Matthew 23:12 If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

Luke 14:11 says “What I’m saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face. But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

In the common actions of life, we are marked by what we do. In many cases, our pride will bring us low. The Bible teaches works to glorify God are better than works that glorify self.

Tonight at Living Life Recovery is Hastings we are discussing the topic ‘KEEP IT SIMPLE’ 
For some of us, we take that statement as ‘DO NOTHING’  I heard it said “if you change nothing, nothing changes.’ and it is so true.

Simplicity is a good foundation for recovery. Matthew 11:25 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticated and know-it-alls but spelt them out clearly to ordinary people.

Jesus spoke about little children, their humility and openness to receive the truth of God’s word. We sometimes make recovery more complicated than it really is. “If you don’t pick up the first drink, drug, whatever you can’t get drunk, stoned or distracted from the recovery process.” Simple but not necessarily easy. How open are you to the fact that only God knows everything and can do everything?

Accepting and responding to God is the greatest act of humility. Again not always easy, nut simple. 1 Corinthians 1:21  God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find God through human brilliance, and then he stepped in and saved all those who believed his message, which the world calls foolish and silly. I believe everyone in the process of recovery comes face to face with God. At that time the choice we make to accept or reject Him for who He is and what He has done for us determines whether we move forward or go backwards in the process.

Simplicity in recovery reminds us of the basics found in the first three steps. “I can’t, He can, I think I will let Him.” Powerlessness and unmanageability in our lives are a direct result of our poor choices. Now I know there are other circumstances involved for which people will say “You don’t understand what I went through.” and they are right. I don’t, but God does and to deal with what we all went through and show us the way forward in spiritual recovery He sent His Son to die for our sin so that we can be reconciled to Him. A simple choice – ACCEPT OR REJECT!