Jesus wants us healed spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. Many times we forget that Jesus wants to heal us emotionally, which also includes painful memories. When we have something in our lives that we want to forget, we often “numb” it by ignoring it or trying to forget it even happened. Often it could be the abuse we have received from parents, spouses, co-workers, bosses, friends and others that we let penetrate our emotions. When we do not forgive them it prevents us from receiving the grace that God wants to give us.
Jesus told us in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
We also know from Isaiah (53:4-5) that He bore our pain and suffering:
Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted, but he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.
Jesus wants us to heal our deepest emotional wounds.
Think of a memory that you have usually blocked out of mind because of the pain. It might be someone abandoning you or belittling you. Focus on it and now put Jesus in the memory. See Him in the middle of the memory. When you remember the memory, see the eyes of Jesus looking with love at you. Now see His open arms beckoning you to come to Him. Let Him tell you how much He loves you. Let His love fill you and heal the words that are being said against you. Receive the healing of the memory. Praise God and trust Jesus to heal all the memories.
Another thing that is critical in praying for healing of memories is Reconciliation. Confess your lack of forgiveness and any animosity you have regarding the memory. Additionally, attending daily Mass and receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is essential to being healed of memories. Also, making a Holy Hour can be extremely important in the healing of our painful memories.
Jesus is our healer. He is asking us to pray and ask for healing in every aspect of our lives. Often we ignore the healing of our family tree. Why is this important? We see this clearly in Deuteronomy 5:9-10:
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, bringing punishment for their parents’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation, but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
We know we need to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, might and strength but what do we do when the sins of our ancestors impact us?
I recommend that you diagram at least three generations to get a sense of recurring patterns that need to be healed. In doing this, don’t forget to focus also on the gifts and blessings of your family tree. This is something to build upon for your own personal spiritual growth and ministries.
Examine the areas that need to be healed. It is important to be truthful. We know that truth will set us free. Pray and let the Lord reveal to you the areas in your family that need to be healed.
Occult Bondage. This is absolutely essential for freedom. Has anyone in your family willingly given themselves to the devil? This could impact you and your immediate family unless you are healed of it in your family tree. Many people think going to a fortune teller is harmless. It is not. The same is true with tarot cards, New Age crystals, Ouija boards and anything else that promises power away from the Lord.
Addictions. There are many addictions in our family trees. Pray to the Lord to have Him reveal what they are. We know common ones are alcohol, drugs, sex, money, being a “work alcoholic,” gambling, pornography and spending money. They all need to be broken in the name of Jesus. When you pray, ask the Lord what the best approach to break the chain of addition in your family is. He might suggest some type of fasting and various prayer regimens. Don’t be afraid or believe that your family has always had a particular addiction. Jesus will break it with your prayer and persistence!
Abortions. This, along with stillbirths and miscarriages, can be patterns in your family. Abortion in particular needs to be dealt with through prayer. Don’t ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen. You might say, “I didn’t do it,” and while that might be true, other family members’ sins can impact you. Ask those who were killed by abortion or even those with miscarriages and still births to intercede and pray for you and your family! God is good and gracious!
Abandoned family members. We often see mentioned those who are the “black sheep” of the family. Maybe they rejected the family or were put in prison. Most family members don’t talk about them and ignore their existence. Pray for them. Love them with all your heart. Pray that they be healed, living or dead.
Lack of forgiveness. We need to pray fervently to be rid of the poison that infects so many families, lack of forgiveness. Maybe it is in your family, members not speaking to each other for years. This can be siblings, parents and children, cousins and so many other combinations. It is a poison that impacts everything spiritually. Pray fervently for forgiveness to be a cornerstone in your family tree and the spirituality of family members. Embrace faith and expect miracles in your family. You will never be disappointed!
Mental Health. Unfortunately, mental health issues, including those that lead to suicide, move from one generation to another. Another huge issue in family trees is depression. Did you ever notice how many families have many members who have this disease? Other mental health issues include other forms of psychosis and neurosis. It is important that you come against mental health issues in your family by praying fervently, especially the rosary.
Rejection of God. There are spirits that attack us and families and try to get us to reject God. Are there people in your family tree who are atheists or agnostics? Come against their lack of faith with the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet on a daily basis. My brothers and sisters, we are in a war against evil. The demonic forces want families broken and marriages ruined. Your prayers are a great weapon against it.
SEVEN CRITICAL STEPS
In summary, there are seven critical steps in healing the family tree through fervent prayer.
(1) Surrender to the unconditional love of God. Our Father wants to heal families past and present. The more you “stand in the gap” through consistent prayer, the greater will be the miracles impacting your family.
(2) Once you identify the generational sin impacting your family, come against it through spiritual weapons: rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet, Reconciliation, daily Mass and Eucharist, spiritual warfare prayers, adoration and praying in groups.
(3) When you receive the Eucharist, do it for family members who need healing and restoration. Daily Mass is critical!
(4) Heal lack of forgiveness in families through Reconciliation. Make sure you are part of the solution, not part of the problem.
(5) Do not receive the lies of the devil but ask for more faith for your family members and yourself. Ask for faith for family members who have none or very little.
(6) I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to have the Blessed Mother and the rosary part of the solution for healing the family tree. She is always there interceding for families when we call upon her.
(7) Use your gifts to build up the Body of Christ. When you say yes to Jesus and surrender your life to Him, He will use you in a significant way. You can be assured that when you bless the Lord by your thoughts, words and actions there will be blessings associated with your life and your family tree.
Deacon Steve Greco is a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Orange, California, and founder and president of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry (www.spiritfilledhearts.org), which engages in evangelization and the promotion of spirituality. Deacon Steve discusses Praying for Healing of Memories and Our Family Tree in greater detail in his 2020 book Miracles through Prayer, available through the Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry website.
