Breaking Free from the Past
I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20: 5b-6
Destructive Habits that can be Learned in Families
Allowing Frustrations to lead to Uncontrolled Anger
Escapism through Alcoholism or other Addictions
Negativity leading to Depression and sometimes Suicide
Infidelity or Destructive communication patterns leading to Unstable marriages and sometimes Divorce
Mistrust of authority
Inability to resolve conflict in healthy ways
Abuse: Physical, Emotional, Sexual
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
2 Corinthians 5:17
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.Psalm 139:23-24
Step 1: Forgiveness – RELEASING those who have harmed us
Step 2: REPENTANCE: Acknowledging our sin and REPLACING LIES WITH TRUTH
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, you are mine! Isaiah 43:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1
I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, maker of heaven, creator of the earth. Psalms 121:1-2
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind.” Philippians 4:6
“Perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18
“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, what you will wear, for your heavenly Father knows that you need them… Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you as well.” Matthew 6
Steps to Freedom
Invite the Holy Spirit to REVEAL the issues
RELEASE those who have wronged us
RECOGNIZE the truth from the scriptures
REPLACE the lies we believe with the truth of God’s word
RUN in our newfound freedom.