Change of nature required.

Often we want to stop but can't. It's then we need to depend on God.

Romans 7:25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Probation

We are all on probation and the conditions are clear.

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Self abandonment

God longs for us to show total abandonment of ourselves to His control. Through it He will bring us uplifting encouragement and strength.

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him.
Isaiah 42:1

The way we were.

Addiction and compulsion compelled us to extreme behaviour. The Gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to extreme change. How will you live today?

1 Corinthians 4:20-21 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?

Start your own group.

All over the world for many different reasons small groups provide support to those who gather and share. We are created for community. Gathering together for the purpose of prayer, support and strength benefits us all on our recovery walk.

John 17:15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

Get some Spiritual Excercise

Physical exercise has value, but Spiritual exercise is much more important.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. ”

Reaching out to others

Sharing our story with others to help them discover their need of God and recovery will mean having to go into deep, uncomfortable places. When this is required we need to remember Jesus is with us and He has already been there.

Luke 5:4 When he finished teaching, he said to Simon,"Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."

Lead by example

There will always be people who are jealous or threatened by our recovery. They may try and stop us achieving God's purpose so they can feel important or superior. Like Daniel we need to prove ourselves capable, stay on course and lead by example.

Daniel 6:4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.

Count the cost

Counting the cost applies not only on our decision to follow Jesus, but also on the cost of recovery. If we cannot give up our sinful lifestyle for the long haul then recovery will be short lived.

Luke 14:28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

Contentment

There is nowhere as bad as nowhere. Which is where a lot of us feel we are. True contentment in life comes from faith and trust in God.

John 3:36 That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn't see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that."

God is waiting for you.

God is waiting for us to call on him. He is not reluctant. He is generous, patient and faithful. Waiting for our appeal. 'Call upon me' He says. Jeremiah 33:3

Isaiah 30:18 The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Stop! Look and Travel

God tells us to stand at the crossroad and look in order for us to come to our senses. He proposes self-examination, sorting ourselves out. God's way is a choice we are all faced with in recovery. It is sad when people do not want to know Him and follow His way.

Trust Him today and travel His way.

Jeremiah 6:16 “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your soul.

Perserverance brings reward

A prize gained without effort isn't really a prize.

Proverbs 10:5Make hay while the sun shines-- that's smart; go fishing during harvest-- that's stupid.

Doing it tough?

James 5:13a Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray.

A good time does not require wine.

Time to stop supposing and opposing. To start believing and receiving.

Ephesians 5:18-19 Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ.

One in the bond of love

Addiction is an international problem. Addicts belong to a universal brotherhood. The common denominator? Sinfulness, all wearing the same tag 'sinner'. As much as many of us would like not to identify with this tag, every person is born into one family, from one source. Sin is already in us, when we arrive on this earth. Corrupt humanity craves sinful habits with one way to freedom from it. Jesus is the ONE..

Acts 17:26-28 Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide- and- seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well:'We're the God- created.'

Fear of past actions.

If you don't want the past to haunt you. Tell the truth.

Proverbs 12:19 Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

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Be prepared

Revelation 16:15 “ I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed. ”

Free Spirits

Addiction took us captive but Jesus sets us free.

2 Corinthians 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Father’s Day

Father's Day for many of us in recovery can be a difficult day. A day when we remember the mistakes of our earthly fathers and the pains of our past.

Today I was drawn to the story of Noah, and his relationship with his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Noah was a man who was obedient to God. Building a huge boat, despite facing ridicule. Obeying God and teaching his three sons to do the same. Then following the flood receding becoming a farmer, working the land and one day making a mistake his sons could see plainly. Getting drunk on his home made wine and ending up naked in his tent Genesis 9:18-23. The Bible tells us Noah then lived another 350 years after the flood. One would assume in that time he didn't stop being a father and continued his relationship with his sons.

As I read the story of Noah and his sons I asked myself 'What are the lessons here for me as a father of three beautiful children?'

The answers:

1. Obeying God is a lifelong commitment and I need to be in it for the long haul.
   
2. To teach my children right I must 'lead by example' I can't have two sets of rules. The Bible is clear on how we should live.
   
3. If Noah, a righteous man, God's man can give in to the excesses of alcohol I must continually be on my guard to avoid becoming vulnerable to the temptations that exist in my life.
   
4. It's okay to make a mistake as long as I recognise it, confess it to God and make restitution when I am required to do so.

God's gift to us

He loves us so much He provided a way out of addiction, compulsion and everything else. That way is faith in Jesus and trust in Him.

Ephesians 2:8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish!

Guilty

For a big part of my recovery I admired others and tried to copy their behaviour. Then I stopped, prayed, listened and found my own identity in Him.

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Memories

Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. Ididn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink? ”

Ongoing correction

None of us looks forward to correction. But in recovery we are continually corrected by God as we learn a new way of living and relating.

1 John 1:8 If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense.

Don't give up on others

Even when you feel like you are not getting through, When others are on the relapse merry go round. Perservere in spreading the 'Good News' of recovery.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 work firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.