Leaving a Godly Legacy... Breaking The Cycle of Disfunction

No matter how you were raised….good, bad or ugly….you can CHOOSE to be different and leave a legacy of godliness!! So many of us are trapped by the decisions are parents made. We have their DNA and therefore we have to repeat what they did or didn’t do. NOOOOOO, this is a lie from the enemy! If you grew up in dysfunction, abuse, divorce or abandonment….the enemy wants you to stay there. He wants you to roll around in the muck and repeat those cycles of brokenness over and over!! The Lord, however, came to BREAK those cycles. 

Christ came to SET US FREE 

from bondage and slavery!!!! 

It’s true that our parents gave us life. We share DNA and often times we have the same mannerisms, thought patterns and quirks. We wouldn’t be here without them, true. A more important TRUTH is that we were created in GOD’S IMAGE!!! He made each one of us to know Him, walk with Him and to be His children. He wants us to call Him “Abba”, which means “Daddy”. How amazing is that?? God has adopted us as His own and wants us….no, LONGS FOR US, to call Him “Daddy”!!!

At 39 years old, I am an orphan. 

No parents or grandparents to speak of. I was thinking about the legacy my parents left me and what part I am holding on to. My dad left me with issues of abandonment, lack of trust and unfaithfulness. My mom left me with knowing how to love others, how to give generously and always keep my promises. But neither parent left me a GODLY legacy. Neither one showed me how to walk in faith, how to know Christ or how to be a godly wife and mother. My Heavenly Father showed me these things. He has been walking with me as an adult, breaking the cycles of brokenness….and filling me with a new hope. My sweet family of five is growing and thriving in God’s goodness. My kids can’t relate to the darkness that exists in dysfunction….and for this, I am thankful!!

Today, I don’t resemble my parents. I resemble my Abba!!! Our parents are stewards of our lives here on earth but GOD is the Giver of Life. We don’t have to imitate the patterns of our past! We can move forward in Christ and imitate Him. Since we are adopted as God’s children, we are daughters of the Almighty King! We can walk everyday victorious. Freed from our past and with the hope of a new future.

How can we do this?

1. Take hold of His Truth. Don’t just read that we are adopted by God. BELIEVE it. WALK in it.

2. Create boundaries. You may have family that’s still dysfunctional. In order to break free from destructive cycles, we need to put up HEALTHY boundaries. Protect your home – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

3. Guard our hearts. The Bible says that God’s peace which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7) We need to pray over our families. Pray for God’s peace. Be alert and know that God is with us every step of breaking free!!

PS. This is my ring from Israel. It says “Abba” in Hebrew. It is my daily reminder that I am His!