The Light on Your Way

When we look back along the road we have traveled, we tend to focus only on the negative things. Because the past had its share of problems, many people expect the same from the future.

But this is a negative way of looking at life. The prayers of your heart every day should be, "Lead me, O Light of the world!" Jesus Christ is still the Light of the world and He has promised that those who follow Him will never walk in darkness. Take His hand in faith and trust and experience Him as the light of your life.

God said , "Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:3

-- It's so very hard to try and be positive in the midst of battling an addiction, but this is when we need to stay positive the most. Because of past behaviors it's very hard to trust ourselves to make the right choices for the future and we might even be very cynical that we can. But the great thing is that we don't have to be the one leading the charge. God does. We just need to follow Him. If I allow myself to make decisions through the lens of His redemption of me, I know I'll make better choices. Don't forget about all the tools that are available for you - He created those. Use them.  The Bible, 12 step meetings or Celebrate Recovery Meetings, accountability partners or sponsors, counselors, friends, Bible studies, devotions, prayer and yes, even aids like technology apps are all things available to you from Him to help you reframe your perspective on life.

Grace for Each Moment

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Confessing Our Sins As They Occur

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John: 8-9

When we are living in our worlds of addictions, habits, hurts, hang-ups, etc we are living in what verse 8 says "we claim to be without sin". It's where we might say something like "I can kick this anytime I want", when the truth of the matter is we can't. Perhaps it's because we just don't want to admit the truth -- which is that we have a problem and need help.

But once we move past that piece of denial, and confess our sins, we can begin to heal. Verse nine says that our sins will be forgiven and we will be purified from all unrighteousness. The "he" referred to in these verse is the Lord, God Almighty. And only He has the power to truly free us as this verse says.

To "confess our sins" is telling God that we agree with him that our actions are wrong. Now the key to really moving on and having that relationship with God is to be able to confess as our sins occur - (even if it's the tenth or one-hundredth time). And in order for that to happen, we must be vigilant about analyzing our lives. Each time we confess our sins, he forgives us. He wipes our slate clean (as my mom used to say). 

For those going through a Celebrate Recovery program or a traditional 12 step program, having an accountability partner is a way to help us recognize when our actions are unhealthy and help keep us accountable. No, these sponsors and accountability partners are not a substitute for our relationship with God, but they can help by having someone to talk your actions over with.

Going to God and asking forgiveness should not be something that's awkward. In fact, it's something that the Lord wants us to do in order to maintain a relationship with him. He already died for our sins and wants you to reap the benefits. Let's not deny him the satisfaction of his sacrifice and his gift of redemption freely given.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Incline Your Ear

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.

Part of giving up control (like we talked about yesterday) is having listening ears. What good is it if we decide to let God be in charge and we don't listen to what he tells us to do?  Conversing with God is not like Moses and the burning bush where we hear him physically with our ears.  Sometimes God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, sometimes through scripture, sometimes through other people that he has put in our lives.

I don't know what God is going to tell you to do. But I do know that when I get an idea I put it through a test. If this "idea" seems scriptural based I'll make sure to back it up by looking at more scriptures, if this idea just appeared in my mind, I might run it past others to see if it makes sense. I know that when an idea pops into my mind and it just grits me like sandapaper I take time to examine that.  Is it because this idea is one of the world's and not God's? Is it because this idea is something I really don't want to do because it's too hard.  Taking time to examine ideas and situations is a wise choice to make sure it's God honoring.

Often, in the beginning of recovery, our mind is muddled with lots of conflicting thoughts. I can't do this. I'm not good enough. God doesn't really want me. I will never beat this hurt, habit or hang-up even though I so desire to. Having a sponsor or accountability partner is a wonderful way to help weed out what are the thoughts of the world and Satan and doubt.

Since we decided to let go and let God be in charge of our lives, let's now listen for his orders.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Where Can I Find Help?

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

I remember a night a few years ago (early in my journey) that I was trying to fall asleep and I just couldn't. I was having the hardest time letting "something" go from my mind. It wasn't the time of night either where I could just text or call somebody either - grr!

I needed something more concrete than just praying and hearing words in my head. And so I decided to hide under my covers (because I didn't want to turn on the lights and wake my husband up either), I grabbed my phone and started googling. However, I know enough to not just google what my problem was - I didn't need help forums or people's medical opinions, etc.  What I needed was help directly from God!

Don't get me wrong, I was praying but I felt like I needed scripture and didn't have any at the tips of my fingers. And so I let my fingers do the tapping so to speak. I was amazed at all the available scripture. Here is a quick one I found that had lots of topics to choose from http://www.stmarksunnyvale.org/bible/bible_reference/bible_topic/bv_where_to_find_help.html

I must say that after I starting reading scripture I truly started to have a sense of peace that God was in control and I could let "it" go. And so today my reminder devotion is that when you don't have that live person to reach for - you always have the living Word .. and chances are you have Him on your phone or device available easily too. So don't hesitate to use it.  The trick is to get ourselves into that habit to reach for the Bible first.

Now, a few years later, I've moved past trying remember to reach for God first - it's just second nature. And I can rely less and less on others to help me out. That's where we want to head right?  We want to be able to rely on God first  - but it will take practice as Paul write about in the "race".  

Blessings to you today and reach for God when you need a little help. But, if you are still at the stage where you need that human person - please don't hesitate to make a connection with your sponsor, accountability partner or trusted friend -  there is a reason God has those people in your life right now..it's NOT a coincidence!

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Resentment or Forgiveness

He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. Isaiah 42:3

Having the gift of a sponsor or accountability partner is something I find truly special. It's having a mentor who can truly say they have walked the walk and can now talk the talk. Nothing worse than having someone who has NO clue about the challenges that come with being sober trying to give you advice. And there is such merit to choosing a sponsor who has dealt with the same addiction as you to be able to see things in your life that others just can't. Yes, friends are great and well intended..but a person who can say they understand that same hurt or habit or hang-up has amazing insight into your life that is kinda "ready-made". Conversations will ebb and flow naturally because you don't have to "explain" yourself.

When I attended Celebrate Recovery meetings, I remember going to the CoDependency group and let's say in the beginning I wasn't even close to be ready to share. But by listening to the stories of others I learned some important lessons.

First, I was not the only person to travel this road. Oh my word that was a huge relief. But second, I could identify why I did the things I did.  And even though I didn't like my actions - I still did them. And it was because I couldn't forgive key people in my life. I was so bent on keeping that to me that I became resentful and just wanted to control EVERYONE so I wouldn't get hurt anymore. I learned through the stories of others that I was refusing to allow forgiveness to be a part of my life - and in turn was hurting others.

I have so many reasons that I feel we must support each other in our addiction journey. You might be an addict for over 30 years or just two months. Who cares. There is no need to feel that someone's addiction is worse than anyone else's - it's all sin in the eyes of Jesus. What we need to do is build each other up - and learn from those who have lived the journey ahead of us. Let's not let our lives be driven by resentment.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

We All Need Mentors

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9

Having a mentor in our lives is something that is a tool for everyone. Yes, those with addictions especially needs an accountability partner or sponsor..it's the premise behind how recoveryBox, the iPhone Addiction Recovery tool was built.

We all need someone who can give us valuable insight into situations because they have been there - done that! Sometimes we get so caught up in the turmoil of life that we just can't sort out what's real and what's just smoke. But someone who can literally say "Been there - Done that!" can help give us guidance during these times.

And sometimes we need someone to call our own bluff and hold us accountable. There is no doubt that we are going to make mistakes. But having the wisdom of others will help us minimize  the effects from those mistakes (pain, frustration, disappointment and more) and perhaps help us shape the outcome so that we choose wiser in the future.

Mentors are not just for those who are in recovery for an addiction. Having an older, wiser person involved in our lives that can counsel us is a blessing. I urge you to find that trusted person and ask for their wisdom.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Praying Friends

Praying Friends from Our Daily Bread

 by Anne Cetas

I met my friend Angie for lunch after having not seen her for several months. At the end of our time together, she pulled out a piece of paper with notes from our previous get-together. It was a list of my prayer requests she had been praying for since then. She went through each one and asked if God had answered yet or if there were any updates. And then we talked about her prayer requests. How encouraging to have a praying friend!

The apostle Paul had a praying relationship with the churches he served, including the one at Thessalonica. He thanked God for the faith, love, and hope of the people (1 Thess. 1:2-3). He longed to see them, and asked God “night and day” that he might be able to visit them again (3:10-11). He requested that the Lord would help them “increase and abound in love to one another and to all” (v.12). He also prayed that their hearts would be blameless before God (v.13). They must have been encouraged as they read about Paul’s concern and prayers for them. Paul knew too his own need for God’s presence and power and pleaded, “Brethren, pray for us” (5:25).

Loving Father, thank You for wanting us to talk with You. Teach us all to be praying friends.

I need the prayers of those I love
While traveling on life’s rugged way,
That I may true and faithful be,
And live for Jesus every day. —Vaughn

The best kind of friend is a praying friend.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Bumper Cars

Bumper Cars by Joe Stowell from Our Daily Bread

Life is a lot like “bumper cars” at an amusement park. You get in your car, knowing that you will get hit . . . you just don’t know how hard. And when you get hit, you step on the gas pedal, chase the one who has hit you, and hope to bump that person harder than they have bumped you.

That may be a fun strategy for bumper cars, but it’s a terrible strategy for life. When you get bumped in life, bumping back only escalates matters and in the end everyone suffers damage.

Jesus had a better strategy: Forgive those who have “bumped” us. Like Peter, we may wonder how many times we have to forgive. When Peter asked Jesus, “Up to seven times?” Jesus answered “Up to seventy times seven” (Matt. 18:21-22). In other words, there are no limits to grace. We should always extend a spirit of forgiveness. Why? In the story of the forgiving master, Jesus explained that we forgive not because our offenders deserve it but because we’ve been forgiven. He says, “I forgave you . . . because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (vv.32-33).

Since we are among those who’ve been forgiven much, let’s stop the damage and share that blessing with others.

Lord, remind us of how deeply we have offended You
and how often You have extended the grace of
forgiveness to us. Teach us to forgive others and to trust
You to deal with those who sin against us.

Forgiveness is God’s grace in action through us.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Wake Up And Smell the Coffee

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'" Luke 15:17 (NIV)

Lately I've been struggling to get up in the morning. It's probably because here where I live it's dark early and cold - and frankly I don't like the cold. So I just want to snuggle deep in my bed and keep hitting the snooze button. In fact, it's gotten so bad that I don't want to even hear the alarm.

I've come to realize that my alarm is only as good as I allow it do be. I mean, if I don't want to hear it - I'm just going to ignore it because my desire to be warm and remain in bed is so deep within me.

That's the way it was with the son of the rich man in this story - he was living the life of a slave even though there was food and good clothing and love at home. But, he just didn't want to hear about it (or think about it). But when he finally came to his senses, he realized how foolish he was being! At this point he realized his life had to change AND that he had the power to change it!

Have you come to that point yet with your addiction or hurt or hang-up or habit?  Sometimes we just need to have that good wake-up call BUT, if we aren't in the frame of mind to hear it, it's no good. Perhaps you are thinking that you aren't good enough to deserve to change, or that you can't change or that God doesn't love you. All of those are lies that you tell yourself. If you finally have that moment but do nothing about it, then the moment is wasted. So when you have that moment of clarity (almost an "I get it" moment- don't let it slip by. Act on it!

Ask God to work something new in you - and take the right steps. Attend a meeting by Celebrate Recovery or a traditional 12 Step, ask for forgiveness or offer it to someone..whatever and wherever you are in your recovery process...act on the AHA moments.

And then, be accountable to someone that you trust. I am such a believer in that accountability does work.  A trusted friend/sponsor will be honest with you and help support you.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox

Putting an End to It

Acts 2:24-26New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 [a]But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the [b]agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held [c]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,‘I saw the Lord always in my presence;For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.26 ‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;

Those who live in the life of addiction, battling each day for sobriety, understand how life can be so discouraging. It doesn't take much to crush our spirits, for our self-confident to fly right out the window. It's so much easier to withdraw physically and emotionally from people and to lose all objectivity. And it's does not take much to set this into motion either!

We can choose to look at life in the here and now moment - which may not be all that pretty to be honest. Or we can choose to find hope in what is coming. We are not perfect and we are not going to get it right all the time. Thank goodness for an amazing and patient God!!  We can make the choice to stay down and belittle and berate ourselves, or we can choose to better ourselves.

Who said that you or I are going to get it right the first time? Who puts those expectations out there saying you MUST achieve them or else? God knows we are sinners and are going to make those mistakes. 

I love how King David in this verse (again he too was a sinner but he was a man after God's heart) says 'Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted." yes we make those mistakes but it's the attitude that have about those mistakes. His is one of complete and abandoned joy.

Tomorrow is a new day - a gift! Open it up and experience that gift! One day at a time.

---

Download recoveryBox Addiction Recovery App - Your Complete Accountability Sobriety Toolbox