#VerseForToday
We grow spiritually when we learn the importance of loving others
Living Life Recovery » Living Life in Recovery
Recovery is about learning to Live Life
Living Life Recovery is a safe place where people can come and investigate the reality of God’s promises for their life, at there own pace.
Category: April,
#ThoughtForToday
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.
Psalms 42:11
Bad Memories can haunt us. Memories of relationship break-ups, childhood trauma, loved ones gone, beaten up or other painful experiences, often leave permanent impressions on our minds, as well as affecting our inner most spirit. Often it seems our addictions followed in the wake of torment suffered. Must we be forever subject to the torment? No! It can take time to overcome our problems, but God can and will erase the unpleasantness because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
Many of us wallow in our pasts and sink easily into the harbour of such memories. Ask forgiveness for allowing these feelings to overcome what you know is your new reality. Psalm 42 suggests the simple method of remembering God and the good things as we battle against our bad memories. We must disqualify the potency of attack and the tendency to dwell in what was through concentrating of the positive that now exists.
denounce the devil, who feeds you poisonous ideas on your own worth. Pray to God, delve into His precious word and be mentally safeguarded by it. we have a Savior, His name is Jesus Christ and He gives us the power we need to tackle any problem life and the world through at us.
#Thought for Today
Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: “Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you’ll be as good as new.” Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, “I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I’d at least get clean.” He stomped off, mad as a hornet. But his servants caught up with him and said, “Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new. 2 Kings 5:10-14
Naaman reluctantly agreed to follow Elisha’s instructions; and when he did he was healed.
When you look at yourself in the mirror what do you see? When we were caught up in our addictions and compulsions we avoided looking in the mirror. As we grow in recovery and in our faith in God looking at ourselves should become easier. However if our unwilling spirit refuses to humbly yield to God’s process of life-change we will still be tormented with who we were, not who we are now of who we are becoming.
Naaman was reluctant at first he didn’t want to yield to the crazy ideas proposed by a man of God. He believed there was some other way to be clean than bathing in the uninviting River Jordan, But, persuaded by his advisors he did as he was commanded. Although he was humiliated nothing short of a miracle happened. His leprosy was cleansed and he was made healthy,
Not until we go all the way with God and do all He commands us to do, regardless of how humiliating it is will we experience true recovery and true freedom. The Holy Spirit of God will probe our lives and reveal to us the things we need to change in our character to keep moving forward. The Twelve Steps are steps of self-discovery of character. A chance to see who we really are and who God is calling us to be so we can become of service to Him/\.
Don’t Go it Alone
WE CAME TO BELIEVE THAT GOD COULD RESTORE US TO SANITY.
It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
A community is an important spiritual practice in the recovery process. The Trinity is a community of love. We were built for relationship. Helping others and being helped by others a necessity to spiritual maturity. If we could achieve recovery on our own we would have, but we couldn’t and that is why we now find ourselves in need of God’s help to overcome the insanity that has become our normal way of living. God wants to use others to help us to overcome the things that have brought us down in the past. He brings us into relationship with them, through relationship with Him, and, He expects us to be open and honest with them.
Accepting Jesus as our One True Higher Power makes us part of God’s family, subjects of His community. A community in which Jesus is the founder and the leader. A community in which no one stands alone. Restoration of our sanity is a result of inclusion in the community God has placed us in. Managing relationships in that community requires loyalty, care, humility, and prayer, not only that we will know God’s will for our lives but we will also use His power in us to achieve it.
WE CAME TO BELIEVE
Scripture Reading: Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?” But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.” But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.” Thomas said, “My Master! My God!” Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” John 20:19-29
Focus Verse: John 20:29 Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
If you are like Thomas, imagine what it would be like to ‘believe without seeing.’ – That’s faith. If you’re like the other disciples, remember to thank God for the faith He has given you.
BELIEF IN GOD SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY ACTION
Deuteronomy 27:10 Listen to the Voice of God, your God. Keep his commandments and regulations that I’m commanding you today.
BELIEF IN GOD SHOULD CHANGE HOW WE LIVE NOW
Mark 1:15 “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”
BELIEF IN GOD IS PUTTING OUR TRUST COMPLETELY IN HIM
Romans 10:9 “Jesus is my Master”— God’s work of doing in us what He did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you.
The second part of Step Two talks about ‘believing God can and will restore us to sanity.” more on step two tomorrow.
Living Life Recovery
Living Life Recovery is a safe place where people can come, share and investigate the realities of God’s promises for themselves.
We believe that as we investigate God’s promises for our lives and practice the ‘Spiritual Principles of Recovery’ as outlined in ‘God’s Word’ we will find the strength and freedom we need to live productive and peaceful lives.
We welcome anyone who has a sincere desire to change their lives. To rise above the pain and turmoil caused by dependencies and compulsive behaviors their own lives or the lives of a loved one or friend.
2022, Discussion Starter, Day 148
Responsible Trust in God requires seeking His will and His power to carry it out. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://livingliferecovery.com/2022/05/28/2022-day-148-discussion-starter/
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2022 | Day One Hundred and Ten | Thought for Today
We must give up our selfish ways to allow God to heal us and empower us to be the people He is calling us to be. We must believe in and accept His grace. His free gist of forgiveness offered through faith in Jesus Christ and Hi ability to teach us to live lives He approves of.
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Let God Arise
“The Lord is risen indeed!” Luke 24:34
It is significant that these few words became the salutation with which the followers of Jesus greeted each other after the Resurrection. Jesus reappearing after enduring the horrors of death spelt liberation for the disciples. This super natural event instead of being a shroud to mock or mystify them motivated them. The sadness and loneliness which hung over them was swallowed up in the glory of transformation. They became suddenly charged with a new outlook. A future was assured. Defeat had been exchanged for victory, “Hallelujah” became the heart accompaniment to their confesses greeting, “The Lord is risen.”
Loneliness began in the garden of Eden, through a wrong choice that preferred things rather than God. Instead of the heart of paradise, fringe-dwelling ensued, in a state of separation. We have all suffered it. Isolation from God is the most grievous loneliness we can experience. The blackest night to exist afar from God. Jesus was lonely for us. All alone he endured the cross, the torment, shame and suffering. The decision to accept His invitation and become His followers may destine us to a form of loneliness. we may need to be a lone voice in confession of Him, or express protest against anti-Christian behavior. We will, at times have to stand alone to honor Him, and be counted His.
Resurrection power will revive us when we are downcast. A living Christ within us can dispel gloom and doom, and dispense gladness. Are we willing to allow Him to arise into new areas of command in our lives?
The Promised Rescuer
He rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
Psalm 91:3 in the authorized version uses the word ‘snare’ rather than trap. The noose carefully placed, the apparatus deliberately set, the wires carefully camouflaged, Positioned for the purpose of ensnaring and capturing. Often people who have ceased using their drug of choice will talk about the sudden impulse to return to heir old haunts. Testifying to the traps of old ways of thinking, acting and reacting, Even when they know better.
Today I encourage each person reading this to get a pen and a piece of paper and make a list of the things can trap you into relapse. Awareness of them will help you to deal with them if and when they arise. Secondly list the things that could snare your spiritually and stunt your spiritual growth as you travel the road to recovery. If you retain this list, no doubt you will want to add too it as your progress in your spiritual journey. Hidden dangers can be unexpected, little things can trip us up if we are not prepared for them.
Step Ten talks about taking ‘continued daily inventory’ When thigs are going well we can be vulnerable to traps and snares.
It is encouraging for us to be boosted daily by the Word of God. He is on a rescue mission, alert to things that we can’t see, both good and bad. He offers to keep us from falling if we allow Him to hold onto us firmly, so we are not trapped or caught unawares.
Look Before You Leap
God took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!
Diving in at the deep end can be dangerous. Uncertainty reality when we don’t know the depth of what we are getting into. It is similarly naturally to be unsure when entering recovery.
What Jesus did for us at Calvary, dying on a cross for our sin should be enough for us to want a personal relationship with Him. Enough for us to choose to make Him our One True Higher Power, Recovery comes not through independence but from dependence on Him.
The sense of wonderment that is associated with new discoveries is enjoyable. Plunging into the boundless waters of salvation through faith, accepting Him and what He has done for us outweighs the uneasiness. The deep waters of spiritual awareness will provide plenty of excitement in our search for recovery. The invitational Gospel challenges us to leave our old ways of living and launch ourselves into the deep, To forego our old attitudes and beliefs, for His better and greater ways
#ThoughtForToday
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. 2 Corinthians 9:8-9
In these verses Paul reminds us God is the giver of all our blessings. Matthew 6:32 says People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over the wrong things,. He focuses on us being ready for anything and be prepared to GO THE EXTRA MILE when required.
Paul assures us hat God will supply whatever we need to lead the lives He is calling us you live. we here in the rooms of recovery ‘to keep it you have to give it away.’ ‘Sharing is caring.’ Take time today to communicate with someone not as far down the recovery road as you are and encourage them to ‘Keep moving forward.
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Living Life Recovery
Living Life Recovery is a safe place where people can come, share and investigate the realities of God’s promises for themselves.
We believe that as we investigate God’s promises for our lives and practice the ‘Spiritual Principles of Recovery’ as outlined in ‘God’s Word’ we will find the strength and freedom we need to live productive and peaceful lives.
We welcome anyone who has a sincere desire to change their lives. To rise above the pain and turmoil caused by dependencies and compulsive behaviors their own lives or the lives of a loved one or friend.
2022, Discussion Starter, Day 148
Responsible Trust in God requires seeking His will and His power to carry it out. This episode is also available as a blog post: https://livingliferecovery.com/2022/05/28/2022-day-148-discussion-starter/
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