Generations in Bondage

I've heard the Bible verse "for 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." It's found both in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5

I've heard this verse attributed to things that can be traced back through family line, things that plague our lives. Things like anxiety, depression, unwillingness to forgive, abuse, alcohol, drug addictions, spiritualism. The things that are usually the family secrets, dark and hidden, that no one really talks about, but in certain circle are said in whispered tones. 

A few years ago, I found freedom from the chains of anxiety and control. Anxiety and control, that I discovered came from the need to be perfect and feeling as if I was never quiet enough. Perfection was never attainable, because there was always something I could have done better. I needed to always do more, to show I was good enough, gain approval, to be perfect. But, through the help of others and the working  of the Holy Spirit, I found freedom in the realization, I was right. Perfection for me is never attainable. There is nothing I can do to attain perfection, nor should it be my goal. 

No, perfection can only be achieved by someone else.  Perfection can only be found in Christ alone, "the Author and Perfecter of our faith"(Hebrews 12:2 ESV). That it is through Christ, I become complete and perfect in Him. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ" Philippians 1:6 ASV

What I've also come to discover, I was not alone in this struggle. This is a struggle that ran deep and holds strong through our family. I found these issues can trace back into the 3rd generation of our family and who knows how much further. 

But, praise be to God, 

Through the working of the Holy Spirit, our family is starting to openly talk about it with each other. We've also asked those close to us to pray for us as well. Because of this, we are realizing that it can stop with us! With God's help it will stop with us! 

When I was going through counseling, I shared with my counselor how hard it was to choose a different path then the one my mind took me down, the path of anxiety. But, I had moments when I felt free from it, and I was afraid that it might come back. He said to me, "These changes you are making are like changing the course of a river. It will take time. It will be hard. But, then you'll realize you're going the other direction." He continued, "It's not a matter of 'if' it (my anxiety) will come back, but 'when.' And now that you've tasted freedom, you won't want to stay there. And you know how to get back."

The reason I'm sharing this with you, is so God may have all the glory when He frees my family from these chains. And, for you to know that you are not alone-God wants to do this for you too.

Everyone has things in their lives, in their family's lives, that run deep and go back far, things that have enslaved us. I pray that once you've realize whatever these things may be-that you try God. Pray that He lead you "in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8), and that He reveal people in your life that can help in the healing process. 

What's even more incredible to me are the words that follow in this verse. 

"for 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 20:5-6

These words were original written for the children of Israel. They had just been freed from the bondage of slavery in Egypt. For generations they had been enslaved. Now that He had freed them, He wanted to make sure they didn't put anything else in His place, make something else their master. But, keep Him as their God. So, He gave them instructions on how to live fully free. Some of these instructions came with a warning of who their actions could affect if they choose otherwise. But, also with that warning, came a beautiful promise of freedom and love, that can be found in Him, which will continue down through family lines for a thousand generations.

That same promise He has for us. He can free us from chains that have shackled our families for generations. When we make God the only God in our life, put Him back in His rightful place, we allow Him to free us from the bondage of slavery. 
And God spoke all these words: 
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
You shall have no other gods before me. 
You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for 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 20:1-6 & Deuteronomy 5:5-10 (NIV)
Photo by Jake Givens on Unsplash
~ kartini r. maxson

What Chains?

Standing in the procedure room, we had finished the day and all the patients had gone home. I was trying to get ahead on some paper work for the week to come. That's when my friend came in, she was also trying to cross a few things off her list.

Growing up Adventist, going to Adventist school almost my whole life, living in a sheltered Adventist circle, I'm a little embarrassed to say, I didn't have very many close friends who were not Adventist.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have many people in my life that are not Adventist, who I hold dear and am thankful for their friendship and the way they ministered to me. But, I felt there was always something holding me back.

Fear. I was chained to this fear of sharing with them what being an Adventist was about. This part of my life that I hold dear and close to my heart. I loved sharing Jesus and what's He's done for me, and how He wants to be part of our lives. But is was the other stuff, the stuff that was different.

What if they thought it was weird? What if we didn't agree? What if I didn't know what to say? What if I didn't know the Bible well enough or have the right answers to their questions? What if they would think differently of me? What if what they said would change what I believed?

I knew my friend was a Christian. By her words and her actions, in my heart I believed she followed Christ. Previously, we had conversations over Biblical and spiritual beliefs and when she would share something different, this fear would creep in. I'd start praying and I would hear God's voice, accompanied by peace, "Kartini, no one can serve two masters." 

There in the procedure room, the conversation turned into one on spiritual matters, about how God was working things out in our lives. I felt this prompting to share with her this fear, this struggle of sharing personal beliefs with someone of a different denomination. I hesitated, again out of fear. But, I believe this prompting to have been by the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit gave me to courage to just say it and address this fear.  

She, so understandingly, listened to all these insecurities that came out. She shared that she has the same concerns about opening her heart and mind to spiritual matters, wanting it to only be of the Lord. She shared about praying about making sure to put herself in a place where things are of the Lord. But still the concern about, "What if it's not?" Then she shared with me, one of the most freeing prayers I have ever heard. She said "I pray 'Lord, if it's of You, make it stick. But, if it's not of You, wash me clean.'"

In that moment I found this incredible freedom. It's something I believe, but so easily forget. It's the realization that God is so much bigger then me, that when I allow Him complete control and "enslave" myself to Him, that's where true freedom can be found. There are definitely things I can do to set myself up to serve and honor Him; and in all those things I can pray and ask Him to be the one to make it stick or wash me clean.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The devil know my fears can easily weigh me down, ensnare, in a sense-chain me. The problem is when I focus on them, they can hold so tightly that I can't even move. 

Hebrews 12, reminds me, we are not alone in this. God has surrounded us with people in our lives that will help us through this. In my case, it looked very different then I thought it would. Through the power of Christ, that chain of fear was thrown off and He showed me the beauty of truly being part of the Body of Christ. 
It also reminds me-it matters what we focus on. Our focus should not be the things that weigh us down, ensnare, or chain us. Instead we should fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. 
It's when I look to God and choose to be chained to Him, instead of my fear-that's where true freedom can be found. 

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. "
2 Corinthians 3:17

So, I ask you today. What are you chained to? 

~kartini r. maxson


October Prayer Topic: 2 Corinthians 3:17

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. "
2 Corinthians 3:17

Photo by Ryan Moreno on Unsplash