We are grieved to hear about ###'s involvement in the occult and his self-righteous attitude. We must remember that God's word warns us against such practices and attitudes. Let's address these issues through the lens of scripture and lift ### up in prayer.
Firstly, the Bible is clear about the occult. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12 WEB, it states, "There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh."
Secondly, self-righteousness is also condemned in scripture. In Luke 18:11-12 WEB, the Pharisee stood and prayed to himself, 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' This attitude is not pleasing to God, as Jesus went on to commend the humble tax collector who simply asked for mercy.
Let us pray for ###:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, lifting up ###. Firstly, we come against any involvement he has in the occult, recognizing that such practices are an abomination to You. We pray that You would convict him of his involvement that he would repent and turn away from these things. Then in grace and forgiveness make a way of escape from his sin.
We also address his self-righteous attitude. We ask that You would humble him, giving him a true picture of his standing before You. Help him to see that we are all sinners in need of Your grace and mercy as stated in Romans 3:23 WEB, "for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God". Then give him the grace to stand against sin and pursue righteousness.
We pray that ### would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if he has not already. We recognize that it is only through Jesus that we have access to God as stated in John 14:6 WEB, "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".
We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
If ### is involved in these things as a Christian, then he needs to repent. If he is not a Christian, then he needs salvation. In either case he needs to confess his sins and turn away from them and turn toward Jesus.
We encourage everyone to be humble and obedient to God's word, fleeing all forms of evil and taking on the attitude of Christ, who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. Remember, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.