Backslider's Spiritual Healing Prayer

Transcription

1 Backslider's Spiritual Healing Prayer GraspingGod.com s Prayer of Repentance Spiritual Healing Prayer Verses: See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. But encourage one another each day, as long as it is called 'Today,' that none of you may become hardened by sin's deception. For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. Hebrews 3:12-14 NET God warns us to "Take heed, lest we fall;" therefore, Christians have a tremendous responsibility to heed their conscience by obeying God's word. Of course, we have a powerful enemy fighting against us. Real Christians often get attacked by satanic forces via temptations directed at the idols of their hearts. God allows such a predicament in his grand plan, because tests of faith reveal hidden idols of the heart. He wants your heart cleansed and singularly focused on him. Backsliders, AWAKE! If you find your faith tried and wanting, maybe even with a personal spiritual disaster on your hands; just know you've come to the right place. Let's get started with some solid Scriptural knowledge before proceeding to a new commitment commencing with a spiritual healing prayer. Idols of the Heart Satan knows exactly what your idols are and he targets them with the greatest of temptations. He wants to destroy you and your public witness (John 10:10). Often times, unfortunately, Satan wins the battle, sending the Christian into a life of backsliding. Here's an example of what happens... God, while hoping for a strong show of his child's faith, grants Satan permission to try a Christian's faith and devotion to the Lord (Job 1:6-12). Satan then plots and plans the temptation and destruction of the saint. The Christian is tempted and soon bows to her idol, falling headlong into serious sin. As the failure unravels the sinner becomes aware that she has destroyed her testimony in the process. This is no small matter, because of our personal covenant with a righteous God. The Bible warns us time after time to not fall away, not to sin against our conscience, not to disobey Christ's commands, not to sin and place Jesus back on the cross, etc. Read Hebrews 6:4-6. 1

2 What happens to the saved soul who denies Jesus by choosing Satan's temptation over his Lord? What happens to the "saint" who plays the prostitute against God? (Revelation 2:20). What happens to the Christian who transgresses his conscience, breaking his internal moral code? A Christian's conscience was pain-stakingly hand-crafted by God through years of Bible reading and study, prayers, and Christian living (Philippians 1:6). Now, because of foolishly choosing sin, God's hard work is left in ruins practically overnight. What happens to the Christian who kneels at her heart's idol and falls into disgrace? The Backslider Have you or a loved one chosen to break a significant sin, such as one of God's abominable sins? (e.g. Proverbs 6:16-19). Well, if so, then you know you're under the strong arm of God. God punishes the sinner through divine discipline, because he hates sin - that's our righteous God's stern promise (see Hebrews 12:7-9). Here are some ways God punishes Christians for their sin. First, God providentially punishes sinners through sin's direct ramifications. God has natural moral laws in place that punish sin directly. Examples include the forces of nature (e.g. diseases, injuries, mental disorders, etc.); civil laws and punishments; victim's vengeance; ethical codes of honor; etc. Sin always has great costs for us personally. Second, God also punishes sin through the suppression of the Holy Spirit. Here's a small sample of how that process works: A person chooses to break his conscience and sin, grieving the Holy Spirit in the process (Ephesians 4:30 ESV). God immediately brings a conviction of sin upon the sinner's conscience by means of internal guilt. The emotion of guilt then racks the soul of the Christian sinner, bringing gloom and doom upon him. The consequences of sin spiral a Christian sinner deep into a spiritual black hole. Sadness, depression, and even despair result from the person's sin. Gone are the heavenly gifts that God gives. Gone are one's clear conscience, his spiritual zeal, and the Christian growth that the sinning soul once knew. The sinner's heart no longer loves the good things the Spirit led him to love, such as worship, prayer, Bible study, Christian fellowship, and acts of kindness and service. O, the great cost of sin! Little remains of God's good work in you! Nothing remains but a shipwrecked conscience and desolate soul! (1 Timothy 1:19). The anguish is terrible - even painful to the soul (Psalm 38:1-8). A cold, dark, lonely heart full of self-pity and self-loathing becomes the new normal for the Christian sinner. Negative, self-deprecating thoughts of worthlessness and uselessness consume the backslider. Tears of sadness incessantly drip inside the sinner's soul. 2

3 Well, that's a fine mess you got yourself into, my friend!! But NOW what?! There is great news! There is Light. There is a Way back to God. There is an answer for the backslidden child of God. Jesus tells us there is NOTHING more important than our soul (Mark 8:36-37). Therefore, for the good of his soul, a backslider has to stop sliding back into the world. The sinner must immediately address the state of his soul. He must turn from his selfishness and stop the sinning immediately. If you've been deceived, sinned, and lost God; then you're now a self-absorbed prodigal son or daughter. Admit it. Confess it. Apologize for your sin. Vow to stop the sin forever. You've brought offence to your God. Stop the madness. Make reparations to God and to others. Zacchaeus is your model (Luke 19:8-9). Flee from the deception, friend; end the fantasy you've been living and turn back to God. Start with this short spiritual healing prayer, this heartfelt prayer of repentance... Emergency Spiritual Healing Prayer O God, HELP ME! Jesus, HELP! I've fallen into temptation and sin. I sinned against you. I've ruined everything you and I built in my life. I threw it all away, God, chasing some stupid idol. I was an utter fool for turning my back on Heaven. Please relent from your wrath. I beg you. It woke me up, but now it's killing me. My soul desires you again, Lord. Please talk to me. Tell me you love me. Rescue me and raise me up from this dark pit. Father, forgive me, and welcome me back home. I promise to stop this sin immediately, and prove my love for you. I repent! Let me approach you and receive your grace and forgiveness. Release my guilt, Lord. Heal my shame, Jesus. Invite me back into a warm relationship with you. In Christ's holy name, Amen. A Backslider's Repentance Bible Verses: My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:1-3 NHEB. For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your 3

4 fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23 NHEB. As you re-approach a strong spiritual walk, and reflect upon your past sins, you can solidify your acceptance of God's forgiveness with this thoughtful, deeper prayer of spiritual healing... Spiritual Healing Prayer Dear Righteous God, Please look at me here down at the bottom of this pit If not for this floor I'd sink further still I beg you to hear my cries for help. Satan tempted me, drawing me deep into his dark alleys of evil He offered me what my idolatrous, sinful heart could not refuse I bowed to my idol, trusting in its promises and pleasures O Righteous God, my back turned against you, like it was before we first met I refused your guidance, ignored your warnings, and grieved your Spirit I called the truth a lie, a lie the truth, and swallowed the forbidden fruit I'm now alone, O God, except for my companion of Misery My friends are gone, my zeal destroyed, my life is all but ruined My spirit groans. My soul rots. I may as well return to the dust If you would forgive me, that's all I could ask I only want to hear from you, and know you still care Lord! Here I am, THE sinner, whose life has been undone I am sorry, so very very sorry I sinned against you, O God Betrayal, idolatry, and many more horrors come to mind God, I'm guilty. Have mercy on me, the Backslider I need the Living Water to quench my spirit's thirst, please send your Spirit I need the Bread of Life to fill my soul's hunger, please enlighten your Word I need the Gate to open, please let this lost lamb return to the Fold Release the punishment, it's much too severe to bear Forgive this Prodigal and welcome me back into your family Life without your presence is vain... Why even breathe? Lord, I remember something: I was saved by grace. Remember that day? 4

5 You showered your salvation upon me, with nothing added by me Remember how the angels rejoiced? How proud of this child you were? You forgave me then, so, won't you forgive me, again? I agree I don't deserve it, Lord, but my heart craves you I badly hurt you, and broke your heart. How could I do such a thing? God, my promise is that I never ever do such a vile thing again. My repentance is full, thorough, and complete, my Lord My back has turned to Satan and his wicked sister, Sin I learned my lesson the hard way, so short-sighted and foolish of me You told me to confess my sins, so I can be forgiven I stand on your truth, O God, now that my senses have returned I feel restoration sweeping over me, making me whole again Now, Lord, show me where you're working, so I can lend a hand Open my heart so I can see those who are in need Allow me to produce fruit for your kingdom, just like the old days Thank you, my old Friend, Jesus. Amen A Backslider's Spiritual Healing Prayer Verses: Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD doesn't impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you. I did not hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:1-5 NHEB. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not tell the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:6-10 NHEB. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. Hebrews 6: For more spiritual help join our ultra-deep Bible lesson: Jesus Heals Shame. Read more: 5