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Tuesday, August 27, 2013 -- Dealing With The Dark Side

Tuesday August 27, 2013
        
There is a life in the shadows that is negative and promotes “shady living”.  A famous psychiatrist, Carl Jung, has called it the dark side of our personality.  These traits, the defects we would prefer to hide, form the shadow of our flawed self. 

When we stop using an addictive substance or try to quit an unhealthy habit, before we know it, out from the shadows bursts anger, frustration, resentment or fear that's been hiding under the cover of those mood altering elements.  Those of us who have relapsed a few times know about a dark urge which lurks in the shadows of our recovery and seems uncontrollable.  We wonder, with varying degrees of unease, if we can live beyond its power.

This shadow self becomes evident in us when we do things that hurt ourselves and others.  These actions later cause us grief, guilt, and shame.  One New Testament author describes the actions of this shadow self in this way:  I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (Romans 8:21-23 NLT)

God has help for this sinful shadowy part of us, and that help is named Jesus.  Jesus is the light of life.  As we surrender the shadowy areas of our lives to Jesus, and, by the power of His Holy Spirit choose to walk in His light, Jesus will eliminate the dark things in us. Jesus said:   I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (John 8:12 NLT)



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Audio for Tuesday, August 27, 2013 -- Dealing With The Dark Side

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