Tuesday, January 20 Commit your way to Jehovah; rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.​—Ps. 37:5.

[Anniebea]

Tuesday, January 20

Commit your way to Jehovah; rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.—Ps. 37:5.

 

A husband who physically or verbally abuses his wife needs to take steps to repair his relationship with Jehovah and with his wife. First, he recognizes that he has a serious problem. Nothing is hidden from Jehovah’s sight. (Ps. 44:21; Eccl. 12:14; Heb. 4:13) Second, he stops abusing his wife and changes his behavior. (Prov. 28:13) Third, he apologizes to his wife and to Jehovah and seeks their forgiveness. (Acts 3:19) He should also beg Jehovah for both the desire to change and the help to control his thoughts, speech, and actions. (Ps. 51:10-12; 2 Cor. 10:5;Phil. 2:13) Fourth, he acts in harmony with his prayers by learning to hate all forms of violence and abusive speech. (Ps. 97:10) Fifth, he seeks immediate help from loving shepherds in the congregation. (Jas. 5:14-16) Sixth, he develops a plan that will help him to avoid all such behavior in the future. w25.01 11 ¶14

[dljbsp]

Sometimes I want a shortcut. I want relief without the work. I want Jehovah’s help . . . but I also want to keep my “old way,” sitting right next to me.

 

But real change doesn’t work like that.

That word “commit” feels heavy. It’s not half-way. It’s not ‘I’ll do the parts I like.’ It’s the whole road.

 

And when Jehovah’s organization lays out steps for fixing this, each step matters. If I skip one, I’m not skipping a “rule.” I’m skipping what actually protects people, my conscience, and repairs my friendship with Jehovah. 

 

Like a broken bone. If I never set it, I’m pretending. If I say sorry but continue the same thing, I’m not healing. If I pray but reject help, I’m siding with pride. If I admit the problem but never build a plan, I’m leaving the door open for it to come back.

 

So I need to be honest enough to face the ugly part. Then stop the wrong. Then make things right with the people I hurt. Then beg Jehovah for a clean heart and the power to control my thinking. Then learn to hate what Jehovah hates. Then accept shepherding help. Then make a plan and stick to it. 

 

No skipping. No “I’ll do step 1 and call it good.”

If I really rely on Jehovah, I show it by following through—quietly, fully, all the way.

 

[tmm]

Such a necessary text, unfortunately, even for God's people, as sadly some don't behave at home the way they might at the hall or elsewhere. 

Each step outlined is necessary, and unless the right help is accessed and humbly committed to fully, the old thinking can lead to the build-up and blow-up. No amount of the 'honeymoon' period afterwards will stop the effects on all who suffered at the hands of the one needing to heal from his/her lack of self-control. Those wounds come from somewhere, and often the pressures are from childhood and even inter-generational, with far-reaching negative effects on families, affecting the ability to feel safe and connect with Jehovah and others freely.

More is understood nowadays with such behaviour being made criminal and illegal in Western lands. More information than ever is available about how to heal these impulses right from their core inception, and as long as what is suggested does not conflict with God's Word, then some find that some treatment options can be useful.

 

However, the good news is that such patterns can be healed from. Jehovah's spirit, along with loving shepherding assistance and articles the Society has kindly provided, is pivotal for Christians faced with such scenarios to learn to gain mastery of oneself. ("Be angry but do not sin" comes to mind. Acknowledge anger and the hurt buried under it, finding ways to express anger healthily, without causing oneself, others or Jehovah any harm or hurt. It's never okay to be abusive.)

It's important to heal from the trauma of living under such abuses too, so we can present our whole selves as a 'temple' of our Father, to inhabit with his spirit, to serve Jah with our whole hearts, bodies, minds, and strength - to his glory and praise.