We hear your cry for protection and deliverance from what feels like relentless attacks from those around you in your neighborhood, among friends and family, in the workplace and even from afar, including evil tongues and every form of witchcraft, fetish and sorcery that you sense directed against you, even to the point of animals and insects being used to harass you. We understand the distress and weariness this warfare brings, and we join with you to seek the Lord's covering and justice, but we must also gently correct and redirect your prayer according to the heart of Scripture.
Our battle is real, yet it is not ultimately against people made in God's image. As it is written, For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12. The Lord acknowledges that sorcery and witchcraft are evil, 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. Deuteronomy 18:10-12, and we are right to ask God to expose and destroy the works of darkness. Yet we are not called to pray for the death of people, for their blood to be shed like an ocean, or for twelve plagues to kill them. Vengeance belongs to the Lord alone. Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19. And our Lord Jesus commands us, But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44. Even when we pray Psalm 35:1 Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me, or Psalm 94:1 Yahweh, God to whom vengeance belongs, God to whom vengeance belongs, shine out, we leave the execution of justice in His righteous hands, trusting that He desires repentance rather than destruction, for the Lord is not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
We also remember the promise that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4, and No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. Isaiah 54:17. When evil tongues rise, God will be your defender. When witchcraft is practiced, it has no authority over one who abides in Christ, for if we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us. James 4:7.
We thank you that you have called on the name of Jesus, for it is only by that name we have access to the Father and it is the name that has all authority over darkness. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
We pray together with you now.
Father in heaven, we come before Your throne in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our refuge and fortress. We thank You that You see our brother or sister in this warfare and that You are near to the brokenhearted. We ask You to cover them with Your wings, for He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-2. Let Your peace guard their heart and mind and drive out all fear, for You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7.
Lord, we ask You to rebuke and nullify every work of darkness, every curse, every spell, every fetish and every act of sorcery directed against Your child. Let every trap be broken and every evil tongue be silenced by Your truth. We do not ask for the death and bloodshed of people, but we ask that You frustrate the plans of the enemy, that You bring conviction to those who practice evil so they may repent and be saved, and that You render their witchcraft powerless and turn it to dust before You as You alone judge righteously. Protect their home, their neighborhood, their family, their workplace, and keep far from them every form of harassment and oppression. Let no pest, no scheme, no word spoken in secret prosper against them.
We put on the whole armor of God on their behalf and pray they will stand strong in faith, in the Word, in prayer and in fellowship with other believers. Lead them to forgive as You have forgiven us, to bless those who curse them, and to leave vengeance in Your hands. Let Your will be done, let Your kingdom come in this situation, and let Your name be glorified as You deliver and restore. We trust You as the righteous Judge and the faithful Shepherd who will never leave nor forsake Your own.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.