Prayer for an Emotionally Abusive Husband

Many wives silently suffer from an emotionally abusive husband. A marriage without respect only leads to chaos and bitterness. The good news is that our God is the God of transformation. He can change even those who have the darkest and worst of hearts. As you pray for your husband, claim God’s power in his life:

Abba Father, change my husband’s heart today. Transform him into the man You want him to be. Remove the anger and bitterness in his life, in Jesus’ Name! Protect our marriage from the evil plans of the enemy. Restore his love for me so that he may treat me with love and grace. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

How do you deal with an abusive husband?

Our husbands are supposed to protect and love us. Unfortunately, not everyone receives the love they expect because they have abusive husbands. One thing is true, though, the Lord loves you and cares for you. He’ll fight your battles if you let Him. Here are some of the ways to deal with an abusive husband:

Accept the truth that you cannot change him

You will only become more frustrated if you try to change your husband. An abusive husband takes a word of correction as a punishable offense. Instead of being grateful, he may only speak more hurtful things towards you, but don’t lose hope! Surrender your husband to the One who can change him. Entrust God to transform your husband. 

Countless people in the Bible had a change of heart after encountering Jesus Christ. Zaccheus, Paul, and the disciples are only a few examples. Even today, hearts are changed every day because of Jesus. It doesn’t matter how bad their past lives are. The past sins are forgiven as a person  accepts Jesus, and a new life begins.

Avoid arguing with your husband as much as possible

In Proverbs 9:7-8, the Lord warns us not to rebuke mockers and wicked men. These people see corrections as offenses and tend to avenge or abuse even more. If your husband says terrible things about you, let him be. Remember how the Lord sees and values you. He loves you for who you are. You are God’s masterpiece—a fearfully and wonderfully made creation.

Let the Lord fight for you

As Christians, we don’t fight as the rest of the world does. We must overcome evil with goodness (Rom. 12:21) and bless our enemies (Matt. 5:44). The Lord knows how much pain you are going through, but let God fight the battle for you. Trust that God will protect you from your abusive husband, and if he hardens his heart, he will reap what he has sown in your life.

Pour out your heart to the Lord and pray for your husband

Don’t let bitterness and unforgiveness take root in your heart. Go to the presence of God every day and pour your heart out to Him. The Lord will comfort you and give you rest (Matt. 11:28). As you pray, forgive your husband for all the things he has said and done. This is also an opportunity to pray for him.

How can you pray for an abusive husband?

If we are experiencing abuse, we must entrust our husbands to the Lord. By doing this, our hearts will stay in peace and rest, despite our circumstances. Although your spouse is emotionally abusive, don’t give up on him. Love him despite his flaws, as that is the kind of love we receive from the Lord. Here are some prayers to say for your abusive husband:

Prayer for a heart of flesh

A person that is not of God has a heart of stone. He is incapable of receiving God’s love, so he cannot love others the way God loves him. By breaking this heart of stone, your husband will receive God’s love (Ez. 36:26), and when he experiences the love of God, he will be transformed from the inside out. Ask God to give your husband a heart of flesh through this prayer:

Almighty Father, I pray for my husband today. You can see the hardness in his heart. He is incapable of giving love because his heart won’t receive Your love. I wish to break his heart of stone, in Jesus’ Name! I declare a heart of flesh that can receive your love, Lord. Let your power break his callousness and make him feel Your presence. I believe that You are doing something powerful in his life, Lord. Amen.

Prayer for forgiveness

Some abusive husbands have a history of abuse from their own lives. However, holding on to their grudges leads to destructive relationships as they grow up. They hurt the people who love them the most. The only way to be set free from bitterness and hurt is to forgive and be forgiven. Declare forgiveness in your husband’s life today:

Dear Lord, forgive my husband for what he has done. Free him from all the bitterness, hurt, and grudges he keeps in his heart. I renounce unforgiveness, anger, and condemnation in the Name of Jesus! I declare freedom and forgiveness for my husband. Thank You for answering my prayer, Lord. Amen.

Prayer for salvation

Is your husband still unsaved? Only the Lord can change him into a new creation. Never stop praying for your husband’s salvation, no matter how mean he may be to you. Jesus is his only Hope. Share the Good News with your husband. If he rejects Jesus, he will never have peace in this world and in the eternity to come. If you haven’t already prayed for his salvation, you can utter the brief prayer below:

Father in heaven, I pray for my husband’s salvation. Prepare his heart to receive Your Word so that he may accept Your Son Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Humble his heart and touch him with Your presence. I rebuke the unbelief, pride, and callousness in his heart, in Jesus’ Name! I declare salvation for his life today. I bless You forever, Father. Amen.

Conclusion

Living with an emotionally abusive husband is difficult, but God doesn’t want you to give up on your marriage. He wants you to fight for it but in His way. Surrender your husband to God’s hands and trust that the Lord will change him every day. As you trust the Lord, you will see the transformation of your husband occur before your eyes.