Overcoming Domestic Violence

Prayer: Dealing with an abusive family situation. This taken from prayers that avail much by Germaine Copland.

In our ministry, we receive letters from women who are living in abusive situations. Since many of them do not feel or believe that they can leave (they can leave), they request that we write prayers to cover this area of need. They are fearful of practicing tough love. A need for security plays a big role in their decision to remain where they or, in certain cases, they fear increased or even more severe abuse should they try to leave. Others have asked the abuser to leave or have moved themselves out, yet their request is for prayers of deliverance for the abuser and other family members.

When I am traveling, I often meet women who feel that it is safe to talk with me. At the close of a meeting a few years ago, I was approached by an attractive woman whom I recognized by her manner of dress as belonging to a certain denomination. As he shared her agony and emotional pain, I moaned inwardly. I took her in my arms and encouraged her to go to her pastor for counseling. Her answer grieved me. She had been told by both her husband and her pastor that the beatings were because of her "rebellious nature."

"I don't know what else I can do to stop the abuse," she confided. "I've tried to please my husband. Scripturally, I cannot leave him. What can I do but stay with him? I don't want to disobey God, but I want the abuse to stop."

When we turn to the Scriptures, we find that God is much more merciful than we human beings. Jesus is our example. In one incident, he turned around and walked away from the crowd who would have thrown him off a cliff (Luke 4:28-30). There are times to take action; change brings change. Often we want God to do something when all the time He is waiting for us to do something. "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't ry to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track." (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

A testimony of deliverance from abusive behavior was shared by a young husband who had been born again for only a short time. His mother had givne him a copy of the loving Bible. One day, he picked it up and read Malach 2:15, 16: "You were united to your wife by the Lord." In God's wise plan, when you married, the two of you became one person in his sight. And what does he want? God by children from your union. Therefore, guard your passions! Keep faith with the wife of your youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, says he hates divorce and cruel men. But there are grounds for divorce (there will be a later teaching on divorce by Jennifer). Therefore, control your passions. Let there be no divorcing of your wives.

The young man said, "When I read these verses, I realized that I was treating my wife cruelly and admitted to myself that the addictions in my life were controlling me. It wasn't so much that I wanted to stop doing drugs, but I did want to change the way I was treating my wife. I cried out to God, and He heard me and delivered me."

====
Prayer

Father, your Word says that you loved me and my family so much that you sent your very own son, Jesus, to die for our sins so we could live with you forever. You said that you would give us a new life that is wonderful and rich. I pray that I may become like you, for I am your child and you love me. By your grace, Father, I will live my life in love. Your love in me is not a feeling, but a decision requiring more than mere words. As a Christian, I am "light" and I will live as a child of the light. The light produces in me all that is good and right and true.

Lord, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name is sacred. I purpose to live with due sense of responsibility, not as others who do not know the meaning of life but as one who does. Direct me by your holy spirit that I may take the best use of my time, despite all the evils of these days.

Father, there was a time when you looked for an intercession. I am willing to stand in the gap and make up the hedge so that my family will not suffer judgment. Send your Holy Spirit to commit, convince, and demonstrate to us about sin, righteousness, and judgment. Give us a heart of flesh and send a laborer of the Harvest to share with us the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah).

I thank you, Father, that each family member who is lost receives and confesses that Jesus is his/her Lord and I ask that your will be done in his/her life. It is you who rescues him/her from the dominion of darkness, and you translate him/her into the Kingdom of the Son of your love. In the name of Jesus, I ask that you help him/her to grow in grace, that he/she may experience your love and trust you to be his/her Father.

Lord, reveal the steps that I should take to break what appears to be a generational curse. The sins of the fathers are being repeated in a household and I do not want this curse passed down to the children. Father, your Word says that we are overcomers by the blood of the lamb and by the Word of our testimony. In the name of Jesus, I am committing my life to you—to obey you. Show me the path of life for me and my family. Uncontrollable, irrational anger—rage and abuse are a curse. Your son, Jesus, was made a curse for us. Therefore, I put on your whole armor that I may be able to successfully stand against all the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

In the name of Jesus, I am the redeemed. I plead the blood of Jesus over my family. I thank you that the evil power of abuse be broken, overthrown, and cast out of my family. The abuse is exposed and reproved by the light. It is made visible and clear. Where everything is visible and clear, there is light.

You sent Jesus to bind up our heartaches and to heal the pain. The Bible says that you have sent your Word to heal us and to deliver us from our own destructions. Give us the grace and faith to receive healing and to forgive those who have abused us. Thank you for the courage to make amends to whom we have harmed. Teach us how to guard our hearts with all diligence.

I declare and decree that we are growing in grace and the knowledge of you, developing the trust we need to receive your transforming power to change. I make my petitions known to you with thanksgiving in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Scripture references:
John 3:16
John 10:10
Ephesians 5:1
1 John 3:18
Ephesians 5:8, 9
Psalm 23:3
Ephesians 5:15, 16
Ezekiel 22:30
John 16:8
Ezekiel 11:19
Matthew 9:38
Matthew 6:10
Colossians 1:13
1 Peter 3:18
Revelation 12:11
Psalm 16:11
Galatians 3:13
Ephesians 6:11
Ephesians 5:13
Luke 4:18
Psalm 107:20
Matthew 5:44
Proverbs 4:23
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:6