Wise Planning

Romans 16:25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.

Planning is a responsibility not an option. The only way to avoid relapse is careful planning not to. Without a plan our best laid intentions will be turned to ruin.

God has a plan for every individual and every group of individuals. Taking time to translate His plan into our daily living is a practical action we all must learn and use.

Obeying God

Deuteronomy 30:16 I command you today: Love GOD, your God. Walk in his ways.

Obeying God is on our best interest. God calls us to keep His commands, while reminding us that His laws are not hidden from us or beyond our reach. There are no acceptable excuses for ignoring God's commandments now we know what they are. His laws are written in the Bible and clearly evident in the world around us . Obeying them is reasonable, sensible and beneficial. The most difficult part of obeying God is making the decision to start now.

Honour Each Other

Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.

Giving honour is better than receiving it.

We can honour each other in one of two ways. One involves ulterior motives. Honouring our superiors so they will reward us, out employees so they will work harder, the wealthy so they will contribute to a cause, the powerful so they will use their power for us not against us .

The other way is God's way, which involves love. In recovery we are called to honour people because they have been created in God's image. Because they are a unique contribution to our lives.

If God's way sounds to difficult why not try putting others first for a while and see what happens.

Honesty breeds Trust.

James 5:12 Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you.

In our previous existence (living with addiction and compulsion) we obtained reputations for exaggerating or being careless with the truth. Now we have a set of rules (the principles if recovery) which require we always be honest.

Through being honest others will believe us when we offer a simple yes or no. When we avoid lying, carelessness with the truth and omission of facts we become known as someone who is trustworthy.

I'm sure we all want to be trusted. The only way to achieve trust is to live honestly.

Genuine Faith

Matthew 5:20 “I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

There must be genuine faith behind our actions. We must not allow our weaknesses to prevent God from changing our hearts.

God judges our hearts as well as our deeds. It is our heart that determines our true allegiance.

Be just as concerned about you attitudes, which others don't see as you are about your actions they do.

Real caring is returned

Acts 20:36-37 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good- bye.

You can build strong relationships with others in recovery by sharing, caring, rejoicing and praying with them. You will attract others only by giving yourself to them.

God expects us to care for those in need.

Galatians 4:14 even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.

The world is often callous to people's pain and misery. Jesus called us to serve the homeless, hungry, sick and imprisoned as if we were serving Him.

In recovery we are called to take special care of those not as far down the road as we are. Sticking with the winners is good advice we all receive in early recovery.

As we grow we become the winners and need to make time for others as they seek to learn from us.

Do you avoid the pain of others or are you willing to care for them as if they we Jesus?

God expects caring that encourages.

Romans 1:6 You are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

To have an effect in peoples lives, you first need to love them and believe in them. People still caught up in addiction and compulsion won't care how much you know, until they first know how much you care.

As we meet together, share together and walk the road of recovery together we need to let others know how deeply we care about their continued growth.

God cares about us

John 11:35 Then Jesus wept.

John stresses that we have a God who cares. Jesus showed God's concern for us when He wept. Demonstrating that our sorrow and pain effects God. He wants us as an act of recovery to reveal our true feelings to Him, not to hide behind a mask but to be real.

Through facing and sharing our reality God will supply what we need to overcome every hurt we have and will experience. Why? Because He cares!

Caring requires action!

James 1:22 don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Caring is active. It is important to know what God's word says, but it is much more important to obey it. We can measure the effectiveness of our recovery by asking ourselves "does this align with God's word?", "what effect will this have on my attitude and behaviour towards others?.

If the answers are 'YES' and 'POSITIVE' then we are on the right track and should give thanks to God for the changes He us making in us.

Who's the Boss?

Joshua 24:15 If you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve.

Today there is a fairly common resentment towards those in authority and power. Usually those with the resentment desire positions of authority themselves, where they can call the shots and bully others into living life their way.

Having a position of authority however makes you a target for criticism. Criticism that is not always warranted but is a result of our 'human nature'. The best intentions of most of us fail when we succumb to the pressures of self-will.

In recovery we must acknowledge and accept their is only One Boss, and it is not us. It is Jesus Christ. The Boss who lives in our hearts, walks with us daily and guides us continually on the path to sobriety and wholeness.

Choose today to follow Him, if you don't already.

Step 2: God cares about me (1)

John 5:19 the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing.

Caring is a choice. Because He cares about us God made a choice to send Jesus to live out His purpose to 'Save Sinners' via death on the cross. Through unity to God, Jesus lived and died and was raised the way God wanted Him to be.

The first part of Step 2 was about believing and becoming a believer. The second part is about God's care for us in providing Jesus as a means of restoration and identification to Him.

As we identify with Jesus in this step through faith (believing) we must honour Him for who He is and live as He wants us to live. The question is not 'what would Jesus do?' but 'what does Jesus want me to do?'

This Week - B.E.L.I.E.V.E.

☀ BENEFICIAL

1 Corinthians 1:30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

☀ ENTHUSIASTIC

Ephesians 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

☀ LIVING

1 Corinthians 4:20 the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

☀ INTERNAL
Matthew 5:8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world-- your mind and heart-- put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

☀ ENCOURAGING

Romans 1:12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

☀ VICTORIOUS

1 Corinthians 15:57 Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

☀ EASY

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light

Are you a believer?

Romans 8:9 if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about.

If you have sincerely trusted God for your recovery and acknowledged Jesus is the One True Higher Power, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life. You won't know He has come if you are waiting for a certain feeling, you will know He has come because Jesus promised He would.

When the Holy Spirit is working in your life you will believe that Jesus is God's Son and eternal life comes through Him (1 John 5:5) you will begin to act as He directs (Romans 8:5). You will find help in daily living through reliance on Him. You will be empowered by Him for service and become a follower of His purpose for your life.

As you do this you will begin to understand how much God's cares about you and will want to give Glory to Him for all He has done, is doing and will do.

Believing doesn't mean a trouble free ride

"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." John 16:33

Jesus tells us to expect difficulties in life, but it is possible to grow from them if we 'Depend On God'. Depending on God doesn't mean we have to pretend to be happy when we face difficulty but we should have a positive attitude and outlook to the possibilities for personal growth through it. Tough times teach us perserverance and patience, two essential characteristics to lasting, growing recovery.

Believing doesn't guarantee an easy life.

Job 1:11 Put out your hand against all He has, and He will be cursing you to your face.

Satan attacked Job's motives. Trying to prove Job worshipped God not out of love, but because God had given him so much.

Satan accurately analysed why many people trust God. Fair weather believers follow God only when things are going their way. They live life in WIIFM, 'What's In It For Me'.

Adversity destroys superficial faith. But it also makes true believers dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand the storms.

To enjoy healthy, growing recovery put you faith firmly into God so you can withstand the storms that will come as you learn this new way if living called - RECOVERY

What we believe is expressed in how we treat outsiders

Ephesians 2:14pFor Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

The circles we mixed in when using were sometimes exclusive. Only admitting others like ourselves. Recovery breaks down those barriers and accepts all people who come seeking to find and maintain spiritual growth. Nothing should keep us from telling others about our 'recovery walk' and the things God has and is doing in and through us.

Build bridges not walls.

God is watching us..

If you knew the most important person in the world was watching you, would you act different? Guess what? He is!

2 Corinthians 2:17 we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

What we believe is expressed in how we treat each other.

Acts 10:36 This is the message of Good News —that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

The Bible tells us to 'live in peace'. This doesn't eliminate differences of opinion. But through our 'new lives' of faith we should be able to work together despite our differences. In recovery we should be committed to meeting the needs of 'others'.

This commitment to others leads to peace between individuals and in whatever fellowship body we find ourselves in.

Are you at peace with others? If not consider what you can do , with God's help to heal those relatoonahips.

Believing leads to Christ like living.

Colossians 3:17 whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

As we grow in recovery believe more, doubt less we change. Our behaviour becomes more rational. It begins to bring honour to God for what He is doing for us.

In Colossians 3 Paul offers us strategies to help us live for God daily.

1. Imitate Christ's forgiving attitude 3:12
2. Let love guide your life. 3:14
3. Let the peace of Christ rule in your
heart. 3:15
4. Always be thankful. 3:15
5. Keep God's Word in you at all
times. 3:16
6. Live as Christ's representative.

Doing everything in the name of Jesus Christ means bringing honour to God in every aspect of our daily living.

Welcome News

Ezekiel 11:19 I will put a new spirit within you.

It is normal to welcome good news. Only abnormal mentally unbalanced people fail to be affected by something good that is announced that is to their advantage.

God could not have offered anything better than when He announced His personal desire to put a new spirit within any willing heart. With all the misery associated with our past, why do we refuse this gracious position? God has taken the initiative - the offer still stands! Now, if it is going to be - then it is up to me.

It's not enough to believe God exists.

James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

It is true good deeds cannot earn salvation, true faith always results in changed life. In recovery we can be led to believe if we just attend meetings, learn the principles of recovery, share our story and acknowledge belief in a Higher Power we will be okay. But the reality is even those who are still using can do those things. True faith involves commitment of your whole self to God.

Believing is more than action

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Our outward actions will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith - heartfelt inner confidence that God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. Through continued trust in Him right. attitudes and actions will naturally follow.

Believing includes action

Deuteronomy 27:10 Listen to the Voice of GOD, your God. Keep his commandments.

When we decide to believe in God, we must also decide to follow His ways. Attitude and character changes that occur as a result of learning and applying the principles of recovery also show that we believe in God. Can people see in you the changes God has and is making?

Believing is a confession of the heart

If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be savedRomans 10:9

As you grow in recovery and desire to know God better you may ask the question "How do I become a Chrsitian" The verse above gives you a beautiful answer. Declare with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is a risen Lord and you will be saved.

Love is not self-centred

Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you: so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts. 1 Peter 1:22

Sincere love involves selfless giving: a self-centred person can't truly love. God's love and forgiveness frees us to take our eyes off of ourselves and helps us to meet the needs of others. By His sacrifice on the cross Jesus showed that He truly loves us. Now that we are in recovery from selfishness we need to follow his example and give ourselves sacrificially to His purpose.

Listen, hear and obey God's commands

Deuteronomy 5:1 “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!

Listening carefully involves having quiet time with God, to pray and await His response.

Hearing includes absorbing and accepting information from and about God. Which includes truth we sometimes don't want to absorb and accept.

Obeying means understanding the meaning of God's commands and their implications. Then putting them into action in our daily lives.

All three are essential to a growing relationship with God.