CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2019

FEEL YOUR FEELINGS

One of the things which many of us experienced while growing up, and which probably had something to do with our journey into an addictive and destructive lifestyle, was the lack of attention paid to us as children. We got used to being side-tracked in favour of other agendas which silenced our feelings and expectations. We gave up on going to anyone with our needs because we felt that no one knew us or even cared about who we were.

Don’t turn away from me. Don’t be angry with your servant. You are the only one who can help me. My God, don’t leave me all alone. You are my Savior. Even if my mother and father leave me, the Lord will take me in. (Psalm 27:9-10 ERV)

What a relief it is to find out that we matter to God. We can call out to God whenever we need to because He is always listening. We can speak to God as often as we like. God is interested in all the things that concern us. In His love and tenderness God is reaching out to us and inviting us to come close to His heart. Our feelings, however, may not be receptive to this unfamiliar love and care. We are so used to muzzling our negative feelings that positive feelings are abnormal to us and it may take some time to adjust.

I was patient while I waited for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry for help. I was sliding down into the pit of death, and he pulled me out. He brought me up out of the mud and dirt. He set my feet on a rock. He gave me a firm place to stand on. (Psalm 40:1-2 NIRV)

The Lord is a good Father and knows His children well. God is patient, compassionate and loving and will bring us to that place of trust where we will be willing to feel our feelings. Resentment against others, which is evident in our not being willing to feel, will be replaced with love, joy and peace as we are healed and restored by the love and power of our ever-patient God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please help me to walk from the darkness within me into the light of Your loving presence ever with me. Amen.

(co PiH)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019

SUNDAY PSALM – RESPECT FOR GOD

The following words were written thousands of years ago and yet they are an accurate description of many of us before we came into recovery.

Deep in the hearts of the wicked a voice tells them to do wrong. They have no respect for God. They lie to themselves. They don’t see their own faults, so they are not sorry for what they do. Their words are wicked lies. They have stopped doing anything wise or good. They make wicked plans in bed at night. They choose a way of life that does no good. And they never say no to anything evil. (Psalm 36:1-4 ERV)

In our past, we had no respect for the ways of God and were content to follow our own self-centered ways, doing nothing that was wise or good. By the grace of God, we eventually realized that we were powerless over our dependencies, and our lives had become unmanageable.

When we first came to hear about a power greater than ourselves who could restore us to sanity, we were unsure of who or what this power was. Those who had some experience of God told us that He knew us before we were born and loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus into the world to save us from the penalty of sin and an eternity without love. They also told us that when we repent of our sin and believe in the finished work of Jesus to restore us to a relationship with our Heavenly Father, we are adopted into God’s family. They also told us of God’s loving kindness and His protection over us when we become His children. The person who wrote this Psalm came to know this amazing God and continued to write:

Lord, your faithful love reaches to the sky. Your faithfulness is as high as the clouds. Your goodness is higher than the highest mountains. Your fairness is deeper than the deepest ocean. Lord, you protect people and animals. Nothing is more precious than your loving kindness. All people can find protection close to you. (Psalm 36:5-7 ERV)

Are we truly seeking to know more about this faithful God and His love for us? If not, why not?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You know all my ways, please help me to know Yours and to follow Your principles in everything I do and say. Amen (co Partners in Hope)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2019

LIVING BEYOND VIOLENCE

God hates violence and His heart is grieved by the things that humans do to one another. God's desire is that we live our lives without violence and do all we can to limit the spread of it.

The Lord examines those who are good and those who are wicked; he hates those who enjoy hurting others. (Psalm 11:5 ERV)

Most of us who have come out of a destructive lifestyle have needed (or still need) forgiveness for the way we acted abusively or violently towards others, their property, and their person. The list of ways we were violent with our words or our actions brings remorse as we make our inventories and realize how much harm we have caused. God is able and willing to forgive us and one of the best ways to stop ongoing violence is to let God heal our woundedness so we live in His peace rather than in the darkness of our own heart.

Jesus said, “The things that make people wrong are the things that come from the inside. All these bad things begin inside a person, in the mind: bad thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, doing bad things to people, lying, doing things that are morally wrong, jealousy, insulting people, proud talking, and foolish living.” (Mark 7:20-22 ERV)

We are wounded people mingling with other wounded people. The result is spiteful attitudes, words, and actions. While we don’t want to condone violence in any way and need to set whatever healthy boundaries are necessary, we also need to humble ourselves and let God teach us about overcoming evil with good, rather than letting other’s evil and violence draw similar responses from us.

Don’t pay back evil with evil. Don’t pay back unkind words with unkind words. Instead, pay back evil with kind words. This is what you have been chosen to do. You will receive a blessing by doing this. (1 Peter 3:9 NIRV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have shown me Your way of love and blessing in the face of violence. Help me to receive Your forgiveness for my own failings and live in the power of Your Spirit so I can bless others rather than respond to their evil with further evil. Amen
(co Partners in Hope)

I'm no saint. that is perhaps putting it mildly. I felt this post was speaking directly to me. I can be a decent loving person though. God, the rest of the world and I would like to see more of that good behaviour, more faithrequired.

Amen Dr. Smith! Life is a constant change and Salvation is a crucible of change. Iron dosn't change into steel without refining and tempering. That takes effort and patience. We are not higher than angels... Yet.

CHANGE is the KEY that validates our 'Conversion' -
the world may be oblivious to your 'change', but,
your 'fruits' will bear witness unto GOD...

EPH. 2:8-9-10.
For by grace are you saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.

Love is the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit..

Love = action...

steps 12 & 1 combined. We can either be the harvesters or the harvest.
Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (NIV)

Either way is ok because we are still blessed..
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2019

SETTING THE RIGHT GOALS

Many who struggle with addictive behaviours are not happy because their lives are unfulfilled, and they are not achieving what they really want in life. Happiness and satisfaction are measures of reasonable success in the goals and plans one is working towards achieving.

Living effectively with goals requires planning, working, and being accountable for how one is progressing according to the plan. Some goals include short-term activities, like what we will accomplish today or this week. Others are long-term, so we require plans for a number of years to work towards our intended goal. These are all important components of a satisfying and successful life. However, our plans must include working towards character goals that are God’s principles for successful living – not just for today but for the rest of our lives.

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV)

What would character development look like in my life if I applied common "goal setting strategies” and identified a few things that are important to me and I am willing to work on? What would be required in the short term to work towards these goals? Am I willing to get specific about the steps to be taken and the time frame required to accomplish them? Am I willing to note my progress and see any stumble in the light of the overall progress I am making?

I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. (Psalm 57:2 NLT)

The first task we should engage in is to agree with God’s plan for character development. Character goals include: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Focusing on God’s plan will lead to ultimate success, success as defined in God’s Word. We are promised that as these qualities are practiced in our life, we will be useful and fruitful and will not stumble. Sounds like a great relapse prevention plan.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to give You the opportunity to grow my character. Show me the goals I should set that will fulfill Your plan for my life. Amen

Oops that was tomorrows. I thought I posted todays already. Oh well I'm no guru, I'm just in recovery too! Here we go. From Partners in hope. (again)


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2019

SURRENDER TO YOUR WILL

As we begin to follow God’s principles in all affairs, we may have questions about the future and how God is going to work everything together for our good and His glory. God has infinite power to help us leave behind the things we are in bondage to and which hinder our life and relationship with Him. Our part is to trust God and persevere through the obstacles we may encounter on our new path.

Commit your life to the Lord. Here is what he will do if you trust in him. He will make the reward for your godly life shine like the dawn. He will make the proof of your honest life shine like the sun at noon. (Psalm 37:5-6 NIRV)

Will God make all things right if we surrender to Him? Are we willing to trust God with our future? Asking questions like these is part of our decision making. In order to trust God, we need to know Him and know that He is trustworthy. Reading the Bible will give us knowledge of the character of God and how He acts on behalf of those who trust in Him. If we have made a decision to trust Him, are we committed to obeying the guidance that God gives us through His word and in answer to our prayers?

God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change. If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised. (Numbers 23:19 ERV)

Getting to know the richness of God’s love for us will help us trust Him and surrender to His will. Jesus knew of the love our Heavenly Father has for us and because of this great love He was willing to come to earth to die for our sins. Jesus did not come to judge us but to save us. Are we willing trust and surrender our will to this God of infinite love and mercy?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to improve my conscious contact with You and get to know You and Your will for my life. Help me to rely on You for the power to change and bring my thoughts and actions into obedience to Your word. Amen

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019

FINDING RELIEF FROM LONELINESS

God made us for relationship with Him and with each other. Sharing life with friends is a natural yearning of the human heart. Often we have tried to cover our loneliness with substances, destructive habits, and unhealthy relationships. Living in recovery, without whatever we used to overcome our loneliness in the past, is a challenge. God wants to give us relief from our loneliness and welcome us into His family today.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. He [God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 25:16-17, 147:3 NIV)

We are learning to put more accurate names to our emotions and loneliness has several different expressions. Grief and loss can trigger intense loneliness. Sometimes it’s simply feeling ignored or left out. Being misunderstood and feeling uncared for is high on the list of loneliness indicators. Feeling drained or empty is also labelled as being lonely. We can feel lonely on our own or when surrounded by lots of people. It’s all about feeling disconnected and adrift.

God, who lives in his holy palace, is a father to orphans, and he takes care of widows. God provides homes for those who are lonely. He frees people from prison and makes them happy. (Psalm 68:5-6a ERV)

As we identify what’s going on in us we can begin to sort out an appropriate solution. Are we reaching out to spend time with God and others? Are we hiding behind walls of selfprotection or are we being real with others so connections can be made? When we are feeling worthless and lonely, what positive truths are we choosing to affirm? When we seek Him, God promises to strengthen and comfort us with His unfailing love.

Be strong and be brave. Don’t be afraid of those people because the Lord your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. Even if my mother and father leave me, the Lord will take me in. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 27:10 ERV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for your unfailing love for me. When I feel disconnected, help me to affirm that I am your child and you will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me to experience healthy relationships built on the foundation of your word. Amen

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

DON’T EVEN KNOW I AM LYING

Too often dealing with denial is incorrectly focused on the circumstances surrounding the use of our substance of choice or other destructive habits for which we are now seeking treatment and God’s help to overcome. Our default position when facing problems in the past was to live in denial that they existed. It’s only natural to assume that as we face problems in our recovery, we will be prone to denial once again. Dealing with anger, shame, and hurtful relationships can make us vulnerable to our continued use of denial.

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. (Jeremiah 17:9-10a NLT)

It’s so easy to blame others for problems we currently experience. We are accustomed to minimizing our issues and find it difficult to be vulnerable and honest in admitting what’s truly going on. In recovery we now find ourselves doing the same when faced with frustration and failure. Angry reactions and heated arguments indicate that denial is still fueling our thinking. We make excuses for our behaviour, hoping these reasons will be enough to avoid taking necessary action.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

Today is another opportunity to deepen our awareness of how denial continues to afflict us and to invite God to bring about positive change. A simple inventory might include questions like: What denial techniques do I use to maintain the lie that I don’t have a problem? In what way do I allow God to search me and name any thoughts, motives, or behaviours that are offensive to Him? What do I do with what God reveals? What action do I need to take so I can live in the freedom that God promises?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess that my heart is deceitful. Forgive me for the times I have sought to escape responsibility for my actions through denial. Fill me with the courage and strength I need to do what is necessary to live honestly and deal with what is true. Amen. (co. Partners in Hope ministries,)

Its nice to see someone on the same page as me. Its very rare in sites such as these. When you do tell the truth, they run for the hills!

Thanks. I didn't know if I should react with a laugh or an amen (green checkmark) so I gave a gold ribbon for responding to the truth. Most demons are self made. The steps especially 'honesty',' are our way of exorcising them. Keep comming back, it works.

Ive been to some excellent AA meetings. The spirit, warmth and human decency was palpable. Better than Church....oops .. I only partly mean that.

i think we need to do personal inventories daily. at night review the day. But also give God credit for things that went well.

Simply put, some people are set aside and chosen by God before they were even conceived in the womb. Most have hard lives in one form or another, marry late or not at all, and are lost here in the world. I would say almost all have a major role to play when the time is right. And all have been given some sort of prophetic gift.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2019

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

None of us like criticism but all of us should take time to hear what is being said and deal with it.

Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool. (Ecclesiastes 7:5 NLT)

We are not referring to the negative talk that doesn’t seek to understand where we are coming from or what we are trying to do. The kind of criticism we do need is what comes from an honest caring person who points out where our character defects are coming into play, or someone who recognizes that we don’t know all there is to know in a situation and, with that in mind, helps us see that we need to make a change. This kind of honest feedback that has a healthy goal is something we can benefit from rather than something we need to run from.

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. (Proverbs 15:31-33 NLT)

Too often we hear helpful input as an attack on our character and our identity. God wants to help us grow in appreciation of the wonderful person He created us to be, with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. He also wants us to learn and grow and develop skills and not just settle for what we can do today. Constructive criticism points out the good as well as what needs to be changed.

If we trust someone and they bring criticism in a kind way, we may be able to accept it, but the struggle comes when someone criticizes us harshly. It’s hard then not to reject everything they said and react in anger. God’s way for us is to grow in grace and learn even from mixed input. Honest feedback is necessary for this to take place. We learn to keep the fish and throw away the bones.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to grow in grace and knowledge and become all you created me to be. Help me to welcome the input of wise and caring people in my life and learn from constructive criticism. Continue to heal me from the wounds that make it difficult for me to separate my self-worth from my need to grow and change. Amen

(co Partners in Hope)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2019

SUNDAY PSALM – LOOKING FOR SAFETY

How can we remain at peace in a world full of troublesome circumstances? The first line of the following Psalm tells us what to do.

I run to the Lord for safety. So how can you say to me, “Fly away like a bird to your mountain. Look! Evil people are bending their bows. They are placing their arrows against the strings. They are planning to shoot from the shadows at those who have honest hearts. When law and order are being destroyed, what can godly people do?” The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord is on his throne in heaven. He watches everyone on earth. His eyes study them. The Lord watches over those who do what is right. But he really hates sinful people and those who love to hurt others. (Psalm 11:1-5 NIRV)

Those of us who have lived with addiction never had peace of mind. We were always anxiously looking around for something to quiet our mind and body. Because of our dependencies, some of us lost our homes and jobs and existed on the streets for a time. Law and order were not high on our list of things to comply with. Our lives had become totally unmanageable and we needed help. We would love to have flown away like a bird to the mountain but knew that was never an answer to our problems.

When we came to our senses, we ran to the Lord for safety and asked Him for help. Perhaps in our hearts we were always aware that this amazing God was close. We somehow knew in the deepest recesses of our souls that God was on His throne in heaven. Though we may not have been able to express it, we knew God was watching over everyone on earth and that included us. God saw that we wanted to do what was right. We called on Him, and He answered us.

Through the Scriptures we are being taught God’s ways and are learning not to fear, for He is always with us.

Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take. (Psalm 119:105 ERV)

Prayer: Loving God, My desire is to know You more and in all my ways allow You to direct my path. Thank You that when fear surfaces, I can run to You for safety. Amen (co Partners in Hope)