Repentance

Joel 2:12-13
That is why the LORD says, "Turn to me now, while there is time! Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in grief, instead tear your hearts." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you.

If ever there was good news, it would be these words from the book of Joel.
I don't think they were written just to encourage us or trick us in any way, shape, form or fashion. I believe they are there to give us a clear picture of who God really is, and how he feels about us.

Addiction is all about the BIG LIE.
There isn't any truth in addiction.
It's voice is filled with promises it will never keep.
Subtle suggestions that only draw you in deeper and deeper until you've lost everything.
I like the way God describes sin to Cain in Genesis 4:7.
God says,"Watch out! Sin is crouching outside your door, waiting to have you. You must master it." Another way of putting it is you must subdue it.
Sin is never out in the open. It always keeps to the periphery of life. Skirting the outer edges looking for an opportunity to creep in.

Sin/addiction never comes to you the first time you are considering using and tells you, "Hey..listen up, let me show you everything that is going to happen to you should you make this decision to drink or use." 
It promises to relieve you of stress and pain.
And for a season it does. It makes you feel good and it makes you fall in love with that feeling. But all the while you are running for a feeling, it begins to destroy everything you use to hold dear to your heart.
You begin to trade truth for lie because you really want that feeling.
You begin to trade family for isolation because you really want that feeling.
You begin to trade your own self esteem for guilt, shame and bitterness, because you want that feeling.

Sin/addiction eats away at you until there is nothing left except the insane thought and desire to drink more or use more.
In spite of everything that has happened to you, the one consuming thought in your mind is, "I need one more fix" or "I need one more drink."
But it doesn't have to be this way.

God....
yes, the real deal God....
really want you to listen to his voice as he is speaking to you.
Now is the time to stop your old way of living.
Now is the perfect time to tell him, "I quit...I don't know how to live anymore."
Now is the day to turn from your old ways and simply say, "I'm yours, Lord. I'm yours...teach me how to live.

Part of what we do on Saturday night at Vineyard Recovery, is to help you learn how to live in this new life. The first part is to connect with some like-minded people. Or to put it another way, some folks that understand what you are going through. People who will come along side of and help you as you start this new journey.

Don't let the voice of addiction rob you of this opportunity to do what you have not been able to do on your own.
Break free and find new life.
Hope to see you this Saturday Night....

God on you....
mb