Recovering My Whole Person Spirit, Soul, And Body (5)
Friday August 19, 2016
Do we have hope that we will break free from the use of an addictive substance or some harmful habit? All the self-will in the world hasn’t helped bring us success. Many of us have tried program after program only to find ourselves enslaved again after a few weeks, months, or sadly even years of sobriety. What’s wrong? Why doesn’t our hard work or our many sets of steps bring us release?
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)
Too often we are looking to change our behaviour rather than change our heart. As we’ve been reflecting this week on the complex nature of our humanity, we’ve been reminded that we are spiritual beings who have a soul and live in a body. Real change only comes when our flawed belief system changes.
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:29 NLT) For too long, when troubles came we believed that no one, not even God, cared about us. Now we know and need to remind ourselves that no matter what is currently taking place, God is good, God is with us, and God has a plan that will work things out for good. God is with us and will get us through no matter how difficult the current situation is. Whenever obsessive thoughts, fears, angry reactions, or waves of loneliness seem to overwhelm us we have one choice to make – what will we believe?
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41 NLT)
Relying on our fickle thoughts and feelings has only taken us to relapse over and over again. It’s time to change how we address our brokenness and let Jesus release us from the prison of our darkness and set us free.
©2016 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca/resources
Audio for Recovering My Whole Person Spirit, Soul, And Body (5)
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.