Spiritual DNA: How Your Family History Affects You Today

We have all heard about DNA. Quite frankly, I knew it was an abbreviation, but I never knew what it meant.

If you did, go to the top of the class. But if you’re somewhere in the middle like me or even if you’re in the back of the class on this one, here we go: DNA stands for De oxy ribo nu cle ic Acid.

I am definitely not going to say that word again right now.

But I wanted to talk about DNA today to draw a reference as I break down this topic: Spiritual DNA: How Your Family History Affects You Today

So DNA is the genetic material that carries the blueprint for life. It determines physical traits such as hair colour, the colour of your eyes, your height, and even predispositions to certain diseases. 

Just as we inherit physical characteristics from our ancestors, we also inherit spiritual traits, both good and bad. These spiritual influences shape our thoughts, our behaviours, and even life experiences.

Now, in the same way scientists study DNA to understand genetic patterns, we must examine our spiritual DNA to identify the influences that impact us today. Some of these traits align with God's purpose, while others don’t and must be broken so that we walk in the fullness of God’s plan.

The Bible teaches that both blessings and struggles can be passed down through generations. Generational blessings and generational curses. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV): "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

Exodus 34:7 (NIV): "He punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me."

It is important for us to recognize these spiritual inheritances so that we can embrace what is good and reject what is harmful. We cannot go about with our heads buried in the sand ignoring the signs. Nor can we pretend to live on the mountaintop all the time where everything is nice and dandy. 

Some of us were born into strong Christian families, while many of us were not. Truth is, whether we come from a strong lineage of faith or a history of struggles, God gives each of us the opportunity to walk in a new spiritual identity through Christ. 

What am I saying? Our physical DNA cannot change, but our spiritual DNA must change. Amen?! 

Why? Because we were born in sin and shapen in iniquity and our natural propensity or inclination is towards wrongdoing. Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23, and Jeremiah 17:9.

The Bible warns about the consequences of sin traveling through family lines. 

Jeremiah 32:18 (NIV) states: "You show love to thousands but bring the consequences of the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty."

Thankfully, this does not mean God unfairly punishes children for the sins of their parents, but rather that sinful patterns tend to repeat unless they are intentionally broken. 

Families might struggle with generational cycles of poverty, addiction, fear, or broken relationships. These are spiritual genetic markers that, without intervention, can continue for generations.

Some of the ways family history can (and note I say can because there are always exceptions) affect us in today's world include:

1.Emotional and Behavioural Patterns – If you live in a family that handles conflict with conflict, where siblings don’t talk things out, where the father resorts to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pressures of caring for his family, chances are the children will grow up adopting some of these habits. 

2.Cultural and Social Identity – Ever noticed that people from a certain community, for example, tend to be more violent than people from another area in the same country? Ever noticed that you hardly hear about a child from a rich family committing murder? 

3.Health. This one even the doctors are convinced that if your mother or grandfather had diabetes or heart disease, you will get it or your children and their children will get it. We know the first question they ask when you go for a visit, right? Who in your family has this or that disease?  Medically, we do have a genetic predisposition to certain health conditions and these diseases can be passed down through family history.

4.Financial Habits – Can we work and save some money? Does it have to be paycheck to paycheck every month year after year? Can we keep off Amazon and Shein spending what we don’t have? 

We are looking today at our spiritual DNA and how our family history affects us today.

5.Relationship Dynamics – This one is so prevalent it hurts! Broken relationships seem to be the order of the day in some family circles. And the way some parents raise their children can influence how these children form and maintain their own relationships.

6. Career Choices – Family background, career paths, and educational values can guide career aspirations and professional expectations. Children tend to want to become what they see their parents doing, good or bad.

And #7.Psychological Impact – Unresolved family issues or trauma can influence mental health, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships.

The good thing about this all, Family, is that God has a better plan for us. Jeremiah 29:10-11 (MSG) “This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

Family, God wants us to inherit generational blessings. We are reminded today that while we may inherit spiritual influences, we are not bound by them. Every person has the ability to choose a new path through Christ. Faith can be passed down when families prioritize sharing God's words with the next generation.

Ezekiel 18:19-20 (NIV) makes this clear: "Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. The one who sins is the one who will die."

So although we may be shaped by our family history, we are responsible for our own spiritual decisions. We do not have to continue in the sins of our ancestors. We can break free and establish a new Spiritual DNA

For those who recognize negative spiritual patterns in their family, there is hope. God provides a way to break free and establish a new spiritual lineage.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) gives us guidance:"Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires… be made new in the attitude of your minds; and… put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) tells us: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

John 1:12 (NIV) reminds us: "Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."

And 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) declares: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

Family, we have a new inheritance in Christ. Let us choose today to walk in that inheritance, break negative cycles, and embrace the blessings God has for us and future generations. 

Let us build new traditions rooted in God’s Word—prayer, worship, generousity, and godly living. When we do this, we set the foundation for future generations to inherit a legacy of faith, because in Christ, we are part of God’s family, and He gives us a new spiritual identity.

aub - Tue18Mar25

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