recovery

Saturday, January 19, 2019 (6:39 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

Thank You. I get to be here with You again.

There are so many thoughts and directions out there. Ideas. Interests. Father, I am again seeking Your Truth. Promises. Goals.

And it’s back to Your Truth I turn again. Father, thank You.

We live in a world filled with deceit. Even this is not news to You. How grateful I am that You know all! Thank You for continuing to point to Your Truth. Again and again. Time after time.

(7:52 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You that every thought I have can be brought to You. I search Your Word. Am reminded of the importance of knowing Your Truth (John 8:32). And learn of deceptions of old (Jeremiah 9:6).

The more I read of the importance of honesty and obedience (Deuteronomy 28) I find myself smiling. Most unexpectedly. The Life Recovery Bible comment for 28:66-67 discusses “a life devoid of satisfaction.” Here we are reminded “There is no lasting satisfaction outside of a real relationship with God and obedience to His will.”

All this brings me once more to the hope found only in Your Word. John 8:32. The Passion Translation. “For if you embrace the truth, it will release more freedom into your lives.” This I truly long for.

Truth. In You. With You. By You. Through You. For You.

Your Truth “as a standard for our moral inventory” allows us to “recognize and confess our needs and struggles, our sins and addiction.” To You. 

“As we confess these to God, ourself and to at least one other person, we share the truth about our life. When we turn our broken life over to God, who alone can make us whole, we are again acknowledging the truth. These different applications of the truth can combine to set us free from sinful habits, chemical dependencies, and emotional bondage” (John 8:31-36).

Reading and hoping in Your Word speaks loudly to me. A devotional entitled Honesty (John 8:30-36) ends by telling us, “The spiritual forces that sway our life have roots in either truth or deceit. Truth leads to freedom; deceit leads to bondage and death. Denial is a lie that keeps us in slavery. When we are slave to our addictions, we lose the right to choose any other way of life. It is only when we break the cycle of denial, when we become brutally honest about our bondage, that there is any chance for real freedom.”

Real freedom. Recovery. Life in, with, by, through and for You. Do all You must in leading, guiding and directing me to being obedient to Your Truth.

I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(461 words ~ 9:31 a.m.)

contented

Friday, January 18, 2019 (5:54 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy, Blessed God,

Thank You for all You are. Mm, yes. All You are. More than I can imagine. Amazing. Thank You Father.

This morning I ask You to teach me more about being content. In all circumstances. Oh, yes please.

I read Your Word and I hope. Your Truth rings out reminders for us to cling to. 

In his letter to the believers of Philippi the apostle Paul encouraged them to “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you” (4:9). Mm, yes Father!

The God of peace. Just the sound and Truth of that alone can settle us, when we choose to believe it. And there it is again. Our ability to choose.

Thank You Father. Thank You for giving us everything we need in order to want what You have for us.

So many times I forget Who and all You are. I spin wildly out of control because of my feelings toward circumstances. It’s when I am still (Psalm 46:10) long enough and allow You to settle my thinking that I can actually hear Your Truth ringing true!

Thank You Father. Thank You that we don’t have to worry about anything. Instead, we get to pray about everything! Because of Jesus, we are able to tell You what we need and thank You for all You have done (Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation).

And when we do that? “Then God will give you peace, a peace which is too wonderful to understand. That peace will keep your hearts and minds safe as you trust in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).

Go figure. The God of peace giving me the peace of God!

Forgive me Father for the times I forget to bring every single perceived hurt and concern directly to You. Keep reminding and teaching me to “fix [my] thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all [I] can praise God for and be glad about” (v.8 The Living Bible).

The Message tells us we’ll “do best by filling [y]our minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not to curse.” Yes Father. Teach me this. The other way comes so easily to me.

Thank You for this opportunity to be reminded that I am “to be satisfied [contented] with what I have and with whatever happens” (v. 11 Easy-to-Read Version). YOU know exactly what is best for me. Thank You that I am still learning to trust, believe and depend on You alone.

I love You Father. Use me this day in every way You wish. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(487 words ~ 7:11 a.m.)

real love

Thursday, January 17, 2019 (6:06 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Talk with me this morning about loving as You would have us love.

Mm, yes Father. Talk with me about Your real love.

I search and read Your Word. Every turn of the page leads me to more Truth. Thank You Father. There is power and hope found in these pages. And where does this power and hope begin? In obedience to You and Your commands.

Again I am thanking You for the struggle I experienced much earlier this month. Closing out last year with the bitterness and unforgiveness I refused to release taught me so much about the power of Your love and Truth.

You command us to love (John 13:34-35). Forgive. Obey. And You provide us the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21) to do in and with us all that we are unable on our own.

Love. Forgiveness. Obedience. Seemingly simple words. Impossible on our own. Completely doable in, with, by, through and for You. Your Spirit. Your Truth. Your power. Your strength. Not by ourselves.

Most Holy God, I have tried on my own. Willing myself to obedience. And on the complete opposite of the spectrum, refusing to budge. Nursing the grudges that absolutely cut me off from Your healing, real love.

Oh most Blessed God, how I thank You for the power and hope that come from knowing, trusting and believing in Your real and restorative love. Thank You for the struggles that help us grow our dependence on You.

This morning I ask You to keep working in me. Continue teaching me. Doing all You must in growing me into the woman you would have me be. Loving. Joyful. Peaceful. Patient. Kind. Good. Faithful. Gentle. And self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23).

I love You Father. And I want to love as You would have me love. Completely. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(328 words ~ 7:21 a.m.)

"progress, not perfection"

Wednesday, January 16, 2018 (7:27 a.m.)

Holy God,

You are so good. Thank You so much.

A large part of the night was spent in conversation with You. And most of that had to do with progress. Not perfection!

Mm, yes. I got to read about lapses and relapses yesterday. Truth in recovery. Life changes. Hope. Different ways of approaching circumstances. Yea You, God! Thank You.

I come to You. Exactly as I am. You provide Your unchanging Truth. And truly, I rejoice!

Taking right now for instance. I searched “progress” and found 2 John (1:8-9). Turning quickly I read of “Encouragement and Advice” (Illustrated Bible Handbook). And The Importance of Boundaries, as well as The Challenge to Love (The Life Recovery Bible).

(9:00 a.m.)

We get to choose Father! Hope. Joy. Love. Faith. Forgiveness. Or all the alternatives to these positives.

Praise You Father. Thank You. So often I forget the importance of “carefully set[ting] limits on whom we listen to if we are to protect ourself in recovery and in our spiritual growth.” Amen, Father!

Your Word provides us every single thing we need in learning to love one another as You would have us. Here again, we get to choose “the most basic act of obedience” to You! “Loving others will not only please God, but it will go a long way toward healing our relationships.”

While we’re never going to be able to do it all perfectly, we can and do make progress as we stay close to You and Your Word.

Thank You Father. Thank You for Your Truth. Your promises. And here I pray the apostle John’s words right back to You. “May grace, mercy, and peace, which comes from God our Father and from Jesus Christ His Son, be with us who live in truth and love” (2 John 1:3).

Yes, Father. Let me live this day in Your Truth and love. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(331 words ~ 9:45 a.m.)

"I can!"

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 (7:55 a.m.)

Holy God,

How I thank You. So very much.

It always [surprises] encourages me how I can think all the positive and hopeful thoughts that come to mind then come here with You and have them solidified. Your Truth becomes real to me. Thank You Father.

I turn in Your Word. Reading of Your power and strength. Your ability to provide. And my thoughts settle down. Hope grows.

There are so many things that make little to no sense to me. And then Your Word speaks. Powerfully. Truthfully. Lovingly. Eternally.

We are not left in this world on our own. To our own devices. Jesus came, died, came back and promised to come again. Ad we get to choose to take Him at His Word. Or not.

(11:26 a.m.)

Thank You Father that not only can I choose to believe, I do! I believe the apostle Paul when he told a discouraged Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

And here again come all the things I can choose because of Your Truth.

Reading The Life Recovery Bible comment (1:7-14) I am excited that “Paul told Timothy not to let his weakness stop him from ministering to others. His success was not based on his ability, skill, or courage; it was based on the Holy Spirit’s power working in him.”

Holy God I need to be reminded of this [Your Truth] so very often. On my own I do not have the strength, courage or self-discipline to change all that needs to be different in me. You do. And I can choose to trust and depend on You for it all.

Thank You Father. Use me as You know is best. I love You. I long to represent and serve You. Well. Do all You must. Thank You. Amen.

(331 words ~ 11:51 a.m.)

unshakable and assured

Monday, January 14, 2019 (6:13 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. What should we do here this morning? Oh yeah. John 16:33.

So here’s a smile and something I hadn’t noticed before. Oh, and then it just gets better. Thank You Father.

Turning to 16:33 I discover there are three parts to this verse, not just the two I’ve come to know. Interesting the things I miss when I focus on something else.

Thank You Father that we are never too embedded in one set of circumstances not to be able to change for the better. Oh yes. Thank You Father.

The Life Recovery Bible tells us that the purpose of John’s letter to people everywhere is “To reveal Jesus as the Son of God and show that by faith in Him we can experience true love, forgiveness, and recovery.” To this I say, “Amen!” and “Thank You Jesus!”

Reading the overview of this book we are told, “John used a number of images to illustrate who Jesus is and how He gives us eternal life: Jesus is the unblemished lamb of God who is sacrificed for us; the bread of life who satisfies our spiritual hunger; the living water who satisfies our spiritual thirst; the light who gives us life; and the counselor who comforts and teaches us. Through these images, John demonstrated that Jesus can give us all we need for a new, abundant life.”

Forgive me for the numerous times I moan and groan in the midst of situations not to my liking. You have the power to change each and every one of us. Far away from who we were before. Thank You Jesus.

Prior to the death You knew was coming, while teaching and speaking with Your disciples, The Message quotes You as saying, “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace” (John 16:33a). Honest to You! What would that be like?

I know there have been times that I have experienced Your “peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand” (Philippians 4:7). Most often that’s the exception, not the rule.

Holiest God, I long to live my days trusting You. Unshakable and assured. Deeply at peace. In You.

Do all You must that I will truly sing Your praises. Smiling deeply at the knowledge that You are perfectly in control of all things. Standing firm in the hope of Your Truth. And stretching out to share You freely with others.

Yes most holy God, anchor my roots deeply in the soil of Your Word that they would ‘grow down into You and draw up nourishment from You, so I will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the Truth I was taught. Letting my life overflow with thanksgiving for all You have done’ (Colossians 2:7). Oh yes please Dearest God.

Trusting You, unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. ‘In this godless world I will continue to experience difficulties. But [I can] take heart! You have conquered the world’ (John 16:33c). Thank You Jesus!

Use me today exactly as You know is best. In Your power and strength. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(537 words ~ 7:19 a.m.)

certainty

Sunday, January 13, 2018 (6:47 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for talking with me. Thank You for being in and with me. Thank You for new things to see and learn.

A giant square in the early morning sky. Perhaps the Great Square of Pegasus? And there’s the word that best describes me recently. Perhaps.

Most Holy God, I have become uncertain about so many things these past few weeks. Thank You that YOU are certain. Sure. Unmistakeable.

Thank You that when I look at circumstances, other people… I waver. Become uncertain. Afraid. Nauseous. And then I look to You. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises. And I am filled with a certainty that I can experience nowhere else.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the certainty of Your love. Your love that is described so many places in Your Word. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Galatians 5:22-23. 1 John 4:7-12.

Most Holy God and Father, I confess to You the turmoil I continue to get caught in. Circumstances affect my thinking. Other people’s hurts, bitterness and unforgiveness weigh heavy on my heart.

See? Even there… yesterday I allowed myself to stay down. Refusing to come back and finish my prayer time with You way after the fact. And just by confessing the weight of others on my heart, a song from long ago starts singing to me.

♪Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down♪ (Proverbs 12:25). Oh most dear and blessed God, it’s so true!

Getting to come to You. Being able to easily find the song. And then the very next line, ♪But a good word makes it glad♪ It does! Your Good Word makes my heart glad!

Thank You Father. Praise You. Use the certainty of Your Good Word in me this day.

I truly allowed heaviness in my heart to weigh me down yesterday. I let the dispositions of others completely deplete me. I did not use the power of Your Good Word in overcoming my defeat.

How I thank, praise and hope in the certainty of You this morning! Let me fully absorb this verse and all its translations.

Mm, yes Father! Keep me firmly standing on the certainty of Your Good Word!

Oh Blessed God, I feel as though I could walk on air right now! Your Truth. Your Promises.

Easy-to-Read Version tells us, “Worry takes away your joy, but a kind word makes you happy.”

Expanded Bible, “Worry [Anxiety] is a heavy load [leads to depression], but a kind [good] word cheers you up.”

Other translation words for anxiety are: mourning, sorrow, grief, heaviness. Such an accurate description for me recently. Thank You for Your antidote Father!

“A good word”. Yes! A good, kind, encouraging, appropriate word. Yes. Yes. Oh, yes!

The hope that comes from the certainty of Your Truth. Steep it deeply in my heart. My soul. My mind. And my strength.

I love You so very much Dearest God. Use me this day as only You can.

The Passion Translation is my prayer this morning. Not only for myself. Friends. Family. Loved ones. Strangers. We all need to have this Truth etched deeply within.

“Anxious fear brings depression, but a life-giving word of encouragement can do wonders to restore joy to the heart.”

This is something we cannot do on our own. We desperately need Your Truth working in the hearts of others. Even children. International Children’s Bible, “Worry makes a person feel as if he is carrying a heavy load. But a kind word cheers up a person.”

Empower me in living the certainty of Your Truth dearest God. I love You. I thank You. I need You. And I ask You this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(626 words ~ 8:51 a.m.)