Let us, before we speak to our Lord on ###'s behalf, align with God's promises, remember the Austrian believers imprisoned and tortured by Rome for their faith in the first century. Seeing great trouble, noting that trouble is common to man:
**1 Peter 5:8-11 WEB**
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, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.
**Romans 12:17-21 WEB**
Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's When someone has wronged you, you may try try to get even by hurting or punishing. When you do this, you are taking control and authority over someone else. In some such cases, the Apostle Paul is teaching that we must not do that but instead leave room for God to punish them in His timing. wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord." Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head." Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Oh Lord, You promise that even though we may suffer for a time under injustice and cruelty, You will restore, strengthen, and establish those who remain faithful in Christ Jesus. You have warned us of the enemy of our souls who seeks to entice us to evil, to destroy families, and who turns even the innocent into weapons of hatred, confusion, and anger against one another.
Abusive and evil behaviors are learned from the abusers. The incredibleness of this cycle is that the abusers are so self absorbed and consumed with themselves they do not seem to change or learn from what they are doing. Those who cause such harm to others as the abusers referenced in this request have forgotten God or are ignoring Him. They do not fear God, and avoid righteousness and goodness. The fact that God hears all things, knows all things, and we will all stand before Christ does not seem to be regarding by those who abuse others. The Lord views marriage and the raising of children as holy. Many seem not to be following God in spirit and in truth in taking care of their family in following the biblical family model, fully loving one another as Christ loved us and gave His life for us.
More specifically Lord Jesus, we pray for miracles in the life of ### to bring an end to the terrible distress stemming from family abuse. Lighten their burden of drama caused by abuse done to, and by their children, through others in the family. Even though these are horrible injustices, God has a purpose, and we are promised in Holy Scripture You restore.
Let us also pray to the Father, that He would open hearts to restore families that have been torn apart. Breaking the cycle of internal family abuse against each other is a spiritual stronghold. God, we are asking you to overcome this evil with good and cause that to happen. As our brother, the Apostle Paul, taught us: do not seek to punish the abusers ourselves, but leave the punishment to God the Father. The only way it seems for some generations of families who have cycle after cycle of abuse in family relationships is that it is finally broken by a family member who pursues justice and righteousness in Christ Jesus. Lord we pray in faith that there will be a spiritual renewal and a faithfulness to the Spirit's guidance in this family. Be a mother, father, protector, and shield to all the children in this family and to ###. Increase their faith, our faith, and may they and us all overcome evil with good, Amen.
