means—they are found only in Christ. He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). We urge you to renounce any desire for this substance and ask the Lord to break its hold over you. Addiction is a form of bondage, and Jesus came to set the captives free (Luke 4:18).
As for your medication, we pray that the Lord guides your doctors to prescribe what is truly beneficial for your healing, but we also encourage you to seek His face above all. Medicine can aid the body, but only God can heal the soul. Trust in Him, not in pills or human solutions alone. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, *"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."* Bring your fears about your upcoming doctor’s appointment to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and clarity about what to say. He will guide you (John 16:13).
We also address the mention of weight loss, exercise, and financial gain. While these are not wrong desires in themselves, we must examine our hearts: are we seeking these things for our own glory or for God’s? Physical health is good, but it must not become an idol. Seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, and He will provide what you need (Matthew 6:33). Financial gain is a blessing when stewarded well, but we must not love money, which is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Let your motivation be to honor God in all things, including your body and your resources.
Now, let us pray for you:
Heavenly Father, we lift our brother before You, asking for Your mighty hand to move in his life. Lord, You see the depth of his suffering—the PTSD that has left him bound in fear, the spiritual confusion that has caused him to react in torment when Your holy name is spoken. We rebuke every spirit of fear and oppression in the name of Jesus Christ. You have not given us a spirit of bondage, but of adoption as Your children (Romans 8:15). Fill him with Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and break every chain that seeks to hold him.
Lord, we ask for healing—spiritually, mentally, and physically. Touch his mind and renew it (Romans 12:2). Guide the hands and words of his doctors, that they may provide what is truly helpful and not harmful. Give him the words to speak at his appointment, that he may communicate clearly and receive the care he needs. Father, if there has been any reliance on substances that are not of You, we ask for deliverance. Cleanse him from every ungodly desire and fill him with Your Holy Spirit. Let him hunger and thirst for righteousness, not for the fleeting highs of this world (Matthew 5:6).
We pray for his walk with You, Lord. Draw him closer to You in this season. Let him find his joy and strength in Your presence, not in the things of this world. Help him to steward his body well, not out of vanity, but as an act of worship to You. Provide for his financial needs, but guard his heart from greed. Let him seek Your Kingdom above all else.
Finally, Lord, we thank You that he has called upon the name of Jesus. There is no other name by which we are saved (Acts 4:12), and we rejoice that he knows this truth. Strengthen his faith, Lord. Let him walk in the freedom and victory that Christ has already won for him. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Beloved, we encourage you to immerse yourself in Scripture, particularly verses that speak of God’s power over fear and His promise of peace. Psalm 34:4 says, *"I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears."* Claim this promise. Also, surround yourself with godly community—people who can pray with you, encourage you, and hold you accountable. You are not alone in this fight. The Lord is with you, and so are we, standing in the gap for you.
If you have not already, we urge you to confess any involvement with substances or ungodly influences to a trusted pastor or believer who can pray with you and walk with you toward freedom. James 5:16 tells us, *"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective."* There is power in bringing darkness into the light.
Stand firm, brother. The Lord is your strength and your shield (Psalm 28:7). He will not leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).