Focus!!

II Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.

Dark Times out there....
Rumor's of war in the Ukraine...
Economy is up in the air, much fear over what the future holds.
The government has lost their collective common sense, and they rule as though they answer to no one.
Now you take all this mess and top it off with an addiction to drugs and alcohol, you got yourself a wing-doozey of a life.

I think it would be safe to say that such a lifestyle would be steeped in hopelessness. Without hope...without something to lay hold of, such thoughts of suicide would seem plausible as a way out from dealing with everything. Suicide is not the answer. How about life...
Real life...
Abundant life...
Life like you've never tasted before.
Not church life...
or religious life...
But life as it was intended for you to have.
Life found in Christ.

What is the one word that is used over and over in recovery? 
POWER! That is why I love this verse from II Chronicles. Did you catch what was written? God wants to show Himself strong to those whose heart is committed, or loyal to Him.  Strong equals Power. This isn't some sort of mental exercise to give the illusion of hope. It is the real deal - God invades your life - gives to you the ability to walk out that which you never have been able to in the past. That is real recovery. It's more than the absence of drug's and alcohol. It is the presence of God in you and in me. 
If you take something out, you have to put something back in it's place. If I am giving up my D.O.C., then something must be put back in that empty void that exists inside me. That something is Jesus!

When you search yourself looking for answers to the way out of your addiction, you can't find any. Oh, you've tried to quit a million/gazillion times, and failed at each attempt. You've tried this plan...and you went to this rehab....you took this medication...and you tried this form of recovery and each time you failed. Why? Because you are trying to run the show. You are trying to call the shot's. Trouble is, you can't be the problem and the solution at the same time. It doesn't work.....it never work's. But when you've had enough suffering....when you've had enough self-inflicted pain....when you're sick and tired of being sick and tired...then you're ready to recover. Message Bible puts it in pretty clear language if you read Matthew 5:3 --- "You are most blessed when you come to the end of your rope...for there, there is less of you and more of God." I can't really begin this journey in recovery and relationship with Jesus until I get me out of the way. That is a hard lesson for some to learn. In fact, some never learn it. Buried a lot them over the years. 
I can't do this....
I believe God can....
That is the simplicity of this new life I talk about every day.

God on you...
mb