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Monthly Archives: December 2017
Emptiness sometimes follows spiritual success
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1 Kings 19:3-4 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Elijah experienced emptiness after spiritual victory. Defeating the prophets of Baal and answered prayer for rain.
In our lives, emptiness sometimes also follows spiritual success. Yesterday was my last day at work for 2017. For the next couple of weeks, I don’t have work or recovery meetings to focus and leaving work today that made me feel a bit empty. And then I remembered Matthew 11:28 which says “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”
It is important for us all in the process of recovery to remember it is important to take time to rest and refresh. God’s plans and purpose for our lives are life-long and to accomplish it we need to take time to take care of our physical, spiritual and emotional health.
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Day 342, 2017
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We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.
Proverbs 16:9
At Living Life Recovery this week we are looking at the topic of Peace at Connect Christian Church, Hastings. This is week three of our four-week advent series. In our acrostic this week we are discussing:
- Praising God for everything.
- Experiencing all that God has to offer us.
- Accepting God’s will for our lives.
- Committing every area of our lives to God.
- Expecting God to help us because He promises He will.
Proverbs 16:9 tells us we plan the way we want to live. Step Three says “I am making a decision to let God help me change and commit to working with Him to do so.” Changing the way we live through the recovery process is a conscious decision that requires commitment. The second half of the verse tells us it is only through commitment to a personal daily relationship with God, praying to Him, Reading the Word and applying it He makes us able to change our lives.
Recovery requires commitment to the change process. Step Seven says “Through acknowledgement of God’s supreme power, I humbly ask Him to help me change my sinful habits and attitudes.” Commitment to the change process requires humility and acknowledgement of our own inability to change on our own. Pastor Rick Warren says “If you could change on your own you would have already done it.”
As we come to the close of another year each of us to to examine the year past and plan for the year ahead. Each of us needs to recommit to the change process and in humility accept that I “God is God and I am not.” Each of us needs to strategies now on what we want 2018 to look like t this time next year.
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Day 341, 2017
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Have Faith in God
Romans 5:1 We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace! That and to be happy were the only two things I ever wanted in life while using. I drank to forget and when I sobered up there was never any peace because of the things I did when I drank.
For a number of years now in my life I have experienced the ‘Peace of God’ ’The peace beyond understanding.’ I received it through putting my faith in my Higher Power, Jesus Christ. It is very real and it is indescribable.
If you are like I was I feel for you and I am glad I don’t live inside your head. If you are like me and you want peace, then I encourage you to investigate a personal relationship with Jesus. If you really want Him to help you to regain control of your life at some stage, you are going to have to trust him.
- Are you willing to pray for God’s peace in your life today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus today help me to trust You and put my faith in You and all You can do for me.
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Day 340, 2017
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Lasting Change
John 3:36 “Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life. Anyone who does not believe in the Son will not have life. God’s anger remains on them.”
God’s opposition to evil is permanent. So is His love for us. When we don’t believe in God and Jesus as His Son we cannot understand the peace and power that come from knowing Him and living with Him as our One True Higher Power.
Life changes when you believe in God and understand He loves you, no matter what you do, think or say. He loves you not because of who you are or have done but because of Jesus and what He has done for us.
I spent many years on my own trying to change Archie. Always failing because I tried to do it according to my faith or lack of faith in myself.
When I accepted that God is God and I am not I learned to let Him be God, my God.
- Do you believe in Jesus?
- Do you believe He is God’s Son?
Prayer: Lord I believe, heal my unbelief
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Day 335, 2017
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Call on God’s power
Matthew 5:20 “Here is what I tell you. You must be Godlier than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. If you are not, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Holiness is our new standard of living. There will be times when we are still tempted to return to our old ways. Peter tell to be holy in everything we do 1 Peter 1:15 The one who chose you is holy. So you should be holy in all that you do. That is not always an easy task with some of the things we are faced with in life transformation. The way to be holy in everything is complete devotion to God and developing His qualities for living in every area of our lives.
- How are you adopting God’s qualities of living in your daily life?
Prayer: God I call on Your power today too free me from the grip of my sinful nature and help me live Your qualities in every area of my life.
