When my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer this year, it rocked my world. One of my aunts (my mom’s sister) had recently succumbed after an extended battle with breast cancer, so the news was pretty scary. On top of that, the reality that “breast cancer is in my family line” was undeniable.
Then, when my mom’s Oncologist delivered a stern warning about the future family implications of my mom’s diagnosis, things looked bad. He said at least one out of the seven girl siblings in our family is guaranteed to get breast cancer. Based on research findings and solid statistics, the specialist explained, it is not a matter of if, but when the disease will manifest in one of the girls.
Hearing those words stirred up a bevy of emotions for me and my sisters—fear among them. I had to really talk to myself, especially because my family history had come back to bite me once before.
When I was 22, I was standing up teaching choir rehearsal when the worst pain I ever felt in my life shot through my stomach and wrapped all the way around my back. It felt like someone was tightening a belt around my waste, only a hundred times more painful. Suddenly, I couldn’t stand and I couldn’t keep any food down. I thought I must have had food poisoning from the Mickey D’s meal I had consumed a little earlier. But when I called my doctor sweating and crying, he said, “It sounds like you’re having a gall stone attack.”
Me? Gall stones? At 22?
But he was right. Both my mother and father suffered with gall stones also. And at that moment, I knew exactly how they felt. Horrible! I was so bad off that specialists told me my gall bladder was completely diseased and had to be taken out immediately. They didn’t want to risk another attack, because the one I suffered resulted in gall stones being lodged in my pancreas, thus causing internal damage. Things could be worse with another attack, possibly doing more harm to another major organ, and I didn’t want that.
I couldn’t believe this was happening to me, but it was hereditary. So, as I sobbed (I was scared out of my wits!) the surgeons wheeled me back to the operating room to remove my gall bladder. Thank God everything went well.
As you might imagine, that whole gall stone ordeal came rushing back to my mind after learning about the breast cancer risk for me and my sisters.
Daily Cup family, I had to pray and trust God immediately. I had to fight against the belief that it would be me… just like it was before. So I cried out to the Lord. I told Him I didn’t want to go through life wondering if each day would be the day when breast cancer would come knocking on my door or that of one of my dear sisters. But the Lord didn’t let me fret for long. His Spirit came in and comforted me and reminded me that I am not defined by my history.
And neither are you.
Though breast cancer or gall stones may not run in your family, there is inevitably something that runs in your family—a pattern or cycle—you don’t want to see repeated in your own life.
It might be high blood pressure, sugar diabetes, obesity, or some other health issue that runs in your family. It could be poverty, career stagnancy, or lack of education. It may be domestic abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorders, or sexual dysfunction. You might want to avoid the stronghold of mental illness or emotional turmoil like depression, rage, or low self-esteem. Perhaps there is a history of divorce, infidelity, or homosexuality looming over your family.
But whatever the issue, obstacle, or challenge is, remember this: whatever strongholds exist within your family, they were broken off your life when you gave your heart to Jesus Christ. Now, that doesn’t mean Satan won’t try you or that you will never be challenged in this flesh. But it does mean that, because you have been engrafted into the family of God, you have already overcome!
To remind you of this, I’m adding Romans 8:15 KJV to your cup of inspiration today, which says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup, you will resist fear and worry. You won’t be shackled by negative experiences, facts, or issues surrounding your history. Rather, you will be emboldened and empowered to declare victory over every stronghold. You will recognize that you have a new family; a new heritage; and a new legacy. You are what Galatians 4:7 says you are: an heir of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
Now ain’t that good news!
Let 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV cause you to rejoice right now: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
God, I had no control over what I was born into and many of the things that are inherent in my family line. But I believe that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, every stronghold is broken off my life. I speak victory over my health, my mind, my family, my personal endeavors, and my destiny. Whatever the enemy has assigned to destroy me, by the blood of Jesus Christ, I declare that I am loosed and set free. Right now, I thank you for engrafting me into Your family and giving me a new legacy. I declare by the authority of Your precious Son that I am not my family history. I am a new creature. I am who You say I am, an overcomer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
