Unpaid police penalty by the former landlord

[Kensem]

Please pray for the former landlord in Jesus' name so that he feels remorse and resolves the issue with the police, both here and abroad, where the penalty is overdue/unpaid.

 

[Articles]

We join with you in bringing this matter before the Lord and we appreciate that you have asked in Jesus' name, for there is power and access to the Father only through Him, as it is written, There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus 1 Timothy 2:5 and In no other is there salvation, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12.

We understand your concern about this unpaid penalty owed by your former landlord both here and abroad and your desire not for revenge but for his remorse and for the matter to be made right with the authorities. This is a godly desire, to see justice done and repentance take place rather than punishment alone.

Scripture is clear that we are to respect and submit to governing authorities, for they are appointed by God for our good and to restrain wrongdoing. Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God Romans 13:1 and he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain Romans 13:4. To leave a penalty unpaid and overdue is to fail to give what is due, and the word says Give therefore to everyone what you owe Romans 13:7 and Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it Proverbs 3:27. It also says The wicked borrow, and do not pay back Psalm 37:21, which shows how seriously God views unpaid debts and obligations.

We also hear your heart that he would feel remorse. We pray that this would be godly sorrow that leads to true repentance, for Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation 2 Corinthians 7:10. Our desire is not that he would simply feel shame or fear of consequences, but that his heart would be softened to take responsibility and make restitution, like Zacchaeus who said, If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much Luke 19:8.

We pray together for him and for you.

Father, in Jesus' name we lift up this former landlord to You. You know his heart, his circumstances both here and abroad, and the penalty that remains unpaid. We ask that You would convict him by Your Holy Spirit, grant him godly sorrow and remorse for neglecting what he owes to the authorities You have ordained, and move him to act with honesty and integrity to resolve this matter fully. Give him courage and willingness to face what he has avoided and to make restitution without further delay. We pray that You would protect him from further legal trouble and that Your mercy would lead him to repentance, for You have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live Ezekiel 33:11. We also pray for the one who submitted this request, that You would guard their heart from bitterness or anxiety, help them to trust Your justice and to continue to love their neighbor and pray for those who have caused difficulty, as You command us to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44. Grant peace, patience, and wisdom to all involved, and let Your will be done and Your name be glorified through a just and righteous resolution. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

We encourage you to continue to commit this to the Lord and not to carry the burden of vengeance, for Vengeance belongs to me says the Lord Romans 12:19, while also not enabling wrongdoing. Continue to pray for him as you have, that God would work in his conscience, and trust that the Lord sees what is owed and will bring conviction in His perfect timing.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how heavy this has been to carry, watching an unpaid penalty involving the police remain unresolved and feeling unable to move it forward yourself. When someone else's responsibility affects your peace of mind and even your name or address history, it can leave you feeling stuck between wanting justice done and wanting to let go of the frustration.

We are joining you in praying for your former landlord, that God would work on his conscience and give him the willingness to take responsibility and make things right where he needs to, both here and abroad. True remorse shows itself in action, and we pray he will take the clear, honest steps to resolve what is overdue with the authorities.

For you, it can help to keep a simple record of any communication you have had and what you have already done to address this, so you are not carrying the details in your head alone. If you are at all worried that the unpaid matter could be connected to you, it may bring peace of mind to get clarity from a trusted local advisor about where you stand, alongside continuing to entrust this to the Lord.

Father, we lift up this landlord to You and ask that You would stir his heart toward honesty and responsibility, and give him courage to settle what is owed with the police in both places. We ask for protection and peace for our friend who is waiting, and for wisdom to know what is theirs to do and what to leave in Your hands. Guide this whole situation toward what is right and good. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Windwold]

Praying for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

We have heard your request and we join you in bringing this former landlord before the throne of grace, praying in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom alone there is remission of sins.

We do not pray for a mere carnal repentance that comes only from fear of judgment or from the pressure of a penalty. Such repentance is of the flesh and will not stand. We pray instead that God, in His mercy, would grant him that true repentance which is the work of the Holy Spirit, a repentance unto life. That is a repentance which gives God glory, which acknowledges the justice of God even when it condemns us, and which sees sin as truly sinful and deserving of judgment.

We pray that the goodness of God would lead him to repentance, not merely that he would be driven as a fugitive by fear of the police, but that he would be drawn by a sight of God's holiness and goodness to a sincere sorrow for what is wrong. May he be given a repentance that looks out of self to Christ and to Christ only, believing that where there is true repentance there is also full and free forgiveness through the blood of Christ, who has satisfied justice for all who trust in Him.

And we pray that if God grants such repentance, it would be practical and lasting, yielding works meet for repentance. As it has been truly said, Repentance is to leave the sins we loved before, and show that we in earnest grieve by doing so no more. So we ask the Lord to work in him a willingness to do what is right and to resolve what is overdue, to make restoration where it is due and to submit to the just penalty both here and abroad, as one who now seeks to walk honestly before God and man.

We remember also that God is the great Landlord and we are but tenants in His house, and we all must give account for the rent of obedience and honesty. May this man be led to offer his heart to that great Landlord and to live henceforth as one who acknowledges that he lives on sufferance by grace.

We pray that the Lord would stir his conscience, grant him godly sorrow that needs not to be repented of, and bring this matter to a just and peaceable resolution. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who alone can give both repentance and remission of sins. Amen.