Praying for Freedom from Abuse

Father, You have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son of Your love (Colossians 1:13).  Once I was darkness, but now I am light in You; I want to walk as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8).  Help me to grow in grace and knowledge and understanding of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18), so I may experience Your love, and trust You to be a Father to me.

Abuse, as all darkness, is exposed and reproved when the Light shines.  It is made visible and clear; and where everything is visible and clear, there is light (Ephesians 5:13).  The history of my earthy family is filled with abusive behavior, much hatred strife, and rage.  The painful memory of past verbal, emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse has caused me to be hostile and abusive to others.  I desire to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only (James 1:22).  No matter which way I turn, I cannot make myself do right.  I want to, but I cannot.  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 (Romans 7:18-20).  This pain has caused me to hurt myself and others.  I dearly want to be Your willing servant.

I confess my sin of abuse, resentment, and hostility toward others, and I ask You to forgive me.  I know You are faithful and just to forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), so I gratefully receive Your mercy, and I ask for Your grace to help me in my times of need (Hebrews 4:16).  I am tired of reliving the past in my present life, perpetuating the curse of anger and abuse.  Jesus was made a curse for me (Galatians 3:13).  Therefore, Lord God, I put on Your whole armor that I may be able to successfully stand against all the strategies and tricks of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). I know my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the dark powers and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).  I thank You, Lord God, that the evil power of abuse is broken, overthrown, and cast down; that through Your graces I can demolish every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of You and Your Word (2 Corinthians 10:5).  I submit myself to You and resist the devil (James 4:7) so that the need to hurt others will no longer control me.

Loving Lord Jesus, You are my High Priest, and I ask You to loosen me from this infirmity (Luke 13:12).  I was bound – in an emotional prison – crippled and could in no wise lift myself up.  You have called me to Yourself, and I have gladly come (Matthew 11:28).  The anointing that is upon You is present to bind up and heal the brokenness and emotional wounds of the past.  You are the truth that makes me free (John 8:32). 

Thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, for guiding me through the steps to emotional wholeness.  I am confident of this: You have begun a good work in me, and You will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).  Father, I desire to live according to the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:4).  This Spirit of life, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing me from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death (Romans 8:2 Msg).  Since I am now free, it is my desire to forget those things that lie behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize, to which You in Christ Jesus, are calling me upward (Philippians 3:13-14).  I choose to no longer let the past control my thinking patterns or my behavior. Instead, I will take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

It is my desire to throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage.  In simple humility, I let my Gardener, You Father, landscape me with the Word, making a salvation-garden out of my life (James 1:21).  Father, by your grace, I forgive my abuser(s) (Matthew 5:44) and ask You to bring them to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Praises be to You, O God, Heavenly Father.  I am now a new creation in Christ Jesus!  Old things have passed away; and behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).  I declare and decree that henceforth I will walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).  You sent Jesus that I might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).  Thank You for the blood of Jesus that purifies me and makes me whole. (1 John 1:7)