Until you have gone through the hard work of getting yourself emotionally whole. All of your future relationships become an attempt to complete yourself.
Les Parrott
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF BONDAGE
Listed below are some sources of spiritual bondages we normally see in our ministry with brief descriptions. No matter which areas with which we identify, the wonderful truth is that the redemptive power of the Cross of Christ brings freedom from any and all bondages. We will expound further on these topics later.
Unforgiveness is the most common root of a spiritual bondage. It can lead to resentment, bitterness and internal torment, demonization and physical ailments.
Relinquishment is holding onto our right to something that we think we deserved, or a future desire as, If only I were married, or if only I could have a baby, etc. It can also be the act of holding onto someone for whom we think we are responsible to control their life or behavior.
Condemnation can come from others’ expectations of what we should or should not have done. It can also be the result of our own negative self-talk or failure to live up to our own standards.
Vows, inner vows, or pledges are spoken or unspoken oaths or promises made in our hearts and are often made at a young age. These can blaze a trail for our wrong choices in life.
Bitter root judgments are vows that include another person as a reference point. These are basically judgments about others thatare caused by our resentment of that individual. We can begin to act like the ones we resent as our judgments come back on us.
Curses are often the result of negative words spoken over us. An authority figure may make a negative statement to a young person and the person will repeat it to himself over and over until it has become their core belief. Once it becomes a core belief, it then has the power of a curse over that person.
Soul ties are formed between any two people who have a strong emotional connection. This can be based on a sexual relationship, an inappropriate authority, or fantasies. Soul ties that are not broken can cause a spiritual bondage, which in turn, cause problems in other relationships.
Shame is the feeling of unworthiness, disgrace, or dishonor toward our own personhood. It is the inability to separate who we are from what we do. It can be a consequence we experience when we do not live up to expected or perceived standards or commonly held values.
Non-Christian spiritual experiences (false religions and the occult) are an open invitation to demonic influence in our lives.
Generational or hereditary sins can be recognized by family patterns such as alcoholism, divorce or adultery that are passed on from parents to children and to the children’s children.
Nationality or ethnic bondages can result from living under a commonly spoken, negative phrase regarding cultural traits such as: “Americans are prideful and materialistic.” “Germans are perfectionists.” or “The English are aloof.”