The Power of Choice

Last week, we looked at teachability as a key attribute of growth. This week, we pause to consider life choices and the changes we choose to embrace.

Life choices determine your access to spiritual inheritance. While your bloodline may carry blessings and weight, your response to that heritage ultimately decides your outcome. The birthright is precious and must not be treated lightly.

Take Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. Though born into a place of privilege, he was unstable and sinned by sleeping with Bilhah (Genesis 35:22; 49:3–4). Because of this, he lost the birthright, which was divided among Joseph, Levi, and Judah (1 Chronicles 5:1–2). Specifically, the birthright in Genesis was split so that the priesthood went to Levi, kingship (the sceptre) to Judah, and the double portion to Joseph.

Reuben’s failure was that he trivialised consecration and intimacy with God, prioritising fleeting, earthly pleasures over eternal spiritual weight. His choice cost him spiritual stature, and he forfeited the blessing he was born to receive.

The truth is that everyone inherits something through their heritage: natural abilities, spiritual blessings, but also weaknesses and patterns of sin or dysfunction. Generational curses, behavioural deficiencies, and repeated struggles can pass down through families.

However, through covenant with God, these inherited patterns can be broken. You have the power to establish a new order in your life that honours God’s purpose and blessing.

The Bible reveals a clear pattern regarding hereditary lines, bloodlines, blessing, and battle. Some people simply inherit patterns—both good and bad. Others rise up to break destructive cycles and claim their God-given destiny.

For example, Levi’s descendants were initially cursed by Jacob (Genesis 49:5–7). Yet, by choosing to stand with God (Exodus 32:26), they inherited the priesthood (Deuteronomy 33:8–10). Similarly, although the tribe of Judah carried a history of failure, David broke the cycle and established the royal line that ultimately led to the Messiah.

Your heritage sets the stage, but your choices write the script of your destiny. Covenant with God is the key to breaking inherited limitations and walking in the blessing you were meant to receive.

We have a great inheritance in Christ Jesus. Through Him, we become sons of God and gain access to all that belongs to the Father. This spiritual inheritance is rich, enduring, and far beyond anything we could earn.

But it is not enough to simply recognise what we have inherited—whether naturally or spiritually. We must align every inheritance with the word of God, and be willing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in order to appropriate it rightly. Not every tradition or legacy is meant to be preserved. Even good spiritual blessings must be stewarded with faith, discernment, and obedience. Without alignment, we risk misusing or forfeiting what was intended for our good.

Paul said to Timothy, “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well.” 1 Timothy 1:18
“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” Timothy 4:14 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6

Kay Alli