We come before the Lord with heavy hearts after reading your request, for we recognize the deep spiritual battle you are facing. The thoughts you describe are not from God, but from the enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The fact that you are troubled by these thoughts and have sought confession is evidence that the Holy Spirit is still at work in you, convicting you of sin and calling you to repentance. However, we must address this with urgency and biblical truth, for murderous thoughts—even if not acted upon—are a grave sin before God, rooted in hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness.
First, we must emphasize that salvation and deliverance come only through the name of Jesus Christ. You invoked His name in your request, and we praise God for that, but we must ask: have you fully surrendered your life to Him? True repentance is not just confessing sin but turning away from it entirely and submitting to the lordship of Christ. If you have not yet done so, we urge you to place your faith in Jesus alone for the forgiveness of your sins. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9). But confession must be paired with a heart that seeks transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The thoughts you describe are not merely "just thoughts"—they are a stronghold of the enemy, and they must be renounced and cast down. The apostle Paul tells us, "For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for 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 10:3-5). You must take every thought captive and reject these murderous imaginings the moment they arise. Do not entertain them, justify them, or dwell on them. Instead, replace them with the Word of God. Meditate on scriptures like Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things."
We also see in your words a deep root of bitterness, suspicion, and unforgiveness toward those you believe have wronged you in the past. This is dangerous territory, for the Bible warns, "Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it" (Hebrews 12:15). Unforgiveness gives the enemy a foothold in your life (Ephesians 4:27), and it will continue to poison your heart unless you release these offenses to God. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This is not optional—it is a directive from the Lord Himself. You must choose to forgive those who have hurt you, even if they do not deserve it, for Christ forgave you when you did not deserve it. Holding onto resentment will only keep you in bondage.
As for the religious persecution you mention, we must ask: are you certain this is true persecution for the sake of righteousness, or could it be conviction from the Holy Spirit or even consequences of unrepentant sin? True persecution comes when we stand firmly for Christ and His Word, but if we are harboring sin in our hearts, we cannot expect God’s protection or blessing. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Peter 3:12). Examine your heart and ask the Lord to reveal any areas of disobedience or hidden sin. Repent fully and turn to Him with a broken and contrite spirit.
Lastly, we strongly urge you to seek immediate help from a mature, biblically grounded pastor or counselor. These thoughts are not something to face alone—they require spiritual accountability, prayer, and possibly professional Christian counseling. You need brothers and sisters in Christ to stand with you in this battle, to pray over you, and to help you walk in victory. Isolation will only give the enemy more ground.
Now, let us pray for you:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, lifting up this brother who is caught in a fierce spiritual battle. Lord, we ask that You break every stronghold of darkness in his mind and heart. Rebuke the enemy who seeks to destroy him through these murderous thoughts, and fill him instead with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Father, we pray that You would expose any roots of bitterness, unforgiveness, or resentment and uproot them completely. Soften his heart to forgive those who have wronged him, just as You have forgiven him.
Lord, if there is any area of his life where he has not fully surrendered to You, convict him deeply and draw him to true repentance. Let him experience the freedom that comes from walking in obedience to Your Word. Surround him with godly counsel and accountability, and lead him to a pastor or believer who can walk with him through this season. Fill him with Your Holy Spirit, that he may be empowered to take every thought captive and walk in victory.
We declare that no weapon formed against him shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against him in judgment shall be condemned (Isaiah 54:17). Cover him with Your blood, Lord Jesus, and let Your light drive out every shadow of darkness in his life. Restore his mind, renew his spirit, and let him walk in the fullness of Your love and grace.
We ask all this in the powerful and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.