If you have been a Christian for
a while and still feel more connected to your old lifestyle, you have to turn
that around. When you’re in the midst of your addictions, you will naturally
feel more connected to like-minded people.
In your sin
nature, you want to hang around people who are doing what you’re doing, or are worse
than you. They make you feel better about yourself. No matter how crazy the
environment gets, you would rather be with those who don’t appear to be judging
you or limiting your behavior.
When Satan divides,
he conquers. When you give in to your feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, or insecurities,
you’re letting the devil win the battle of your mind. If you never get over
believing that you don’t belong, you will never actually belong.
We’re really
proud of a friend of ours who constantly battles with insecurities. The way she
has fought against the enemy’s plan to keep her separated from other church
members is to admit when she is feeling unloved, neglected, or judged. When she
confesses these things, she brings the dark parts of her mind to the light.
This eliminates the power of the lie and allows her to have proper fellowship
with Christians and with God.
This friend is
an example of how Ephesians 5:8-11 works:
“For you were once darkness, but
now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is
acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose them.”
Like many
others, our friend will most likely have to continue to counteract the thoughts
in her mind. Eventually, her default mode will be who Christ says she is, not
what her parents or other people have said about her at one time or another.
Fortunately, our
friend has been willing to expose her weaknesses, which has helped keep her
drug free for six years. What a great example of how to be accountable and
vulnerable. She knows she belongs, even though she doesn’t always feel like it,
and even when she feels separated and disconnected.
We
wish there were more like her in the world. We would be in the midst of a
radical recovery revolution!
This article is an excerpt from the Christian recovery book titled "Follow The Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery." You can learn more about the ministry of The Solid Rock Road by visiting the recovery website www.thesolidrockroad.com.
