Breaking the Curse of Abuse

Breaking the Curse

of Abuse

I N T RO D U C T I O N

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming

a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung

on a tree.”

Galatians 3:13 NIV

On a Sunday morning after I had taught a lesson titled

“Healing for the Emotionally Wounded,” a young man

wanted to speak with me. I listened intently as he told me that he

had just been released from jail and was now on probation for

physically abusing his family. His wife had filed for divorce, and

he was living alone. It was not easy for him to confess his sin to

me, and I was impressed by his humble attitude.

He said, “I am glad that this message is being given in the

church and the abused can receive ministry. Is there anywhere that

the abuser can go to receive spiritual help?”

He shared with me that he was attending a support group for

abusers. He desired to commit to a church where he could receive

forgiveness and acceptance. He knew that any lasting change

would have to be from the inside out by the Spirit. I prayed with

him, but it would be three years before I could write a prayer for

the abuser.

As I read, studied, and sought the Lord, I discovered that the

abuser is usually a person who has been abused. Often the

problem is a generational curse that has been in the family of the

abuser for as far back as anyone can remember. Many times the

abuser declares that he will never treat his wife and children as he

has been treated, but in spite of his resolve, he finds himself

reacting in the same violent manner.

The genera t i onal curse is reversed as the abuser is will i n g

to all ow God to re m ove the ch a racter flaws that have held him

in bon d a g e .

If you are an abuser, I encourage you to pray this prayer for

yourself until it becomes a reality in your life. If you know

someone who is an abuser, pray this as a prayer of intercession in

the third person.

P RAY ER

I receive and confess that Jesus is my Lord, and I ask that

Your will be done in my life.

Father, You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness

and have brought me into the Kingdom of the Son of Your love.

Once I was darkness, but now I am light in You; I walk as a child

of light. The abuse is exposed and reproved by the light — it is

made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear

there is light.

Help me to grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual

strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of

my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that I may experience Your

love and trust You to be a Father to me.

The history of my earthly family is filled with abusive

behavior, much hatred, strife, and rage. The painful memory of

past abuse (verbal, emotional, physical, and/or sexual) has caused me

to be hostile and abusive to others.

I desire to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. No

matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to,

but I can’t.When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not

to do wrong, I do it anyway. It seems that sin still has me in its evil

grasp. This pain has caused me to hurt myself and others. In my

mind I want to be Your willing servant, but instead I find myself

still enslaved to sin.

I confess my sin of abuse, resentment, and hostility toward

others, and I ask You to forgive me. You are faithful and just to

forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I am tired

of reliving the past in my present life, perpetuating the

generational curse of anger and abuse.

Jesus was made a curse for me; therefore, Lord, I put on Your

whole armor that I may be able to successfully stand against all the

strategies and the tricks of the devil. I thank You that the evil

power of abuse is broken, overthrown, and cast down. I submit

myself to You and resist the devil. The need to hurt others no

longer controls me or my family.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scripture References

Romans 10:9 Romans 7:18-25 TLB

Matthew 6:10 1 John 1:9

Colossians 1:13 AMP Galatians 3:13

Ephesians 5:8,13 AMP Ephesians 6:11,12 TLB

2 Peter 3:18 AMP 2 Corinthians 10:5

James 1:22 James 4:7