Leave It All Behind

You've lived a certain lifestyle for a number of years.
It might be one that is centered around addiction.
That lifestyle has created habits and patterns of behavior as you have succumbed to it. As you have given yourself to it.
Some good....
Mostly bad....
It has dictated to you, how you act, where you go, who you hang out with, for so long that it just seems normal.
You may not like what it has done to you, but you continue on.
You just can't see any way out.

The thought invades your world on a periodical basis...."I need to stop."
It pushes past the cravings and the moments of lucid thought.
"I need to quit."
But the addiction only screams louder..."You can't."
So you continue on down that path of destruction.
With each use, you add to the fantasy world your addiction is creating.
It lies to you.
It tells you it loves you and will comfort you...
All empty promises.
You become someone you never thought you be.
You become that person you swore you'd never be.
But here you are.
Still that other voice continues to stir your heart.....
"Why don't you quit?"
You don't reply verbally, but the words roll around in your brain..."I can't."
Your mind is filled with the images and faces of those you have hurt.
Children who don't understand why Daddy is like he is.
Wives or husbands who have had enough.
A boss who tells you that you're fired.
And the list goes on and on......
"Why don't you quit? Why don't you stop?"
We may not want to think of it this way....but could that voice urging us to quit be the voice of God?

I think maybe it could be.
God is always calling us out of sin into a new way of living.
We become so use to our lifestyle that we can't see any other way.
But God does.
Imagine being 75 years old and God telling you that it's time for you leave everyone you know and everything that you've grown comfortable with.
That would be hard to do, wouldn't it?
That's what happened to Abram.

Genesis 12:1 -  Now the LORD had said to Abram, "Get out of your country, From your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you."

In our case, it begins with a simple thought. "It's time to stop this madness."
The thought didn't sound religious.
There weren't any angels accompanying this thought.
It was just those words forming in our minds.
It was God talking to us.
It was God telling us to draw a line in the sand, and then cross over into a new way of living.
All it takes is obedience.
Take the first step, and you will enter into a new life of faith.
Faith that God is who he claims to be and will do what he has promised to do.
What are the benefits?

God told Abram:
"I will bless you and make your name great."
God basically said, "Hey..I'm going to clean up your reputation by cleaning you up." As our character changes, through God's Holy Spirit at work in us, we become men and women of integrity. This can only happen through the blessing that God pours over us as we follow the simple path of relationship and recovery with Christ Jesus.

Then comes something really wonderful.
God tells Abram that He has got his back. God is watching out for Abram.
He tell Abram, "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you." In other words, if I leave my old way of doing business with the world, and give myself, life and will, to God, he has got my back. All I have to do is follow Him and work my steps.

Don't let the lie and deceit of your addiction keep you in darkness.
Reach down, right where you are, and draw a line...be it in sand or dirt, or even an imaginary one in your living room. Draw it! Then tell God that you're ready to start this journey out of darkness.
Then...........
Step over that line.....
You will find that you still don't have all the answers, but you are now on your way.
Sounds too simple, doesn't it?
Sometimes the simple ways are the best.

God on you....
mb