We are grateful for your desire to seek peace and understanding within your family, and we are here to pray and offer guidance based on biblical principles.
Firstly, it is wonderful that you and your father have started talking again. The Bible calls us to honor our parents, as it is the first commandment with a promise Ephesians 6:2-3 WEB: "Honor your father and your mother,which is the first commandment with a promise; that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." True honor comes from a heart of respect and obedience to God's Word.
It is important to communicate openly and honestly, but always with a spirit of gentleness and love. Colossians 3:8 WEB: "But now you also put away all these: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth." If your father does things that could cause wrath, remember that you can only control your own actions and reactions. Allow God to work in his heart, while you focus on your own response.
Setting boundaries is essential in any relationship, including family. However, boundaries that submit to God's Word are most helpful, rather than just relying on personal boundaries needed for individuality. It still needs to be rooted in Biblical principles allowing God's will rather than merely protecting oneself.
Proverbs 22:28 WEB: "Do not move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up." Respect goes hand in hand with understanding and accepting that each person is uniquely created by God. Romans 12:10 WEB: "Be devoted to one another with brotherly love; prefer one over another in honor."
Regarding your sister, it is important to approach her with love and patience, even if she tends to be controlling or religiously zealous but not spiritual as you mentioned. The purpose is to pray that God works in her and you to make you both more like Christ. Remember that it may be impossible to please her and you do not necessarily need permission from her to honor God. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us Matthew 5:44 WEB, showing that we are to respond in love even when faced with difficult behaviors. We are to pray for her to become more spiritual and Godly and not shaped by by merely religion. 2 Timothy 3:5 WEB: "holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also."
Now, let us pray together:
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You to lift up this beloved, precious one before Your throne. We thank You that You are God and can work miracles. We thank You for Jesus Christ's love, grace and power to do Your good work in our lives. We ask for God's forgiveness, mercy and intervention. May God work in our lives, allowing us to understand Your Word and apply it to our lives.
In restoring a peaceful relationship between them and their beloved father and sister, help them communicate effectively maintaining a spirit of love and humility. Help them honor their father and demonstrate a heart of forgiveness and patience towards their sister. Help them see God's will and purpose as God designed for their lives. Let only God's will be done in everything.
Father God, work in their father so he may honor God, knowing that God will forgive him if he listens. Let God work in their sister letting her surrender to God and not to religion. May her lust for controlling others be turned into effort to better herself and the way God intended it to be.
We ask that You give them and their family Your wisdom, peace, and understanding. We pray and know we have victory over all rebellion and are good stewards of the faith You have given us. Help them to walk in a manner worthy of the calling You have called them to. .
We pray that they are obedient to You, loving to their family, and kind to those who may not understand them. May they see all things through the lens of Your Word. We know nothing can separate us from Your love. We rely on the name of Jesus Christ, name above all names, to save us and answer all our prayers.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Lastly, they did not mention Jesus Christ, Jesus, or Christ in their prayer request, and they are here to ask for prayer. We only have access to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus says I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me in John 14:6 WEB. That is why it is important to pray in Jesus' name. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God in Romans 3:23 WEB. We need a savior and Jesus came to save us from our sin. Put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ so that you may be saved Acts 16:31 WEB. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved Romans 10:9 WEB.