God wants freedom for you.

Before you begin…
Pray - Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal, uncover and expose

Father God, I thank you that because of the life, death and resurrection of your son, Jesus, I can come to you as your child and be received in love and mercy. I thank you that you reveal sins and sin patterns, including generational sins, that I have come into agreement with not to condemn, but to heal. You, Father, delight in pouring out your love and forgiveness on your children. As I read through this list, Holy Spirit, search me and know my heart. Reveal any ways I, or my family, have come into agreement or partnered with sin or any spirit that is not Your Spirit. Help me, Lord, to confess, repent and receive Your forgiveness and love. Give me the grace that empowers me to walk in Your ways of holiness and righteousness, not by my own strength, but by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

Ask for grace, mercy & compassion - Realizing we all sin and that you’ve brought sins into your life & your family that had nothing to do with your family history
Don’t Blame & Don’t be the Victim: Take Ownership

Generational Sins

Specific repeated sins that have been passed down from generation to generation either at a DNA level or by modeled behavior.
1. Lying
2. Pride
3. Anger or Fits of Rage
4. Jealousy
5. Sexual sins
6. Adultery
7. Greed
8. Alcoholism
9. Gossip
10. Divorce

Generational Patterns

These sins may not be exactly the same but they follow a pattern of sin.

If you’d like to pray over each pattern that resonates with you, feel free to use the following template:

Lord, thank you for your kindness and love to reveal the places where I or my family have come into agreement with pattern identified. I confess and repent for how I have partnered with [specific sins or patterns revealed]. I break this agreement with [specific sins or patterns revealed] and renounce all the ways in which I partnered with pattern identified in the name and authority of Jesus Christ. I lay it down at your feet, Jesus, and I receive Your forgiveness, healing, deliverance and freedom and proclaim it over my family. Holy Spirit, show me, help me, guide me in how to walk in this freedom and in love towards you and those around me.

Relational and Familial Brokenness
These sins affect the way family members relate to one another, often leading to ongoing cycles of dysfunction.
1. Abuse: Physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual abuse.
2. Neglect: Emotional or physical neglect of children or spouses.
3. Divorce and Marital Struggles: Recurring patterns of broken marriages.
4. Favoritism: Favoring certain children over others (Time, Energy & Resources)
5. Unhealthy Boundaries

Addictions and Unhealthy Habits
Generational sin often manifests in substance abuse or harmful behaviors that are normalized within a family context.
1. Alcoholism or drug addiction.
2. Gambling or financial irresponsibility.
3. Overeating, unhealthy lifestyles, or workaholism.

Pride and Self-Centeredness
A legacy of pride or entitlement can affect family dynamics and relationships with others.
1. Refusal to seek forgiveness or admit wrongdoing.
2. Controlling behavior or manipulation.
3. Arrogance or superiority complex.
4. Self-Sufficiency, reluctance to ask for help
5. Narcissism

Sexual Sin and Impurity
Unhealthy attitudes or behaviors regarding sexuality can also be passed down through generations.
1. Adultery or infidelity
2. Sexual abuse or exploitation
3. Patterns of lust or pornography addiction
4. Acceptance of promiscuity or immoral sexual practices

Anger and Violence
Families often pass down ways of handling conflict that perpetuate harm.
1. Uncontrolled anger or rage
2. Domestic violence or aggression
3. Revenge or grudges

Perfectionism and Performance
In some families, there is an expectation that individuals must be perfect or excel in order to earn love and approval.
1. Inadequacy
2. Spiritual and emotional pride
3. Blame shifting or self-condemnation
4. Trying to earn people and God’s love
5. Pleasing people instead of pleasing God

Prejudice and Injustice
Biases or injustices learned within families can perpetuate harm to others.
1. Racism, sexism, or classism.
2. Systemic oppression passed down through societal norms.
3. Favoritism within or outside the family.

Financial Mismanagement
Poor financial stewardship often impacts future generations.
1. Generational Poverty: Patterns of debt and financial irresponsibility.
2. Greed or hoarding wealth.
3. Lack of generosity or neglecting the needs of others.

Spiritual Apathy and Unbelief
Families can pass on attitudes of neglect toward God, leading to spiritual stagnation.
1. A lack of spiritual disciplines like prayer or Scripture reading.
2. Cynicism toward faith or rejection of God.
3. Hypocrisy or nominal Christianity.

Spiritual Pride and Legalism
In some families, legalistic or religiously oppressive practices are passed down, creating a pattern of spiritual pride or condemnation.
1. Spiritual superiority
2. Works based faith
3. Shame, judgmentalism, rigidity

Idolatry and False Worship
Generational sin can involve spiritual practices or beliefs that lead families away from God.
1. Worship of false gods or idols (Exodus 20:3–5).
2. Occult practices or superstition.
3. Materialism or prioritizing worldly success over spiritual values.

Fear, Anxiety, and Control
Unhealthy emotional patterns often emerge from traumatic events or cultural norms in families.
1. Overbearing control or helicopter parenting.
2. Insecurity
3. Generational anxiety, depression or chronic fear.
4. A lack of trust in God’s provision and protection.
5. People pleasing & Co-Dependency
6. Conflict avoidance

Generational Trauma from Loss or Abuse
Patterns of unresolved grief, trauma, or abuse can be passed down through family lines, especially if the trauma is not addressed or healed.
1. Insecure attachments
2. PTSD
3. Self-Destructive habits

Illness & Health Struggles
Sometimes, family members pass down unhealthy patterns related to physical or mental health.
1. Chronic health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, mental health)
2. Obesity
3. Laziness
4. Lack of self-care

Starting the Work
1. Self-Awareness & Family Awareness
2. Recognize you have been born into a new family and you are a New Creation - a New Person. You’ve been born again!
3. Acknowledge Agreements
4. Confess
5. Repent & Believe the Gospel
6. Create New Habits
7. Utilize every resource God has made available
8. Walk in Forgiveness

What can I do right now?
1. Ask, Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom, the courage and the strength to begin the work of breaking generational lies, sins and patterns.
2. Do the work.

RESOURCES:

Soul Care - Dr. Rob Reimer
Emotionally Healthy Discipleship - Peter Scazzero
Practicing the Way - John Mark Comer
Renovation of the Heart - Dallas Willard
I Give You Authority - Charles H. Kraft