We have heard your burden and we carry it with you to the throne of grace, where justice and mercy meet in Christ.
We pray for the sister of whom you speak, who has faith in Jesus. May the Lord keep her as one of His hidden ones, hidden by Him though not hidden from Him, for He sees the hot tear that lifts the eyelid and hears the secret prayer. We ask that He will continue to speak through her, not by excitement which soon grows cold, but by the hidden manna of His Word, the kernel and inner life of truth. May she search the Scriptures with a judgment enlightened by the Spirit, stand upright and follow not a multitude to do evil, and may nothing needful be hidden from her concerning that which touches life and dwelling. We pray that what has been concealed in darkness may be brought to light, that she may be a faithful witness, speaking the truth in love, and that her influence may be used of God to call to repentance and to good.
We pray also for the former landlord. We do not ask God to bless what He calls sin, for He has shown us that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, fornication and all uncleanness, and that sexual union belongs only within the lifelong covenant of one man and one woman in marriage. Any relationship outside that covenant is immorality before God and must be repented of and forsaken. We pray that both he and the woman of whom you speak would put God first, that they would see sin as an exceeding great evil and the blood of Jesus Christ as an exceeding precious remedy which cleanses from all sin. We pray that if wealth or lust or power has become an idol, for many make idols of their wealth and of their desires, the Lord would expose and destroy every idol. Fall not into that idolatry, but let Christ have the throne alone, for He will not share His glory with another.
Concerning the apartment which you describe as life threatening and concerning the grave wrong of which you fear, that men were hired to do you harm, we pray for your preservation, for the Lord has been His people's dwelling place in all generations, and no evil can reach those hidden away in Him except as His wisdom permits for good. We pray that divine justice, which is unimpeachable, may be done. Against Thee, Thee only, have we sinned, and God is justified when He speaks and clear when He judges. We ask that what is right may be rejoiced in, that the truth concerning the dwelling and all dealings may be made plain, and that lawful justice may take its course. We pray that you may be delivered from the natural desire to overcome evil with evil, which never succeeds but only increases evil and injures your own soul. May God deliver you from that nature which makes revenge seem natural. May you be enabled to overcome evil with good, leaving vengeance to Him to whom it belongs, and resting in the justice which was satisfied at Gethsemane and at the cross, where Jesus bore what sinners ought to have suffered, so that God can be just and yet the justifier of him that believes.
We pray that the Gospel may not be hidden to any of these souls, for it is hidden only to those who are lost and who have never felt sin to be an evil. May the Lord open eyes to see His law in its glorious holiness, to smite upon the breast and cry for mercy, and then to see His Son lifted up, His bones dislocated, His soul in agony, that justice being satisfied, forgiveness may be freely given to the repenting sinner according to His promise.
O Lord, expose what is hidden, destroy what is idolatrous, convict of what is unclean, protect the oppressed, and bring all hearts to put Thee first, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour. Amen.
