Turning

Lamentations 3:40-41
Let us search out and examine ways, and turn back to the LORD. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.

Did you ever feel as though you were the only one this whole "God" thing escaped?
That somehow you were beyond saving. That your life was such a mess that even this God that every one speaks of takes a look at you and says, "No way...nothing I can do here."

You go to meetings and listen intently to what is being shared.
You read your Bible and it makes no sense whatsoever. 
Yet still, on the inside, you feel as though you are just an empty shell in need of being filled. Your very existence echoes with emptiness. Your relationships are empty. Your laughter and joy is empty. Your future is empty.
Your mind tells you, "One more drink".
"One more hit."
"One more pill. Make the emptiness go away."
But your heart is telling you..."Jesus".
Every time His name appears in you mind, the memories come. The things that you've done. People you've hurt. Even the times you were hurt by those who claim to know this Jesus. 
And the pain goes on....
Pain worse than having an arm or leg cut off....
This pain cuts to the core of who you are....
This pain cries out for relief.

But know this.
You don't have to continue in this cycle of using.
In the beginning, it was fun. It felt good...
Now, you use so you won't feel anything.
Numb yourself to the point that you feel normal.
But the normal you measure life by is far from the normal Jesus desires to lift you to.

Your addiction speaks a language that stirs your flesh.
Uses your appetite to entice you.
Jesus speaks a language of the heart.
It goes against everything your appetite wants.
Why?
Because the sin/appetite is only temporarily satisfied.
The pleasure is for a moment.
The numbness is only for a small amount of time.
But the presence of God in your life is an eternal commitment on His part to take you out of the darkness of your old ways.

John 16:13 tells us, "But when He, the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit of God) has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears (from God the Father) he will speak and tell you things to come.
To put it another way....
When I listen to that heart voice that is tugging me to give up my old ways....
That heart voice that is telling me to turn to God...
Then i am given a new voice to listen to. One that will fill my mind. One that will fill my heart. A voice to guide me in this new endeavor of life.
A voice to guide me in this new way of living.

Now...the old voice will come back and try to get its way.
It will come back whispering to you that you crazy...
This God is not real...
All this recovery stuff is a bunch of mumbo jumbo...
But you don't have to listen.
More than anything...you don't have to return to the old ways.
There is life after addiction.
That life has a name.
His name is Jesus....

God on you....
mb
May you find Him today, because He has already found you.