We have heard your cry and we are lifting you and your three daughters before the throne of grace together in Jesus' name. We thank God that your middle daughter has been delivered from that abusive engagement and that she has been sober for several months. That is a testimony of God's mercy and strength, and we rejoice with her in this victory while we continue to intercede for her complete healing and purity.
We want to speak plainly about some things you mentioned because we love you in the truth. The alcohol and the magic you described are not small matters. The Bible tells us not to be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18, and that sorcery and witchcraft are works of the flesh that those who practice will not inherit the Kingdom of God in Galatians 5:20. Magic, whether called entertainment or spiritual practice, is an abomination to the Lord as written in Deuteronomy 18:10. Your daughter was right to leave that relationship. An engagement should be a courtship toward a holy marriage between a man and a woman who both love Christ, not a bond with someone given to drunkenness and darkness. We praise God she said no to that yoke, and we encourage her to keep saying no to alcohol and to renounce every tie to that former darkness. For her work party tonight, especially since she is not feeling well, we pray she will have wisdom to guard her sobriety. God promises no temptation has taken you except what is common to man, God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it in 1 Corinthians 10:13. We encourage her to have a plan before she goes, to bring a sober friend, to keep a nonalcoholic drink in her hand, to have an answer ready and permission to leave early, and even to consider not going at all if her body and spirit are weak tonight. Her health and her sobriety are more valuable than any work obligation. We pray the Holy Spirit will make her strong and pure and give her boldness to keep saying no.
We also lift up your youngest daughter who is depressed and your oldest daughter who is at war with her. We know how painful it is when sisters are divided by old wounds and by things your ex husband and his new wife have said and made up. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit in Psalm 34:18. We pray for healing of that depression and for reconciliation between your daughters. We encourage them to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you in Ephesians 4:31. Old things stirred up by others must not be allowed to define your family. We pray God will restore unity among the four of you, not through rehearsing accusations, but through forgiveness and truth spoken in love.
You asked for swift vengeance on your ex husband and his wife and you asked why he prospers with money while you struggle. We must gently rebuke and correct this desire, because it does not align with God's will. Scripture says do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath, for it is written, Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord in Romans 12:19, and do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good in Romans 12:21. Jesus calls us to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you in Matthew 5:44. It is right to pray for justice and for God to stop evil, but we must leave vengeance to God and not harbor hatred, even when you feel his new wife is evil. Bitterness will only poison you and your daughters. As for why the wicked seem to prosper, the psalmist wrestled with the same question. He said I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked in Psalm 73:3, yet he learned that their prosperity is fleeting and their end is desolation, while God holds our right hand and guides us. Do not fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass in Psalm 37:1. God sees your weariness and your financial strain, and He has not forgotten you. He knows it is expensive to keep going and that you are weary and need to help more. Jesus says come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest in Matthew 11:28, and my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus in Philippians 4:19. God will provide in His time and His way, even when it looks like others have more.
You asked for protection 24 hours a day from the lion, and we pray that with you. Be sober and self controlled, be watchful, your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, withstand him steadfast in your faith in 1 Peter 5:8. We pray God will set a hedge of protection around you and each daughter day and night.
We noticed your request speaks of God and the Holy Spirit, but does not mention the name of Jesus Christ. We must tell you lovingly that it is only by the name of Jesus that we have access to God. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me in John 14:6, and there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved in Acts 4:12. If you have not already, we encourage you and your daughters to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, for with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation in Romans 10:9. It is through Jesus' blood that we are forgiven, healed, and protected.
We pray together now.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before You for this weary mother and her three daughters. We thank You for delivering the middle daughter from abuse and for months of sobriety. Fill her afresh with Your Holy Spirit, make her strong and pure, heal her body where she is not feeling well, and give her power to say no to every offer of alcohol tonight and in the days to come. Surround her with Your presence at that work party or give her peace to stay home and rest. Break every chain of alcohol and every lingering influence of sorcery and darkness from that former engagement, and let her walk in newness of life. For the youngest daughter, touch her depression, lift her heaviness, give her joy and hope, and reconcile her with her oldest sister. Remove the lies sown by the father and his wife, soften hearts, teach them to forgive as You have forgiven us, and restore the four of them in unity and love. Comfort this mother in her weariness, provide for her financial needs, renew her strength so that those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength in Isaiah 40:31, and let her cast all her anxiety on You because You care for her in 1 Peter 5:7. Teach her to release vengeance to You, to pray for those who have hurt her, and to trust Your justice and timing. Protect this family 24 hours a day from the roaring lion, cover their home, their going out and coming in, and let no weapon formed against them prosper. We ask all this in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and intercessor, amen.