Where do you find YOUR identity?  Sadly, so much of our identity is birthed out of trauma and locked away in our strongholds.  We all grew up in some dysfunction (some more than others).  When two people come together in marriage, they usually bring their separate baggage and then combine that “baggage” to make a family culture that is rooted in life’s traumas.  A “family reality” was created by our parents and we still carry some of that to our families.  In a spiritual sense, these become generational curses.  Sometimes they are SO obvious, but many times they are benign character flaws.  In my case, I became a Christian in my late 30’s and simply tried to fit Jesus into my “reality!”  It’s taken me years to realize I was doing that.  Instead, I now realize that we need to unpack these “family realities” (that become strongholds) and recognize them for what they are…Sin patterns that need to be broken to find true freedom in Christ.  

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

So, What… for This Week?

So freedom comes only as we live a repentance lifestyle.  We need to bring our entire lives under the rule of Jesus Christ. The first step is to pray and list ALL of your strongholds (sin nature).  Forgive yourself and others that have hurt you and then renounce the “sins of your fathers.” Often in these places of lasting bondage you will find that a parent struggled with the same issue. Then, it’s time for more prayer to renounce and break the sins so that they may not have a hold on you.