There is no such thing as satisfaction in a self-directed life. Life does not always allow us to pick and choose what we will have, and what we will not have. Satisfaction comes from a God-directed life where His will is faithfully obeyed. The consequences of disobedience to God’s commands are clearly outlined in the Bible. We are instructed to stay away from all types of behaviour that are harmful because disobedience weakens us spiritually and makes us vulnerable to attacks that put us in bondage to Satan.
The founders of AA who wrote "The Big Book" understood this when they wrote: "Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His (God's) protection and care with complete abandon ….. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely." (Big Book p.58)
You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet. These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. (Romans 13:9-10, 12 NLT)
Life with God in recovery requires an individual to be thorough in both their willingness to change and the action they take. At all times, with all our family and friends, in all our affairs we must strive to obey God and consistently practice recovery principles. This includes dealing with the issues of the heart as well as visible behaviour. Half measures lead to relapse and more suffering. Let us be fearless and thorough today.
Prayer – Heavenly Father, My desire is to make healthy choices that will result in a satisfying life. Help me to live wholeheartedly in a way that pleases you. AMEN
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