Sins Passed Down To The 3rd and 4th Generations

"For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though he causes grief, yet he will show compassion according to the multitude of his mercies." Lamentations 3:31-32 There are those who believe that all grief comes from the devil. That IS often the case, but sometimes suffering is the result of reaping what was sowed. And in other cases, grief comes because of sins our parents or grandparents sowed. At first, this doesn't seem right - why would God bring grief upon one's descendants? But it becomes obvious when you consider "traits" that seem to go down to the generations. If a man is a thief, oftentimes his children will be like him. If a man is an alcoholic, oftentimes his children will be also. If a woman is promiscuous her daughter may be likewise. Sin oftentimes "runs in families." "The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but he BY NO MEANS CLEARS THE GUILTY, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION." Numbers 14:18 But there is hope. God is "abundant in mercy." No matter what sin or weakness or "trait" we find operating in us, those who turn to the Lord will find in him forgiveness and a wealth of mercy. When a person is "born again," he or she is made new. And then the Lord begins in him or her the long process of setting him free and healing the wounds and traumas that sin caused. Jesus said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, he has sent me to HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, to proclaim LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18 If you have been enslaved by sin, ANY sin, ANY bondage, if you have been traumatized, if you have suffered because of sin - whether your own or that of your parents before you, Jesus is standing there waiting for you to come to him so he can heal your broken heart and bring the end of your captivity. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become NEW." 2 Corinthians 5:17 Pray this way: "Lord, I am so enslaved by sin, I am so traumatized because of it, I am so hopelessly bound in "traits" that came down to me from my parents. I had given up, Lord, because it was beyond my control. I fought it for awhile but found I just could not overcome it. But I see in your Word that you came to set the captive free and to bring liberty to those who are bound and oppressed, and right now I ask you to bring me into your Kingdom, set me free and heal my broken heart. I give my life over to your Lordship and ask you to become my Savior and the very Lord of my life. I ask for the forgiveness of my sins and pray you to take my broken heart and heal me. Give me that new life your Word speaks of. I surrender all to you. He will!