Taking Back What Has Been Stolen

Seems like one of the chief weapons our enemy (the devil) uses against is to get us to focus on what we don't have. To focus on what we have lost. Such a view will always affect how we view the future. When I speak of the things we have lost, I am speaking of material things...relationships.....health...money....and freedom. To an addict, this is the list that always haunts them. Why? Because they know that they have been responsible, through their bad choices, for all the destruction that surrounds them. Knowing this, causes them to view themselves as having no self worth at all. It also has a way of defining whatever they may attempt in the future. In the addicts mind, the thought is, "Why attempt anything....all I do is fail." 

In the first three steps of the Twelve Steps, you come to terms with yourself..."I am powerless." You stop looking within for a solution. This is also huge for someone in recovery. Using their addicta-logic, an addict will admit they are powerless, but then turn around and try to attain sobriety in their own strength. In my classes at Rapha, I always hit home the point that "You can't be the problem and the solution." 

With no answer found within, it only makes sense to look for a Power outside of our own being who could bring healing and restoration to us. This search leads us to Jesus. He is the Power. The one thing that most people never mention about this journey, is that when you have found the Power, when you have turned over will and life to His care...then comes the part where you commit. Where you dig your heels in and say, "I am not going back".  The future looms ahead and it is uncertain and scary, but we know what the past holds. So we commit. We fix our eyes, our heart and our mind, to move forward. In doing so, we are actually beginning the process of taking back those things which the enemy stole from us. 

We begin to regain, or make new relationships.
We begin to work and receive a payday.
We begin to attempt to make amends and repair old relationships.
We find gratitude for the day.
We begin to live life, one day at a time.
All the while, we are changing as God's Holy Spirit works inside of us.
Changing the way we think through changing our character. Pushing out the old defects of character and replacing them with the fruit of His Spirit  (Galatians 5:22-24).

But all the while, it is that commitment to not turn back that will aid us the most.
I call it the development of a spiritual backbone.
No matter how bad the day might become, I will not turn and run to that old life.
I have heard several say that the worst day of sobriety is better than the best day of addiction.

The monster of "Instant Gratification" will rear its ugly head from time to time. It will try and convince you that nothing is happening. You are going no where. You are simply fooling yourself. Don't listen. This journey in sobriety is a marathon, not a sprint. It is a day to day slugging it out. But the desire to let God empower you so you can take back that which has been lost will pay off. 

Be sure to listen to the video I chose for this mornings posting.
Don Potter sings of "Taking back".
Let it feel you with determination that in choosing God, you don't have to turn back. No matter what may come your way today, you can and will see it through. I think maybe that is a promise from God. Last time I checked, He doesn't break His promises.

We'll be meeting tonight at Vineyard ReCovery Church.
Meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Hope to see you there.

God on you....
michael b.