Generational blessings

Generational blessings are a transfer of lessons.

Blessings are keys to new responsibilities. When we are blessed it is a sign that God can trust us with more. But with more responsibility, it is equally essential to be equipped with more wisdom. Blessings in the absence of strategy can easily become burdens. 

The Bible says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children. What are you preparing to pass down that your kids are ill- equipped to carry out? Often time this verse is considered from a monetary value, but if your kids don’t even have the fundamental principle of stewardship, how far will the millions of dollars that you leave them go? There are tools and principles that we are neglecting to realize have power beyond us! It’s the same way some of our parents thought, and that’s why the generation of today can’t budget to save their life. They can’t steward and save, to save their life, because they want to see everything done right now. We want to see the fruit of our labor right now. No one is willing to wait? Why? Because that principle was not inherited from the previous generation. 

Start with this... 

Identify the areas in your life that you struggle with- it might be an indication of a lesson or strategy that wasn’t modeled or communicated effectively to you. 

Marriage, parenting- disciplining children, money management, mental health, boundaries, sexual immorality... I mean come on y’all pornography is reaching our children at rapid rates and not a lot is being done about it.., 

One day my daughter was learning how to ride her bike. This was at a time when I was mentally absent. Just frustrated with other things going on in my life. At a pivotal and exciting moment for her, I couldn’t really figure out how to show up or express the excitement that she deeply desired to see and feel.

So I simply told her push forward, when you get stuck take your foot off and give yourself a little push, move your feet backwards for the brake, and let me know if you need help, I will only come help if you ask for help. And it seemed so simple in that moment but the truth is there were several foundational lessons she received in 5 minutes of her “how to ride a bike” demo.

This is what generational blessings really looks like. 

I can’t ride the bike for you, I can show you, and hold your hand for so long, but then you have to try. When you lose your balance, take your foot off the gas, get out of your own way, give yourself permission to breathe, try again, or choose an alternate strategy. When things start moving too fast or going beyond your control, hit your brakes, shift from a slow down to a stop, and don’t move again until you have full confidence, full strength, and a full understanding that you have identified the problem, and are ready to go again. Lastly you must be willing to be covered in the spirit of humility, to ask for help. I will only know if you reach out. Eventually you will learn that you can’t do it on your own.

This lesson is also the way God sees us. He gives us direct access to His word which highlights every path, every strategy, every backup plan, every cheat code, essentially everything we need.

That’s the beauty of being children of the King. 

Let me give you two examples that are very well known in the word of God. Let’s look at our grandfather Abe, and our uncle/cousin Moe. 

So we know....

Abraham----> Isaac-----> Jacob (Israel)

The generational lessons that were birthed:

Obedience 

Covenantal lessons about keeping promises. As I’ve been with Abraham Isaac and Jacob I’ll be with you... God promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4) , so Abe being as human as possible, heard this and said okay bet, Sarah lets get this going. So much so, that he settled for a counterfeit because he was so eager to birth God's promise on His own, before God's intended time. It wasn't until Abraham was 100 years old, when his wife Sarah, and him, birthed their son, Isaac.

But God kept His promises! To Abraham, through Isaac, through Jacob, and even through us!

Through these men, we learned about the faithfulness of God, even in the darkest of days. God keeps His promises. What He says He will do, is exactly what He will do.

We also know uncle/cousin Moe...

After leading God's people out of Egypt, before entering the promised land (because Moses did not get to cross into the promised land) he passed the Paton to Joshua 

God told Moses you will prepare to die with your ancestors and you will leave Joshua in charge- he’s ready. Moses dies, and immediately God turns to Joshua, ultimately using him as a vessel to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. 

The generational lessons that were birthed

leadership and obedience 

Living directly as God speaks and being the direct messenger of Gods word. Not straying from it (staying on the straight and narrow) or adding your own interpretation, or taking from it and making exceptions, but clearly delivering the word of God. Learn the word and live the word for yourself so that you don’t have to face the repercussions of not following God’s commands. And sharing the word of God with future generations so they too can inherit the blessings of God. Moses leaves Joshua with these words, be strong and of good courage. Deuteronomy 31:7-8

NOW it's your turn!!!

I want you to start looking through the lens of generational blessings. What lessons are you flourishing in? What road blocks do you keep refacing? What recipes can you begin to create that will set your children, and their children, and their children, up for success long after you are gone? Can I urge you to stop making decisions in the moment that directly benefit you, and start asking yourself how will this one decision today, impact future generations? 

Could me investing into counseling today, actually be making an investment for the next generation? When you’re having a mental explosion, do your kids really know that’s it’s okay to not always be okay?  

Could cutting off the option to Netflix and chill really help my children learn to do relationships and marriages Gods way, by His standards? 

Could having my own visible piggy bank really teach my kids about the importance of saving? 

Could reading God’s word and praying with my kids daily, really help them develop a prayer life of their own? Do my children really notice when I’m not living for God? 

Could taking a night a week to cook with my children, really help them learn to cook with their kids? 

Are you learning and leading a life that reflects the importance of healthy boundaries, so that your kids know how to protect the value they possess, and not put up with anyone else’s crap? 

Hey do you think that if you never had to work for anything, and you walk around entitled, that your kids are going to be expecting their silver platter too? 

Like if you have no ambition, no drive, no hunger for not only working, but serving the mission of others that doesn’t directly benefit you, yeah, do you think your kids are going to think that that’s acceptable for them too? 

If you freely and openly talk to your parents disrespectfully or treat them like they are  your homeboys and homegirls, will you really still be expecting your kids to honor you? 

If you only depend on substances to fill voids in your life, or calm you down, will you be surprised when your kids start facing addictions that seem impossible to break? 

Remember the times you felt rejected, neglected, abandoned, and abused, what do you need to do for yourself now that will ensure your children, and their children, don’t have to feel that same pain? 

Do your kids know how to wait, or are they going to wind up just as impatient as you? 

If you are dating, divorced, widowed, separated, in a situation, and keep bringing your child around every one that you physically and emotionally tie yourself to, can you... matter of fact, can you please just stop doing that mess! 

If you’re still reading this and wondering what the answer to those questions are, then Houston we have a problem!!!! 

Wake up!!! Now is the time!!! Don’t wait!!! Tomorrow could very well be too late! Can we please set a new standard?!?! Can you please get out of yourself, and truly start thinking about how to pass on generational wisdom and lessons? Let's start today!