Proverbs 25:18 (NLT) Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an axe, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
Lying about others destroys our integrity. Dishonesty about others can lead to us believing the lies. We can lose the ability to tell the difference between truth and lies. By believing our own lies we deceive ourselves, alienate ourselves from God and lose credibility in our relationships with others.
Lying about others can lead to injustice. When we falsely accuse others of thing that are untrue others can hear and believe the lies we tell and treat the accused unjustly.
Lying about others can undo our new found way of living. It can create conflict in our relationships and destroy trust. Recovery requires honesty in our relationships (no matter how hard it may seem our how much it may hurt) To grow in recovery we need to our old way of living, which includes our lies and deception remain in the past. Through application of the steps we have accept Christ's gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10) and we need to renew our commitment to Him daily. Through His gift we need to develop a new character, head in a different direction and have a new way of thinking and acting through the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us.
Friendship with God is a privilege. Jesus called His disciples – His friends. We too are invited to be His friends and share in the most important friendship we will ever share in. Friends talk face to face and God wants to talk to each of us face to face daily, not because we are perfect, gifted or powerful but because He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us so we could enjoy everlasting friendship with Him.
John 16:23-24 (NLT)
At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy
Our relationships with others should never compromise our relationship with God. We should not form binding relationships with those who do not believe in our recovery (non believers) because it might weaken our commitment to recovery and to God. We must be active in our witness to what God has done in us, without locking ourselves into personal or business relationships that can lead to relapse and separation from God.
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)
"He makes me lie down in green pastures." (Psalm 23:2)
It is good to be alive, to feel the sun or rain on your face. Sure we still have 'bad days' but on the whole, life without the old hangovers, the old sickness, the old guilt feelings is just great. Peace of mind and a clear conscience are more important to us than any passing pleasure or personal gain. When we look back on our lives, we have to admit that there have been times when we have 'enjoyed' those things which were not good for us. At first our addictions and compulsive behaviour brought us a certain amount of pleasure, but in time we were to learn that there was a very high price to be paid.
Discussions with others will bring almost unanimous agreement that substance abuse and compulsion have robbed us of vision, appreciation, enjoyment. The wonderful world of nature was hidden from us. There was no time to relax and meditate upon the beauty which is everywhere in God's world. Submission to God enforces a laying down of previous compulsions so we can be encompassed within a new lay-out. One of calm, composure, contentment.
MEDITATION
Only through a right relationship with God can I enjoy life to the full. In following Him, "He makes me lie down in green pastures"; He brings lasting joys and pleasures into my life.
I will try to share these real joys with other people. I will not talk or boast of those things which look or sound great but which only brought me unhappiness.
PRAYER
I pray that I may maintain a right relationship with God, I pray that I may enjoy the green pastures He leads me through.
Acts 7:31-32 (New Living Translation)
When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, 'I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.
Moses had a life-changing experience at the burning bush. God spoke, showing Himself supremely, and Moses trembled in awe. The bush that kept burning and was never consumed, reminded Moses that his God was indestructible, independent and indefinable. One of the statements made by Almighty God to His servant is of far-reaching consequence, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob". Not just an impersonal god for all seasons, for all time; for special occasions or impromptu meetings, for ceremonial recognition or interfering autocracy. No, No, NO! God in love and mercy revealed that He is God of the everyday and a God for everyman.
The God of the individual; your God and my God
"I will put a new spirit within you." (Ezekiel 11:19)
It is normal to welcome good news. Only abnormal, mentally unbalanced folk fail to be affected by something good that is announced or addressed in personal terms.
Almighty God could hardly have offered anything more startling, exciting or far-reaching, than when He announced His personal desire to 'put a new spirit within' any willing heart. What a great gesture? What a marvellous plan? With all the misery associated with our past life, why is it that we refuse this gracious provision? God has taken the initiative - the offer still stands! Now, if it's going to be - then it is up to me!
MEDITATION
I must first of all consider myself unworthy, then count the cost of a handover of everything - my past, my records; my guilt, my wretchedness, my foolishness, my failure, my treatment of others .. and MYSELF. I am willing to be specific in naming my sins, but must base my coming to God on the simple prayer, "God be merciful to me, a sinner".
This sets in motion the kind of change that is a pre-requisite for the wonder-working change God will make, when we are sincere about our desire for personal experience of His promised word, "I will put a new spirit within you". WE must will to have His will fulfilled in us. It is then a case for thanking Him, trusting and taking.
The old spirit has to be exposed: a spirit of rebellion, corruption, contradiction; and then it has to be expelled. Sometimes this bad news is a positive, but painful experience. GOOD NEWS! God is always waiting and willing. Are we?
PRAYER
"You are the God that does wonders", the Psalmist said. 0 Lord, let me not withstand Your sovereign rights to take me and remake me.
Matthew 12:30 (NLT)
"Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me
Whose side are we really on? Sometimes we want to be on the side of everything that is good, clean and wholesome and then at other times we still want to taste and experience those things which we know only hurt and harm us and those we love. It is as if there are two forces pulling us in different directions at the same time. We know that we cannot go in both directions and still remain the person God wants us to be; "Anyone who isn't with me opposes me ".
It is factual that we all become caught "between two opinions" at times. Opposing forces woo us. Human nature tends to want to sit on the fence, half-and-half, rather than make a firm decision. Jesus Christ demands we make a choice. Either we are for Him, or we are against Him. He is not seeking barrackers, or backers, but brave men and women ready to follow Him wholeheartedly, without any reserve or condition. It seems too difficult. Remember, Christ imparts what we require to do it!
MEDITATION
When temptations come to me, I know that my God is close at hand to help me overcome - even my greatest weakness. I want my life to be a witness to the power and love of God.
PRAYER
I pray that my life will speak for God and that I will be seen to be on His side. I pray that He will keep me from following other forces or powers that are in the world.
'Freedom is what we have — Christ has set us free! Stand then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.'
(Galatians 5:1 GNB)
The discovery that I was an alcoholic was a bitter pill to swallow. Public declaration of my addiction was even harder. Whilst I am convinced of the truth I was an alcoholic, I am also convinced God has created me new. Being honest about my addiction, finally, helped me to change my ways. I have admitted that my consumption of alcohol was symptomatic of personal complex problems which stem from my sinful nature. It took sometime to understand and accept this. It seemed such an alarming, and disarming fact. But, gradually, conviction which I believe was of God, made me bow to the inevitable. I'm glad now that I arrived at a moment of truth. I was faced with a realistic picture of myself. I knew then that totally, I needed to be put right, and that alcohol alone was not my problem.
MEDITATION
It was no good running away to try and set my life straight. Although repulsed some-what by my past, and shattered by the deepness of rottenness within me, I realised it would be stupid to deny my situation. Things had to change. Running away from a life of reality would mean destining me to live a life of camouflage, and pretence, whilst painfully sick within. I thank God for the humiliation of defeat, for the rough road to awareness, and for bringing me to a halt. I knew that there had to be a complete break with the past, and that my life had to be remade.
It was no good running away to try and set my life straight. Although repulsed some-what by my past, and shattered by the deepness of rottenness within me, I realised it would be stupid to deny my situation. Things had to change. Running away from a life of reality would mean destining me to live a life of camouflage, and pretence, whilst painfully sick within. I thank God for the humiliation of defeat, for the rough road to awareness, and for bringing me to a halt. I knew that there had to be a complete break with the past, and that my life had to be remade.
I knew I could not do it alone and so I reached up to God and submitted my life to doing it His way.
PRAYER
Thank you God for rescuing me and guiding me on the road to recovery. Help me to always seek and follow your path for my life.Because of your involvement in and through my life I know today I will never be the same again. Amen
Job 3:23 (The Life Recovery Bible) "Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?"
It is a nagging horror — having no self-esteem. We all feel like `a nobody' at times. Deep-seated feelings of inferiority cannot easily be dispensed with. Dreams do not drive away such depression of spirits from loss of courage or hope. Possibility thinking fails to rid us of the `blues'. Doubt about ever overcoming our innermost downward slope only worsens the feelings, memories, and impulses that have usually affected our character psychologically and given rise to abnormal, compulsive behaviour..
Modem remedies offered to heal nagging self-images usually omit a crucial fact: we do not create a sense of self-worth simply by our own thoughts and actions. Self-assertion is not enough. Psychologists tell us that unfulfilled desires for self-esteem lead to bitterness and agonising frustration.
MEDITATION
When God has wanted something done, almost always He has taken hold of someone who felt inferior. The first step toward achieving better feelings about ourselves is to recognise our unworthiness in the sight of God. We become somebody, precisely at the moment we start realising God alone can make us somebody and wants to do so. We are valuable because Christ died for us. We are valuable because God made us in His own image. He sees us for what we are meant to be and can become. He is in the work of reclaiming those who have weakly surrendered unconditionally to error. Never forget that the Bible records that great heroes only became such with divine assistance. ` Their weakness was turned to strength.' (Hebrews 11:34) Jesus Christ can make something of our lives. He will accept us, allow us to belong, refine our feelings, all vital factors in rising above our `nobody', image of ourselves and our situations.
We do not need to resort to shameful tactics to gain attention. We do not need to remain isolated, feeling ignored. Burying ourselves in work, to prove capabilities, will not work this problem out. Try Jesus, the ONE TRUE HIGHER POWER as the WAY out, and up.
PRAYER
Lord, I'm sick of feeling ignored, unwanted, lonely, and inferior. Lift my sights to see You as my Saviour.
Malachi 1:2 (Life Recovery Bible)
"I have always loved you," says the Lord. But you retort, "Really? How have you loved us?"
We can take the granted for granted! The skies above, the air we breathe, the beauty of nature, things we use. God has granted us so much. What is our response to such provisions? There is something wrong with our chilling coldness of attitude when God gives us such lovely gifts, the gift of Jesus Christ, the gift of recovery, the gift of transformed lives. Our response reflects a poverty of soul and a personality problem. How do we react to compassionate kindness and caring concern? Are we afraid to display emotion? In the context of Recovery are we seeking to remain detached, not wanting to be too sensitive in or reaction to our new found way of living? Do we adopt a degree of hardness in refusing God's love?
MEDITATION
Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! (Hebrews 3:8 the Message)
Israel provoked God by such an attitude, and He was displeased. Refusal of God's love is offensive to Him. Love should generate love. Strange moving of the emotions should result from acceptance of the divine openings given to us as sinful rebels. What amazing grace!
A Jewish Rabbi one day was told by a devoted student, "Master, I love you". The teacher looked up sadly and asked the young man, "Do you know what hurts me, my son" The student rather puzzled stammered a few reckless words, which was a confession of not understanding. The Rabbi concluded: "My question is neither confusing nor irrelevant: if you do not know what hurts me, how can you truly love me?"
PRAYER
Forgive me for stumbling and hesitating, Lord. Draw me by Your great love, to a responsible response to YOU as my God and my Saviour.
1 Corinthians 2:4 (NLT)
And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Confidence grows out of reliance on God – In Judges 7:2-3
The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength. Therefore, tell the people, 'Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain
and go home.'" So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.
This reading serves to remind us we do not fight our battles in our own strength and we can be confident of victory over our addictions only when we put our confidence in God and not in ourselves, our groups or others.
The recovery story each of us knows best is our own (we lived it) and many of us know from personal experience and personal relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us the truth of the verse Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. It is in Him we find confidence and learn to share our message (transformation through obedience) with others , we don't need fancy words all we need is our own experience and testimony, confidence to share it and confidence that God will use it to transform the lives of those He connects us with. Rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit and He will direct your path.
That's why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go. 1 Corinthians 4:17 (The Life Recovery Bible)
One of the biggest stumbling blocks in recovery is complacency. We travel a distance down the recovery road and thin we have got it all together. We no longer need to attend meetings, apply the principles of recovery to our lives. We no longer need to fellowship with others or share our walk with them.
Complacency grows out of a false sense of security. Recovery can bring false security setting us to thinking all is well and when a problem arises or temptation is placed before us we fall, not meaning to- we just drop our guards. God has a plan for each of us, abandoning His plan mean we are also abandoning His help and can only lead to relapse.
Complacency is evidence we are not applying what we have learned. Often in recovery we begin well, learn all we need to learn, do all we need to do. But as we progress we stop applying what we have learned. We find easier, softer ways of living recovery, ways that are less inconvenient to our new found lifestyle. The principles of recovery require daily application in our lives. We must rededicate our lives to God daily, pray for Him to reveal His will for our lives and give us what we need to continually grow in our relationship with Him.
Complacency leads to relapse. Complacency leads to sin. Sin leads to relapse and relapse leads to death. In recovery we can become discouraged. It all seems too hard. We become complacent about our addictions and begin to believe we have got them beat. At these times we all need to remember where we came from, what we and God had to do to change that and that if we relapse we may never get back to where we are now.
One of the ways we can avoid complacency is through obtaining and accountability partner. Someone we trust in whom we can confide and be honest with. Someone who will identify complacency building in us and bring it to our attention. Someone who will remind us what we have learned and our need to apply it daily our lives.
Accountability means taking personal responsibility for our recovery. How easy it can be for us to overlook our own responsibilities in recovery and blame God when things go wrong. Unfortunately this attitude does not solve problems when they arise. When things go wrong in our lives the first place we need to look is within ourselves. What action or attitude is causing us to react the way we do? We then need to pray, wait on God's response and follow His direction in making things right.
In the scripture above Paul sent Timothy to the Corinthian believers to remind them of what he had taught them. He realized they needed someone to hold them accountable to the truth they had been taught. Someone to encourage them to persevere in their faith in God. Accountability in recovery is important. Accountability partners are there to help and remind us what works in recovery. They are also there to help us develop faithfulness as we grow in our relationship with God.
My old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (The Life Recovery Bible)
Almost all of live two lives, what people see on the outside and what is really going on inside. Growing up we learn what outward signs will please others in our lives. Like putting on a mask, our clothes and body language are shaped to fit into whatever situations we find ourselves in. Over time we learn to hide serious issues such as addiction and other problems.
The world judges us on our outward appearances but God judges us on what's on the inside. What's in our hearts?
Today I want to highlight some things that we need to be aware of as we walk the recovery road.
It is my prayer for all who read this that we can stop living two lives and trust God to help us become the people He created us to be, achieving the purposes He has planned for us each through faith in Him and the power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us on a daily basis.
But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves James 1:22 (The Life Recovery Bible)
God has a purpose for all of us and He has made a way for all of us to achieve and sustain sobriety, which He reveals to us through His Word.
He has given it to us to make the way clear and He has given it to us intentionally so we will know how to respond to the issues of life as they arise without alcohol, drugs, gambling or what ever other addiction we may be overcoming.
God has a purpose for giving us His word.
To ensure His purposes will be accomplished in and through each of us.
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:8-11 (The Life Recovery Bible)
To Tell Us We Are Lost
Through the Bible we learn about: heaven, hell and sin and our need for a Saviour.
Every effort we make to save ourselves fails and will continue to fail until we recognize we are lost and in need of salvation.
As the person who has a physical illness must know of that illness and that he is in need of medical attention, the addict must also know of their spiritual sickness and see his need for salvation.
Anyone can stop using as many of us have done time and time again yet nothing ion our lives change.
Until we recognize our need to be saved from our lost condition, we will never make the changes that we must make in life to accomplish effective salvation.
Sin dooms us to be lost.
God created man as a pure, upright being.
But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path. (Eccl. 7:29)
When man disobeyed God and sinned, he was separated from God.
So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Gen. 3:23-24)
As sin separated the first man from God, sin separates man from God today.
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope ( Eph. 2:12)
Separated, because of his sins, is lost and doomed to eternal death—separation from God in the place of eternal punishment.
When we apply the word of God to ourselves and live by it, we are fellowship with both the Father and Son, and thus has salvation.
Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with
both the Father and the Son. (2 John 9)
We must keep the commands of God being faithful even to the point of death and he will receive the crown of life at the final day.
Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you
remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)
The Solution
God's purpose in giving us His word is only fulfilled when each of learns its message and applies it to our live so that we might have the salvation of our souls
The Question
Have you obeyed the word of God so that you might have your sins forgiven, be saved and achieve lasting life transformation and recovery?
You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (The Life Recovery Bible)
Recovery is not concerned with following rules. It is about developing responsibility, balance and good decision making practices on a
day-to-day basis. Practicing the principles of the Twelve Steps helps us grow, but instead of becoming regimental rule-keepers we need to
grow into the responsibility and fulfillment that can only be found through God and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
As we grow spiritually in recovery God expects us to follow-through.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
Becoming a Christian is not making a new start in life; it is receiving a new life to start with.”
—Anonymous, from Men of Integrity, (September/October ‘99).
The hope of New Life begins with Jesus-
Matthew 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Jesus means "The Lord Saves" Jesus came to earth to save us because we can't save ourselves from our sin and it's consequences.
The hope of new life is guaranteed by Jesus' resurrection -
If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
We can enjoy our new life in Christ as we are united with Him in His death and resurrection. Our evil desires, our bondage to our dependencies and our live for for sin died with Him. Now resurrected with Him through faith we have unbroken fellowship with God.
The hope of new life is freedom from bondage to our dependencies -
Colossians 2:13-14
When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's Cross.
Before we believed (Steps 2&3) and committed our lives to God our nature was evil. We disobeyed, rebelled and ignored God. In recovery, living our new lives God has crucified the old rebellious nature and replaced it with a new loving one. God doesn't take us out of the world or make us robots - we will feel like going back some times to the old life. The difference now is that through faith we are equipped to cope with whatever comes our way.
