Stick with the Winners!

Advice is often very cheap. Have you noticed how many people there are who are only too ready to tell you what is good for you? Or there are those who constantly want to tell you how you should live your life. Often we end up making a mess of our lives, not because we do not know what is right, but because we prefer to listen to the advice of those who are making a mess of their own lives. If you want to be winner, follow the example and advice of winners.

If you want advice about recovery, speak to those who are living successful, recovered lives, those who have put problem of addiction behind them. Ask yourself, "Do I really need to listen to the advice of losers in my life or can I be a winner by listening to and following the winners?"

MEDITATION
There are many voices in the world telling me what to do and what is good for me.May I always remember that God is also speaking to me and that He has something special to say to me. I can hear God speaking through His word, the Bible, and through the lives of those who are living victorious lives.He also speaks to me through His creation and during times of quiet meditation.

If I can learn to appreciate that there is goodness all around me in the world I can begin to view life differently.I will align to God's overtures of mercy and love. I will put myself within the ranks of those with a desire to know God.

The God for us all

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

WELCOME NEWS!

"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.

For or against?

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.

The temptations!

Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Temptation is part of Satan's plan to separate us from God.
Temptation is an invitation to live a self-serving life that leads to rebellion against God.
Temptation usually hits hardest in our areas of weakness.
Temptation can strike at any time in any area of our lives.

Temptation leads to relapse: The Good News is none of us has a monopoly on temptation and if we let Him God will not only show us the way out but also give us what we need to overcome our temptations.

Remember - We all need a plan to overcome temptation - Most people fail because they don't plan not too.....

Never the Same Again

'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