CAROLYN’S COMPOSITONS
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE: A DEVOTION
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 25 instructs husbands to “love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…Christ gave himself for it….men ought to love their wives as their own bodies…two shall be one flesh.”
DEVOTION: I have pictures in my files of bruises given to women by their husbands. How could this be if the men loved their wives they way Christ loved the church, as they loved their own bodies, and if they were one flesh? How is it that a spouse will berate, beat, control, manipulate, or even kill their mate? All in the name of love.
The Ephesian instructions are easier said than followed. Deuteronomy 5:9 and Exodus 34:7 state the iniquity “of the fathers” will be visited “upon the children…unto the third and fourth generation.” Since Adam and Eve the cycle of abusive behavior has been perpetuated through their children, their children’s children, and their children’s children, unto this day’s current generations. Breaking the cycle of abuse seems an impossible task. Is it no wonder many spousal victims are caught in this very same cycle?
Only hard work and strong faith can break the cycle. Make that commitment today. If you are an abuser, admit it, and seek to change. If you are the victim of an abuser, remove yourself until the dynamic changes. Seek the assistance you need to be successful. Only you can break the cycle.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to understand if my behavior is unChrist-like, and lead me in the direction of change. With faith, I will work to break the cycle of abuse, using all the resources available to me. Amen.
ADDITIONAL READING:
CHILD ABUSE SERIES—
ARE YOU PUNISHING OR DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILD?
CHILD ABUSE CREATES VICTIMIZATION
The Cycle of Abuse in Domestic Violence
DEVOTIONS ON ABUSE---
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath
THOSE WHO DO EVIL HAVE NOT SEEN GOD: A Devotion on Child Abuse
ARTICLES ON ABUSE---
WILL YOU LOVE ME TO DEATH?
BUTLER STREET
BEYOND THE ROCK
THOUGHTS FOR DAVID
REACH OUT
A PIECE OF ME
THE WELL-ADJUSTED CHILD
CHILDREN LEFT HOME ALONE (or in cars alone)
ANOTHER HORRIFYING HEADLINE
KILLED STRANGELY: A NEW ENGLAND MURDER STORY
MY HAPPY PLACE
VOICES OF WILDERNESS: PEACE MEETING
DOES EXAGGERATING THE TRUTH CREATE GOOD STORIES?
SITE LINKS:
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.barbarapurbaugh.com
www.pennwriters.com
ellenspain.com
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
http://www.methodists-care.org/
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Breaking the Cycle of Abuse: A Devotion
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CAROLYN’S COMPOSITONS
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE: A DEVOTION
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 25 instructs husbands to “love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…Christ gave himself for it….men ought to love their wives as their own bodies…two shall be one flesh.”
DEVOTION: I have pictures in my files of bruises given to women by their husbands. How could this be if the men loved their wives they way Christ loved the church, as they loved their own bodies, and if they were one flesh? How is it that a spouse will berate, beat, control, manipulate, or even kill their mate? All in the name of love.
The Ephesian instructions are easier said than followed. Deuteronomy 5:9 and Exodus 34:7 state the iniquity “of the fathers” will be visited “upon the children…unto the third and fourth generation.” Since Adam and Eve the cycle of abusive behavior has been perpetuated through their children, their children’s children, and their children’s children, unto this day’s current generations. Breaking the cycle of abuse seems an impossible task. Is it no wonder many spousal victims are caught in this very same cycle?
Only hard work and strong faith can break the cycle. Make that commitment today. If you are an abuser, admit it, and seek to change. If you are the victim of an abuser, remove yourself until the dynamic changes. Seek the assistance you need to be successful. Only you can break the cycle.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to understand if my behavior is unChrist-like, and lead me in the direction of change. With faith, I will work to break the cycle of abuse, using all the resources available to me. Amen.
ADDITIONAL READING:
CHILD ABUSE SERIES—
CHILD ABUSE DEFINITIONS
TYPES OF ABUSE
CHILD ABUSE AND SCRIPTURE
ARE YOU PUNISHING OR DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILD?
CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSIVE FAMILIES
CHILD ABUSE CREATES VICTIMIZATION
The Cycle of Abuse in Domestic Violence
DEVOTIONS ON ABUSE---
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath
THOSE WHO DO EVIL HAVE NOT SEEN GOD: A Devotion on Child Abuse
And who will reach the downtrodden? Lent Devotion #18
ARTICLES ON ABUSE---
WILL YOU LOVE ME TO DEATH?
SHOULD INFORMATION ON AN ALLEGED CHILD ABUSER BE PUBLICIZED?
WILL YOU LOVE ME TO DEATH?
BUTLER STREET
BEYOND THE ROCK
THOUGHTS FOR DAVID
REACH OUT
A PIECE OF ME
THE WELL-ADJUSTED CHILD
CHILDREN LEFT HOME ALONE (or in cars alone)
ANOTHER HORRIFYING HEADLINE
KILLED STRANGELY: A NEW ENGLAND MURDER STORY
THE HOLOCAUST STORY OF A TEENAGE VICTIM (Part 1)
MY HAPPY PLACE
VOICES OF WILDERNESS: PEACE MEETING
DOES EXAGGERATING THE TRUTH CREATE GOOD STORIES?
SITE LINKS:
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.barbarapurbaugh.com
www.pennwriters.com
ellenspain.com
http://ligonierliving.blogspot.com/
http://www.methodists-care.org/
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