One of our lessons in CR is on being powerless to control our tendency to do the right thing and admitting our life is unmanageable (step 1). This is a devotional from “Experiencing God, Day-by-Day” by Henry & Richard Blackaby. All credit given to the authors.
And you shall know the truth
And the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
God’s truth never restricts you; it always sets you free! Are you discouraged? Is there a sense of bondage in a particular area of your life? A lack of victory over a certain sin? A harmful addiction? It is possible that you do not yet understand a truth about God that can release you.
If you feel powerless to meet the challenges before you, take encouragement from the promise of Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If you are defeated by circumstance, hold on to the truth of Romans 8:28 that God can work your most difficult situation into His good. If you are enslaved to a particular sin, work the truth of 1 John 1:9 into your life, which promises that if you confess your sin, God is faithful to cleanse you from ALL unrighteousness. All of these truths await the Holy Spirit’s implementation into your life.
It is one thing to know about the truth. It is yet another thing to experience the truth of God being worked out in your life. God’s truth will have no effect upon you unless you accept it and believe it. Perhaps you have already read and heard accounts of God working mightily in the lives of others. But have you allowed God to implement those truths into your life? What truth about God would you like to be experiencing in your life? Ask Him to implement that truth into your life today.
This is so true!!! Thank you for writing this!! It’s wonderful to be reminded of the freedom I now have from all the obsessive habits I had incuding: drugs, alcohol, loud music,
over eating, improper relationships with women, buying stuff – and more of each to try to ‘feel’ better….With Christ’s healing power, and my choice to accept HIM – I may now be free from these – a day at a time, by the Grace of God, and with the 12 steps, and with the 8 principles, and with my brothers and sisters encouragement and support.
Thank you God for the freedom I have today!
how does this work?
i have tried this for years and i cannot break free…
Hi Sue!
It is ironic… my testimony on this very thing is the blog post for this week. It has been a process, an every day committment to recovery, and finding my CR family who keeps me accountable. I attend CR meetings every week. If you live in the Dallas area, I’d love to talk to you more in person. We meet on the 8th floor of the Spurgeon Harris building every Wednesday night for Celebrate Recovery. We’d love to have you! Claire <