We have to get over ourselves so we can get to God. The devil uses proven tricks to keep you from moving to the next level with God, and he’s good at holding you back from your destiny.
How many times have you sought God and began to experience positive changes when all of a sudden you start to question everything? You begin to think negative thoughts, and say to yourself, “Who are you kidding? You’re a loser and always will be. You’re different from everyone else in church and no matter how hard you try, Christians will never accept or understand you. You’re a fake and a liar. The only people who understand you are your old friends. You relate to them. They are like you and you are like them.”
Any psychologist will tell you that your addiction is talking. While that’s a great recovery cliché, it’s not a Christian reality. In truth, the devil is reconnecting you with your sin nature, and with himself. He's telling lies and using his wiles to prevent your original God-given future from unfolding. Therefore, you must be sure to counteract every ungodly thought and forge ahead no matter what.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:14 that he pushed himself for a purpose. "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." You would be wise to follow Paul's lead!
In the Solid Rock Road Christian recovery ministry, Principle #7 is Seek the Will of God for Your Life. This is a valuable principle because once you understand you have a destiny in God, you will take hold of the freedom God gives and you won't let go.
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad. Also, look for the ministry's book Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Holy Spirit and Christian Recovery from Addictions
The Holy Spirit is your personal guide in your Christian walk. In John 14:16, Jesus tells the disciples He will be leaving (meaning crucified) but someone better will take His place. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” (NIV)
That Counselor is the Holy Spirit that lives in you from the point of salvation. Counseling from the Holy Spirit is divine. It’s also free and available twenty-four hours a day. The Holy Spirit overpowers evil and is your source of strength, wisdom, and inspiration. When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you will not relapse or fall back into negative patterns of behavior.
The problem we Christians have is that the Holy Spirit doesn’t possess us. He doesn’t just spring up and take over our life. We wish He would. It would make everything so much easier, and much better. Instead, the Holy Spirit lives in us, but waits for us to empower Him through surrender and the process of emptying ourselves of our sinful nature.
As Galatians 5:22,23 explains: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
The Bible also describes the Holy Spirit as the abiding guest (John 14:16), Spirit of truth (John 14:17), teacher (John 14:26), testifier (John 15:26), guide, voice of God, the Prophet (John 16:13), Glorifier of Jesus (John 16:14), witness to sonship (Romans 8:16), helper in prayer (Romans 8:26), and power to witness (Acts 1:8).
Christians in recovery from addictions can count on the Holy Spirit to help at every level. The goal is to engage the Spirit so that it has control of your soul.
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com and look for a book I've cowritten called Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
That Counselor is the Holy Spirit that lives in you from the point of salvation. Counseling from the Holy Spirit is divine. It’s also free and available twenty-four hours a day. The Holy Spirit overpowers evil and is your source of strength, wisdom, and inspiration. When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you will not relapse or fall back into negative patterns of behavior.
The problem we Christians have is that the Holy Spirit doesn’t possess us. He doesn’t just spring up and take over our life. We wish He would. It would make everything so much easier, and much better. Instead, the Holy Spirit lives in us, but waits for us to empower Him through surrender and the process of emptying ourselves of our sinful nature.
As Galatians 5:22,23 explains: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
The Bible also describes the Holy Spirit as the abiding guest (John 14:16), Spirit of truth (John 14:17), teacher (John 14:26), testifier (John 15:26), guide, voice of God, the Prophet (John 16:13), Glorifier of Jesus (John 16:14), witness to sonship (Romans 8:16), helper in prayer (Romans 8:26), and power to witness (Acts 1:8).
Christians in recovery from addictions can count on the Holy Spirit to help at every level. The goal is to engage the Spirit so that it has control of your soul.
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com and look for a book I've cowritten called Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Solid Rock Road and Christian Recovery
Christian recovery is a well-known term, and one we use often in the Solid Rock Road ministry. However, anyone who repents from the sin of addiction is actually restored, refreshed and renewed. That's truly exciting for those of us who suffered serious consequences related to our addictions, and for those of us who have regrets.
Restoration allows us to acknowledge our mistakes, but frees us from the shame and guilt. Still, Satan will do everything possible to ensure that Christians in recovery feel condemned for their sin of addiction. If he is successful, then the formerly addicted person remains attached to the sin nature that led them down the addiction path. When they carry the heavy weight of guilt, they are desperate for relief. Often, they find a temporary solution in alcohol and drugs, which leads them through the cycle of relapse -- usually over and over.
While some people are delivered from addiction (meaning instantly over it), others like me have had to endure certain levels of suffering to overcome the propensity to abuse drugs and/or alcohol. Either way, the result is the same. We are set free.
We have to remember that Jesus gave his life for our freedom. This is not a Christian cliche: it is the foundation of our faith.
Repentance is the first step to counteracting the guilt and shame of addiction. If you need help, email me at TheSolidRockRoad@gmail.com. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad. By the way, look for a book I've co-written called Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
Restoration allows us to acknowledge our mistakes, but frees us from the shame and guilt. Still, Satan will do everything possible to ensure that Christians in recovery feel condemned for their sin of addiction. If he is successful, then the formerly addicted person remains attached to the sin nature that led them down the addiction path. When they carry the heavy weight of guilt, they are desperate for relief. Often, they find a temporary solution in alcohol and drugs, which leads them through the cycle of relapse -- usually over and over.
While some people are delivered from addiction (meaning instantly over it), others like me have had to endure certain levels of suffering to overcome the propensity to abuse drugs and/or alcohol. Either way, the result is the same. We are set free.
We have to remember that Jesus gave his life for our freedom. This is not a Christian cliche: it is the foundation of our faith.
Repentance is the first step to counteracting the guilt and shame of addiction. If you need help, email me at TheSolidRockRoad@gmail.com. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad. By the way, look for a book I've co-written called Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom
Freedom is a much-used term in the Christian community. People talk about it, know about and teach about. But not everyone experiences complete freedom in Christ. Since the discussion of bondage is often focused on addictions, Christians in general can overlook the strongholds in their own lives. For example, fear, anger, insecurity, lying, pride and greed are many of the ways Satan takes God's people hostage.
When Christians are bound by the work of the devil, it is absolutely necessary to be set free, no matter the issue and no matter how much of a stronghold there is. Without complete freedom, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is minimized. In some cases, the sufferings of Christ have become meaningless to people -- especially those who claim that they can't stop sinning. We know that God says He gives everyone a way of escape.
It's time to be set free and to give honor to the Lord. The following are four steps to spiritual freedom.
1. You must to want freedom more than you want anything else.
2. You must go after freedom with all your heart -- give it everything you've got.
3. You must receive freedom, trusting that Jesus died and completed the process. He said, "It is finished," which means the work has been done.
4. You must maintain your freedom, being aware of the devil's plan to recapture you.
Christians in victory know they have been set free, and they walk out their freedom knowing that the power of God has transformed their lives.
Check out my twitter account at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad.
When Christians are bound by the work of the devil, it is absolutely necessary to be set free, no matter the issue and no matter how much of a stronghold there is. Without complete freedom, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is minimized. In some cases, the sufferings of Christ have become meaningless to people -- especially those who claim that they can't stop sinning. We know that God says He gives everyone a way of escape.
It's time to be set free and to give honor to the Lord. The following are four steps to spiritual freedom.
1. You must to want freedom more than you want anything else.
2. You must go after freedom with all your heart -- give it everything you've got.
3. You must receive freedom, trusting that Jesus died and completed the process. He said, "It is finished," which means the work has been done.
4. You must maintain your freedom, being aware of the devil's plan to recapture you.
Christians in victory know they have been set free, and they walk out their freedom knowing that the power of God has transformed their lives.
Check out my twitter account at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad.
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