Living a Changed Life

First, I want to thank all of you who boldly decided to say, "GOOD RIDDANCE!" to your past.  The responses for the January 1st post was overwhelming!  Many of you shared deep hurts and addictions.  We are praying for you as you conquer these issues in your life.  It's not too late to claim your life back!  If you would like to share and ask for prayer support, please leave your requests anytime or send an e-mail.

EXPOSING THE RECOVERY MYTHS 

How many times have you tried to break the chains of despair in your life?  A dozen... 20 times?  You fail every time only feeling worse about yourself than when you began the recovery process. Here are tested, real answers to living a changed life.

Recovery is a process.  Although helpful, it's not just a one-night conference or a book about recovery.  It takes conscious thought to make the right decisions.  It takes deliberate actions to change old habits into new.  It even takes strength to get back up when you fail.  Recovery is not a magic potion, that if you drink it, everything will instantly and magically get better (that would be nice though).

Recovery takes work.  Think how many years you've held on to your past pains.  Think how long the grips of your addictions have controlled you.  Years of deep wounds that have festered and spread over time.  Take all those years and think of the damage it has caused in your life and in the lives around you.  Logically, it will take hard work and time to begin the healing process.  There are no quick-fixes.  Only raw, straight-forward perserverance to take back the life you desperately deserve.

Recovery takes Humility.  Pride is the biggest offender that holds us back from obtaining the healthy life we are desperately needing.  Pride, you say?  Yes.  How long have you been telling yourself, "If I just try to read another self-help book I will find the secret formula to releasing my pain."  "If I just stop drinking, looking at porn, or smoking this stuff for a few weeks I will stop having the cravings."  As you try to be noble to your own cause, you fail every time.  Pride... your pride has told you that you can do this all on your own.  The reality is it's too big for you to handle.  Humility says, "I need help!  I can't do this by myself.  I need others to help me with my recovery."

Recovery takes God.  Here's the good news! God never intended you to go through life alone.  He created you because He wanted to talk with you, share with you, and help you through the most hurtful parts of your life. Turn to Him with all your needs. Pray and turn open your bible to see God's words of hope (Psalms is a good start). Combat your thoughts about yourself and your current situation with hope and promises from God's word.  Lastly, surround yourself around encouraging people who will support you and hold you accountable through your steps of getting healthy.

Look at what the apostle Paul said God revealed to him through humility, "But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

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