This Is Not The Relationship That I Ordered

Introduction

Chaos encircles you daily. Your mind is confused and overwhelmed. Stress and worry have you feeling overburdened. The constant abuse that you have suffered has weakened you. You look in the mirror to see a stranger staring back. Feelings of dread and hopelessness control your thoughts and actions. You ask yourself, “Who am I?”, “Is this ever going to get better?”, and “Why does he treat me this way?” Nothing you do or say to him ever changes or helps the situation. If anything, the situation only gets worse. The only way to keep the peace is to totally submit and comply with your abusive partner’s constant and contradictory commands. You take and endure the abuse so that your abuser doesn’t turn his attacks on your children. Life is a living nightmare, and you don’t know why he is this way or what to do about it. All you can do now is call on God for help.

The purpose of this devotional/journal is to help you get free from your abusive partner and win back your life. God loves you and has a beautiful plan for your life. God only wants great things for you and your future. Abuse and control do not come from God. Use this devotional to discover or rediscover God’s love, learn your true purpose, and gather heavenly weapons to fight off Satan’s demonic attacks. Each day take a few minutes to read one scripture and meditate on its meaning. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in your praying and journaling. Focus on what the scripture and prompts mean to you. Satan will try to steal your thoughts and distract you. Cast Satan down and stay steadfast on your task. Remember, he is under your feet.

Most controllers and abusers have mental health disorders, personality disorders, and mood disorders, or they have learned unhealthy behaviors from their family and friends that cause them to mistreat others. They ensure that their needs are being met by forcing others to provide what is needed by use of control, intimidation, and abuse. Their tactics are intended to keep you in a state of fear and doubt so that you will not leave them. When you are around these types of people, you can sense that something is off. You subconsciously know that their behavior is not normal. So, “Why are they this way?”, you ask. Simple, Satan and his demons are working in the unseen realm pulling the strings like a puppet master. There is only one way to combat Satan, and that is with the Word of God! To win a spiritual battle against Satan, you must recognize the abuse, strategize a plan, and utilize the weapons of God. This devotional will help prepare you for the fight ahead and win back your life.

I have selected specific scripture from the New International Version of the Bible to help you escape, protect yourself, and get your future back. The book is divided into 5 parts. In Part 1, I have chosen scripture that focuses on reminding you who God is, His love, and His promises for you. In Part 2, I provide scripture that illustrates how the actions of your abusive partner are ungodly. When you realize that your boyfriend or spouse is behaving in an ungodly manner, it is easier to see the demonic forces at work and acknowledge that you are in an unequally yoked relationship. In Part 3, I selected scripture to assist you in strategizing your escape. Meditating on and speaking these scriptures will help bring forth the courage and strength needed to leave your abuser. The Word of God tells you exactly how to ask for His help and receive all the provisions you need to devise your escape and create your successful future. In Part 4, I have compiled scriptures to help you learn to lean on God and receive divine protection as you rebuild and win back your life. Finally, Part 5 provides you with basic information about Satan and his character so that you fully understand the enemy that you are dealing with. To win, first, you must know your true enemy. Review the list of commonly used words to describe Satan or an abuser. Have you ever used any of these words to describe your partner? If so, he most likely has a demonic spirit influencing his actions, and you are his target. Second, to win, you must know and use God’s biblical steps to escape and create your desired future. Finally, to win you must never forget that God’s love and protection is far greater than the power of Satan. You have the power to defeat Satan by knowing the Word of God, speaking the Word, and knowing your spiritual power and authority over Satan and his demons.

After each scripture and prompts, I have provided additional space for you to journal about anything that you feel is on your heart or mind that corresponds to the prompts. Additionally, the Winning Journal Notes space is for your winning thoughts, plans, or goals. There is no concrete format for journaling. You are free to create plans, write thoughts, make lists, and draw pictures in the way you feel led by the Holy Spirit. Remember your journal is private. Find a safe place to store it. Abusers try to control you and they want to know every detail of your thoughts and actions. Abusers believe they must know everything about you so that they can stay one step ahead. They want to keep you under their control so that they can use you to get what they need in order to feel powerful and in command. Abusers will try to find a way to use your journal entries against you or to punish you. Hide your journal. The content of your journal is private.

Finally, I have created a positive affirmation to accompany each scripture for you to meditate on and speak aloud. At first, the positive affirmations may seem difficult to say, but you must repeat each affirmation over and over until it is your truth. As you move forward through the devotional, go back, review your notes, and speak the affirmations out loud. It will take time for your brain to believe and receive the new way of thinking about yourself and your situation. But believe it or not, the brain is malleable and over time your brain will rewire and cut off your old beliefs about yourself and your situation. Do not give up! It will happen, and you will change.

It is my hope that you will be strengthened and encouraged as you reflect on God’s Word. Remember his Word is true and everlasting. In order to succeed, you must first know God, conceive your plan, ask God aloud for what you want, and, with faith, wait until you receive that for which you have asked. Nothing you speak will come back void if you believe. You will be victorious!