Be Spirit Controlled

‘Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city’ Prov.16:32

The fourth type of abuse is economic abuse. Perhaps at the beginning of the marriage a couple sells a major inheritance and entrusts the running of the business to the man as the head of the home. And the woman commits to taking care of the children. Then the business becomes very successful and because the man wants to get his wife to a certain position, he withdraws finances. Even though this is just an example, it is very rampant. Regardless of who is financially strong, you know that your spouse needs the money but you withdraw finances because you want to get him/her to succumb to you. That is an abuse. And abuse is the trademark of a weak person who needs to abuse to gain control. So if you see a male or female that is abusive, you have seen a weak person. Rather than dealing with issues, they resort to cutting off their partner’s financial privileges. That is an economic abuse.

The fifth type of abuse is the very popular one, which is physical abuse. Physical abuse is any physical aggression or any form of assault – hitting, kicking, biting, shoving, restraining, slapping, throwing objects, or the threat thereof. Domestic violence can also mean endangerment. Criminal coercion is another form of abuse. For example, a fraudulent husband forces his wife to steal with him even though it is against her wish. Kidnapping or unlawful imprisonment, like locking your spouse in the house to prove a point or to restrict movement is a physical abuse. When we hear physical abuse, a lot of people’s minds go to the men. Yes, it is mostly the men but women also abuse men physically. I have seen a woman that beats the flesh off her husband. And her excuse was that her husband has been verbally abusing her. While it is wrong for him to verbally abuse her, resorting to physical abuse is not the best approach. Harassment, Trespassing, Stalking. Stalking is an abuse. While I encourage spouses to be transparent with each other but stalking your spouse is a problem. You check quickly his/her phone when he/she is sleeping, something is wrong with you; please seek help.

Prayer: Precious Holy Spirit, please grow me and grow my marriage. Help me bear fruits of patient and compassionate love, in Jesus Name.