One of the things people frequently ask prayer for is for freedom from sinful behavior and addiction. Parents, spouses, and grandparents come desperately seeking prayer for their loved ones to be set free. Others come in tears sharing the helplessness they feel in their addiction and how powerless they feel in overcoming it. It is such an act of courage and vulnerability to admit their struggle and their desperation to be set free. Just recently I celebrated two days of sobriety with someone as we contended in prayer for day three. Addiction and sinful behaviors come in all forms and can feel so deeply overwhelming to face. They are often accompanied by guilt, shame, isolation, and fear. Addiction affects so much more than the person caught up in it. All those around the person feel its effects and relationships often suffer as a result.
But God is bigger than addiction. God is the one who has the power to heal and set people free. Whether the addiction is a physical disease, a spiritual bondage, or a combination of the two, it is no match for the power of God. God’s desire is to see people healed, delivered, and set free. It is interesting to me in Scripture that healing and the forgiveness of sins often went hand in hand, as did healing and deliverance. To God, it is all the same. Romans 5:6-8 says, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus’ blood covers ALL sin. Hebrews 4:16 states we can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God has exactly what they need.
This is why we fast and pray. We want to be an extension of Jesus to pray the broken would be healed, delivered, and set free so that they might know Jesus and experience his grace, redemption, and freedom. As a united family of God, let us focus our prayer efforts today by interceding for those who are entrapped in sinful bondages and addiction. Let’s link arms and contend for the captives to be set free. Let’s pray for families who are feeling the repercussions of having someone struggling with addiction in their lives so that they may be healed from the effects of destructive behavior, disappointment, anger, and loss. Let’s ask God to turn lives around so profoundly so that restoration takes place personally, relationally, and spiritually in those God is healing and in the lives that touch theirs. Let’s ask God, as he heals those who are bound, that people around them witnessing the transformation would be pointed to Jesus and choose him as their Lord and Savior.
God won’t you do it!!!
Listening Prayer: Holy Spirit, how do you want me to intercede for those walking in addiction and sinful bondage? Is there any one or any family you want me to specifically pray for who is struggling in this way?
Prayer:
God, we recognize there is nothing that is impossible for you. We know addiction breaks your heart as much as it does the hearts of those who love people caught in its webs. We know you deeply love those who suffer from addiction. We are asking that through your mighty power, you would intervene on behalf of those who need to be delivered and set free. God we are asking you to do what we in our humanity have not been able to do. Break the chains of addiction, Lord. Sever them and restore people to health. Surround them with people to love and support them. God, as a result of their miracle, we ask that you would soften the hearts of those who have been hurt by the addictive behaviours and that you would heal those wounded, broken places. May all of it point to you. We pray these healings will propel people to you. We ask that people would see your goodness and choose to follow you. We come into agreement with your plans and purposes for salvation, healing, deliverance, freedom, and restoration in the lives of those you are going to set free. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Worship Song: