Bible passage:
Desire to be transformed - Psalm 139: 23, 24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Repent and Abhor Sin - Col 3:5 Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Rom 12:9b Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Have hope - Psalm 103: 12, 14 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Holy Spirit's fruit of Self-control - 2 Tim 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Know it's God who changes you - Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Phil 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Accept God's discipline - Heb 12: 5, 6 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Be alert - 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Pray for a way of escape - 1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Change lifestyle - Psalm 1:1, 2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Have accountability partners - Gal 6: 1, 2 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
As friends and family, we often do get to see the flaws and sinful attitudes/ addictions of our loved ones. Shall we take all that in prayer before God today? When we pray for God to help our loved ones battle a particular sin, we are not praying self-righteously or considering ourselves holier than them. We are just obeying God's command for us to pray for each other, and humbly taking our loved ones to His throne of grace. That is the right kind of compassion that we can show our loved ones - not giving excuses for them, not justifying sin, not condoning it, but grieving over it and taking it to the Lord in prayer.
Each of our loved ones may be in a different part of their journey in battling their sins/ addictions. Shall we recognize that, consider the verses above, and pray for them accordingly?
Prayer points:
Pray that those who are still hiding their sins would be exposed to someone who will take them to account in a non-humiliating manner.
Pray that the loved one would recognize the sin, abhor it, have the desire to change, and persevere with God to be transformed.
Pray that those around them would help them in their journey, being patient with them, forgiving them, rebuking them, and leaving the past behind.
Wait on God, for Him to reveal to you whom to pray for, and for what particular prayer point.
If you can, try memorizing 1 Peter 5:8.
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