God sets us free – 31 January 2023

Disgusted, I watched footage last week of a Cape businessman assaulting his wife in their bedroom. This while their 4-year-old child desperately tries to intervene to protect her mother. How does something like this happen?

While I was furious at first, I later began to think about the psychological aspect behind this action. Was this man perhaps once a little boy who had to watch his father assault his mother? Perhaps he also tried to intervene and stop the conflict in their home? And because he never got help dealing with that trauma, what he once hated became his reality.

In my world, I often see how devastating patterns (addiction, alcohol abuse, extramarital affairs, divorce, assault) repeat from one generation to the next until someone is brave enough to stand up, allow God to intervene, set them free and alter the direction for their lineage.

In 2 Chronicles 16 we read of King Asa who becomes king of Israel. Although his ancestors were far from God, he took a stand, tore down idols and turned the nation back to God. The consequences stretched into the next generation. Remember his son, Jehoshaphat who took a stand for God (2 Chronicles 20)?

In Isaiah 43:19 God says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV)

Are you satisfied with the legacy you currently have? Nothing is ever “too late” for God to restore. Let’s allow Him to intervene, free us and alter the direction of our lives and those of our children. God bless.

Prayer: Father God, thank you very much for your healing power. Today I bring (name area) to you. Please set me free so that I can act in such a way that the people around me can see you. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen