Judges 11:1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah...2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.
The story of Jephthah amazes me whenever i read through. He was born by a prostitute for his father. In semitic cultures and even ours, such a child would be called 'bastard'. As a matter of fact, not many people would be favourably disposed towards that child because they would see that kind of child through cultural and religious prism. The mistake of the father and lifestyle of the mother is what they'll see in him but God is seeing a different person entirely. Such was the case of Jepthah.
His kinsmen sent him out and told him point blank that he doesn't deserve any inheritance from his father's house. Jepthah did not allow his background to put his back on the ground. He was not born a mighty man of valour, his childhood must have been terrible but he decided that if he couldn't control his background, then he could decide his future. The same man that was sent out shamefully became indispensable when they needed to fight their enemies in vs 6: 'And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.'
Dearest, your background is not your fault, you did not decide how you were born neither did you choose your parent or nationality. These things are beyond your control but i'm glad to tell you that with God, you can decide your future. Your parent's illegal relationship may have produced you but you're legitimate like every other child because in God's lexicon, there are no bastards. Do not let your past experiences and background hold you down, you don't have control over those things. Start to envision your future because you have a great role to play in it. Let your vision drive you and let your pursuit be your goal.
CONFESSION: I am not a slave to my background and past experiences. I breakforth into the fulfilment of my destiny In Jesus name.