Priorities For Successful Recovery (3)
Wednesday April 20, 2016
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)
In Biblical times, similar to today, people had all kinds of idols that they bowed down to, worshipped and attributed spiritual power to. Sometimes we also have idols in our possession, like images of gods of another faith, or things we carry around to which we attribute power crystals, rocks, lucky charms etc. But the most injurious idols we live with as addicts are chemicals, our desire for money, our victim mentality, our inappropriate sexual relationships etc. The Bible is clear about the damage these idols bring into our lives.
You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your heart. (1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 John 5:21 NLT) The only way to “relapse proof” our new life is to 100% surrender our dependency on, and obedience to our Creator, the Living God. Anything less is a relapse in the making.
Today is a fitting time to prioritize freedom in Christ. Take a few moments to review any personal involvement in practices noted in yesterday’s or today’s readings. Ask God’s forgiveness. Make a choice to stop any current practices and dispose of any items to which power has been attributed. Affirm sole dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ for fullness of life. Welcome the Holy Spirit to strengthen you as you resist temptation and walk in daily obedience to God’s word. PRIORITY FOR SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY: Pray to know and live in the full freedom Christ offers.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
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