Tag: Obey

Permanent Commitment

9th August 2022 aeboyle 2022, August, Reflection Comments Off on Permanent Commitment

Romans 2:4 Do you make fun of God’s great kindness and favour? Do you make fun of God when he is patient with you? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is meant to turn you away from your sins?

 How serious are you about God? Are you committed to the process of recovery?

Commitment to God and the process must be consistent. In the process of recovery, we made a commitment to obey God, to trust Him. The way we live now shows others our strength and commitment to the process.

Commitment to God and the process of recovery need to be lifelong commitments.  God expects our commitment to the process of spiritual growth to be permanent, not temporary.

 

  • Are you committed to the recovery process and continuing to change what needs to be changed in your life?

Prayer: God if anything gets in the way of my commitment to the process of recovery help me remove it.

Living life Recovery Reflection

4o Days of Recovery Day 36

5th August 2022 aeboyle 2022, 4o Days of Recovery, August Comments Off on 4o Days of Recovery Day 36

I know I missed a day….

All they gave Him [God] was lip service; they lied to Him with their tongues. Their hearts were not loyal to Him. They did not keep His covenant. Yet He was merciful and forgave their sins. Many times He held back His anger and did not unleash His fury! For He remembered that they were merely mortal, gone like a breath of wind that never returns. Psalms 78:36-39

The slogan for Living Life Recovery. Given to me by the Holy Spirit in 2005 why I commenced this ministry is “RECOVERY IS ABOUT LEARNING TO LIVE LIFE. LIVING LIFE IS MORE THAN JUST RECOVERY.” I don’t know about you but early in recovery, I learned to talk a good game. And if I am honest I probably still do but for different reasons than I used to. I used to talk a good game (lip service) because I learned to express the horror of my story in meetings and one on one to people because they believed I was doing so well. It wasn’t true and recovery for me back in the beginning 1987 was all about me. I learned to talk of a higher power I never knew, expressed faith I never had and embellished my story to make it fit whatever group at which I was sharing.

Then one night alone in my room in rehab in South Australia I met the real Higher Power and He invited me to follow Him and never live the way I used to live again. He had always been there in my walk, prompting me to follow Him and obey Him but He knew I was merely mortal, destined to failure when left to my own devices. I said yes and from that day to this day I have never returned to or desired to return to my old way of life.

Recovery is about learning to live life. God’s way Living life is more than just recovery. Life is not just about meetings. Life is about living. Listen obediently,…… Do what you’re told so that you’ll have a good life, a life of abundance and bounty, just as God promised, in a land abounding in milk and honey. Deuteronomy 6:3

Discussion Starter #106

14th July 2022 aeboyle 2022, Discussion Starters, July Comments Off on Discussion Starter #106

The Right Attitude

Audio File

Ephesians 5:6 Don’t let anyone fool you with worthless words. People who say things like that aren’t obeying God. He is angry with them.

What we say affects others and what others say affects us.

I used to work with a guy who used to complain about the company we worked for. The bosses of the company and other people in the company. He used to always tell me and anyone else who would listen how he should be in charge because he could do it better. When challenged about why he didn’t leave he said “I need the job”

Listen to me “If you are in recovery and all you can do is complain about it isn’t going to work.”

Recovery requires commitment and you are not going to commit to something you dislike or resent.

Discussion-Starter #106Download

How do you feel about being in recovery?

Share how you feel about recovery on our ‘Let’s talk’ forum

Prayer: Lord if I have the wrong attitude towards recovery adjust it.

2022 | Day Three | Morning Harmony

3rd January 2022 aeboyle 2021, January, Morning Harmony, Comments Off on 2022 | Day Three | Morning Harmony

God is singular and sovereign. Who can argue with Him? He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants. If He tears something down it can’t be rebuilt. If He locks people, they’re locked up for good. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And, not only for us. for everyone who believes in Him. There is no difference between us and them. David confirms this way of looking at life. Saying that “the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man.” How blessed is God! What a blessing He is to us! Father of Jesus Christ who takes us to high places of blessing in Him.

GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO OBEY HIM
“If you obey all of my commandments, I will give you regular rains, and the land will yield bumper crops, and the trees will be loaded with fruit long after the normal time! And grapes will still be ripening when sowing time comes again. You shall eat your fill, and live safely in the land,” Leviticus 26:3-5

  • “ALL MY COMMANDS” not just the ones you are comfortable with. God demnds 100% commitment in every area of our lives.

sPIRITUAL GROWTH is our greatest blessing
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3

  • Unity pleases God. None of us were created to live in isolation. Seeking God is essential in the recovery process. Fod’s love should be evident in our lives and a clear sign of our unity with Him, leding to unity with others.

GODS WORD BRINGS US BLESSING
Whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. James 1:25

  • The Bible is true, perfect and ever lasting. It gives us wisdom and truth – about God, ourselves and living life aligned to His will. It is God inspired, judges our lives and helps us to grow spiritually. “That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.”

How blessed is God! What a blessing He is to us!
Father of Jesus Christ who takes us to high places of blessing in Him

Step Eleven – Week Two

14th November 2021 aeboyle 2021, Living Life Recovery, November, Step 11 Comments Off on Step Eleven – Week Two

WHY READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE?

In order to discover God’s purpose for my life, implement it and to improve my relationship with Him, I will spend time daily in prayer, reading the Bible and meditating on i

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

– God prepares us, through learning, implementing and living the twelve steps to become the best version of who created us to be. The Twelve Steps accompanied by Scripture are our training programme to living God’s way.

Hebrews 4:12 God means what he says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.

– Studying the Bible, not just reading it regularly and checking ourselves against it shape our character. Through prayer the Holy Spirit highlights what we need to do, how it needs to be done, when it needs to be done and equips us to DO IT!

John 8:31-32 Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.”

– The truth about ourselves, about God and about life is revealed through daily interaction with God’s Word. We experience it through obedience to what His Word reveals to us personally, as a group and as a COMMUNITY.

Psalms 119:50-52 These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me. The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don’t budge from your revelation. I watch for your ancient landmark words, and know I’m on the right track.

– The Bible helps us through bad times. Recovery is not always an easy process but God’s promise to us of changed life is always true and keeps us on the right track when we STAY FOCUSED.

Psalms 119:26-27 When I told my story, you responded; train me well in your deep wisdom. Help me understand these things inside and out so I can ponder your miracle-wonders.

– Through the Bible God responds to us and trains us in His wisdom. Through the Bible we learn to understand His ways and adapt them to our daily living. Changed life begins on the inside.

Psalms 119:89 What God says stays, as permanent as the heavens. His truth never goes out of fashion; it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up. His Word and truth are as dependable as ever.

– The Bible is as relevant and dependable as it has always been. Reading and studying it daily changes our thinking, belief and commitment to changing our lives and becoming all He is calling us to be.

#VerseForToday

7th November 2021 aeboyle 2021, November, Step 11, Verse For Today Comments Off on #VerseForToday

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

‘No Turning Back’

22nd June 2021 aeboyle 2021, June, Step 6 Comments Off on ‘No Turning Back’

After discovering my sinful habits and attitudes and confessing them,
I am now willing to let God change me.

…… What do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life. Look around you: Everything you see is God’s—the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. Deuteronomy 10:12-14

Often we ask, What does God expect of me?
Here Moses gives a summary that is simple in form and easy to remember.

Here are the essentials:
(1) Live in His presence (have reverence for Him).
(2) Follow the road He sets out for you.
(3) Love Him.
(4) Serve Him with everything you have in you.
(5) Obey His commandments.
(6) Live a good life.
(7) Understand everything above and beyond is His and He is your God.

Focus Verse: Deuteronomy 10:12 “Live in his presence ……… follow the road He sets out for you.”

There are people who would prefer to go back rather than do what needs to be done to achieve recovery. There are others who almost get there but give just before it is achieved. Disappointingly many people turn to God, put their faith in Him only to turn back after a short time. This is a deliberate departure from living God’s way. A backward step backsliding, backing off, and backing down.

God never goes back on His word. 2 Timothy 2:13  “Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us.” When we give our word to God. To follow Him by letting Him lead we too should not turn back but do ‘the work’ of living in His presence and following the road He sets before us. Then and only then can we truly understand and enjoy all He has in store for us and is already doing in us.

God is committed to us and our recovery even when we feel like quitting.

12th May 2021 aeboyle 2021, May, Thought For Today Comments Off on God is committed to us and our recovery even when we feel like quitting.

Obedience to God, through faith and application of all we have learned in recovery, is proof we trust Him.

Paul says in Philippians 2:12-13 “my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts; For it is God who causes your desires and of your acts, for his good pleasure.”

Recovery is not a show, an act we put on for others. Obedience to God’s guidance in our lives and in our recovery is a requirement of spiritual growth. Our desire to obey God and comes directly from our relationship with Him. The Twelve Steps talk about contacting God through prayer, reading the Bible, and meditating on what it says and what God says to us. Obedience to what He says to us shows that we are willing to go to any lengths to do what He says.

Anyone who has read my blog knows that for me obedience began during relapse. When I heard God say to me “Archie if you want to get and maintain recovery, you must walk away from Western Australia.” A comfortable place I had lived all of my teenage life. Was it easy? NO! was it necessary YES! Have there been times I wanted to quit and run back to the comfort I knew? YES!

One thing I used to hear people in recovery rooms say regularly, that used to annoy me was “It gets easier” So I will not say that. What I will say is what it says in the heading of this post: ‘GOD IS COMMITTED TO YOU! ‘ and if you are willing to put your faith and trust in Him. If you are willing, through a relationship with Him to seek His will, go where He tells you to and do what He tells you to do your life is going to change in ways you can only imagine right now.

True obedience is about following His lead to the best of your ability and trusting Him for the things you can’t do in your own strength. Deuteronomy 5:32  says “be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don’t veer off to the right or the left.” He will lead you if you let Him. He will tell you where to go and what to do, without you having to interpret it. My faith is very simple and has been since I gave my life to Him in 1989. He opens doors and I walk through them. Often without knowing what is on the other side. Why? because I trust Him and know that whatever He wants me to do He has already prepared the way.

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by GOD. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. Psalms 119:1-3

silhouette of tree near body of water during golden hour
Trust and Obey cause there’s no other way

What The Bible Says

3rd January 2021 aeboyle 2020, January, What The Bible Says Comments Off on What The Bible Says

Romans 7:15-20 What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

Paul shares three lessons he has learned in dealing with his sinful nature:

Knowledge of ‘the rules’ is not enough.
Romans 7:9  I went along without paying much attention to it. But once sin got its hands on the law code and decked itself out in all that finery, I was fooled, and fell for it.

Self-determination us not enough
Romans 7:15 What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.

Turning to God doesn’t eliminate the temptation
Romans 7:22-25 I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Becoming like Jesus, learning and obeying God’s will for our lives as we progress in the process of ‘Living Life Recovery’ is a life long process. We cannot earn God’s favor through good behavior. It takes work on our own character to develop into the people God is calling us to be. None of us need recovery because life has worked out for us. We tried and we failed in our own strength. 2021 is the year to discover His strength and His power and live according to His guidance and commandments.

Discussion Starter #14

14th January 2020 aeboyle 2020, Discussion Starters, January, Living Life Recovery Comments Off on Discussion Starter #14

Permitted Doesn’t Always Mean ‘Good for You’

1 Corinthians 6:12 Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.

I started drinking at the age of 15. I became legally old enough to drink at the age of 18. Once I turned 18 people said, “He’s old enough to drink, let him drink.”

Because of my addictive personality mood altering drugs were not good for me, at any age. Yet once I was legal the world was happy for me to live my life as a drunk and so was I.

I never came to recovery to stop drinking. I came to recovery to discover a way to control my drinking. As a result of the belief I would learn to control my drinking I relapsed a number of times.

Through my times on the ‘merry go round’ and the messing up of my life I finally realised ‘my life was a mess’ and, to stop it being a mess I had to stop using alcohol and drugs as a means of ignoring the mess.

  • When did you realize your life was a mess and out of control?
  • How are those closest to you responding to your being in recovery?

#Know #Understand #Obey

UNDERSTAND YOUR
STARTING POINT
It’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. Romans 12:3

  • Evaluating yourself by the worldly standards of success and achievement can cause you to think too much about your worth in the eyes of others and thus miss your true value in God’s eyes.

FIX YOUR ATTENTION ON GOD
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2

  • God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for us. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey him

KNOWLEDGE ISN’T EVERYTHING
Knowing isn’t everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn’t that insensitive. We need to be sensitive to the fact that we’re not all at the same level of understanding in this.
1 Corinthians 8:7

  • Maturity comes from seeking God’s will for our lives and following it.

Prayer: Today God help me to accept abstinence from all mind-altering substances is my only safe path to recovery.

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