Proud parents are continuously acknowledging–from the moment of birth–just how much their children look like either mom or dad. They might see characteristics of grandma and grandpa too, such as the nose, eyes, forehead or mouth. As the
children grow and develop, the opportunity may arise to begin to see familiar temperaments as well. They may be positive or they could be negative. You will hear comments such as “look at her, she is such a girly girl, just like her mom” or maybe “boy, has he got a stubborn streak, just like his dad.” It is inevitable that we will take on similar looks and characteristics as genetic dispositions. If only it was just the positive, good qualities that were evident, unfortunately that is not always so.
If we look at this a bit deeper, we can also see how it is possible to “inherit” those good and bad tendencies. Let me give you an example from my own life. Divorce is not a pleasant thing to think about and go through. Unfortunately in my family it is a prevalent occurrence. Not only has my mom been divorced twice but my grandmother once. I recently had it pointed out that my great grandmother had been divorced three times! That was extremely unusual and frowned upon in that day. Sadly, I too have also gone through a divorce. Now as a Christian, it makes me sorrowful and guarded to know that my three children could have the ‘tendency’ to fall into this unfortunate pattern and as a matter of fact one of my children has already succumbed to the divorce solution. It is interesting yet sad that my father too was also divorced twice. Therein that has only made for a double whammy for our family, argh!
So how can and do we break this vicious cycle?
God is teaching me many things right now and for the most part He is showing me how to learn to be dependent upon and put my trust in Him. I only bring this up because my “independent” nature has gotten me into so much trouble through the years! The world tells us that independence is good and I really do believe there can be a positive side to it. But God calls us to lay down our independent spirit and to take up complete dependency upon Him. Generationally speaking, our family has a problem with that. We have had to be survivors and have done just the opposite of what the Word tells us in Proverbs 3:5-8
“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.” (Amplified version)
It is so ironic that God includes the healthful benefits of our being dependent upon Him! (The first thing I thought of when I read the ‘moistening to your bones’ section was how arthritis is deterioration of our joint cushioning and once again, our family as they age tend to develop this condition!) I am diligently learning to work through and break the habit of leaning on Kimberly Dawn’s understanding and lack of wisdom!
The key focus here is that–while it is obvious that not everything we inherit is bad–there are or can be some debilitating ‘bends’ or ‘tendencies’ that affect our living the abundant life. Do you ever wonder why you only move forward with baby steps? Or why you might keep doing and revisiting the same negative habit over and over? It is possible that it could be a generational sin or tendency. After all the Word tells us the sins of the fathers will revisit to the third and the fourth generations! Now that is a scary thought and I am living proof that it is so. But the good news is we do not have to stay there!
While it is wonderful to inherit the wonderful and admirable qualities of our family and ancestors, when we are earnestly seeking God we need to allow Him to show us our short comings. That might involve a painful look into our past. It might be that you can recognize your stronghold as an excuse to continue to behave in an un-Christ-like way. The old “devil made me do it” mentality just does not fly for the Spirit led, abundant life. God really does have a better plan in mind for us and He has called us to go higher, and challenged us to a deeper level in our walk with Him. In Romans 6:6 we find that we are no longer slaves to sin. And that means that I really have been given the power to overcome every bad tendency–even if it goes back to the 100th generation!
1 Peter 2:9,10 (NASB)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.”
Abba Father, I want others to see You in my life. I want them to see the difference You have made in me. It is because of You that I am alive! With all that You have brought me through and healed me from I can publicly rejoice and declare Your faithfulness to me and to my next generations. I am not who I used to be because Your love broke through the darkness that once bound me and caused me much pain. Let me continue to make myself available to Your refining fire then others will see how truly marvelous and in love with Your children that You are. I rejoice and praise You as I walk in Your marvelous light.
For a look at another stumbling block visit Blocked Goals.
