“Children
are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” Neil Postman
Today I spent time with a group of Christian mental
health professionals and the topic of generational limiting beliefs came up.
From the time Adam and Eve left the garden, their outlook on themselves, each
other, and God became the beliefs they handed down to their children. Their
children received distortions which affected their relational understandings
with their own children. And so on and so on.
It breaks my heart to hear inaccurate messages my
counseling clients received from their parents and representatives of God. “Your
worth depends on how others view you.” “It’s selfish to consider your own
needs.” “You always have to turn the other cheek and let others walk all over
you.” In response, many folks create vows which limit their ability to prosper.
“I can’t ever do anything right.” “Nobody will ever care about me.” “I’m such a
disappointment to God.”
These messages get installed deep in our soul and cloud
the vision God has for our life. Instead of living a bold and courageous life,
our beliefs bring fear and timidity. We model this lifestyle for our children
and their perfectionism results in guilt and despair.
What messages did you receive that God wants to correct?
What messages are you installing and beliefs you are modeling to those in your
life today? Commit to wrestling with your belief systems. Whether your
foundational beliefs came from parents, pastors, teachers, or friends, there
will be distortions and we need God’s truth to separate the wheat from the
chaff.
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