Partners
In Hope

I Want To Straighten Up But I Can't

Thursday November 23, 2017

The longer we struggle with addiction and the more we relapse, the less likely it is that we believe there is hope for us to get free from the bondage of our dependencies and have a purposeful life.

In yesterday’s story, the woman Jesus healed had been disabled for 18 years.  She desperately wanted to straighten up but she could not.  Her disability made it impossible for her to do necessary daily things as well as those things she might have liked to do.  People in her community probably wrote her off as someone who was of no visible use to society.  How many doctors had offered her cures that hadn’t worked? How many hours of painful exercises and hard work did she endure to try to straighten up, only to fail over and over again? 

Only one person could make a difference in this woman’s life – Jesus Christ.  Everything changed when she encountered Jesus.  Jesus saw her. He asked her to come to him. He said to her, “Woman, you will no longer be disabled. I am about to set you free.”  Then he put his hands on her. Right away she stood up straight and praised God.  (Luke 13:12-13 NIRV)


Jesus told this woman that he would set her free.  Could she dare to hope that Jesus might help her, or was this one more disappointment waiting to defeat her?  Whatever doubts or fears this woman might have had, she came to Jesus in response to His call. 

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (John 8:36 NLT)

We can’t overcome our addiction on our own. God knows that.  Jesus wants to set us free and calls us to come to Him, just as we are in our brokenness, and turn our will and our life over to His care. 



Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I’ve tried to get well for a long time without success.  I need You to set me free from all that holds me captive to my addictive lifestyle.   I turn my will and my life over to Your care.  Please do for me what I cannot do for myself. Amen

©2017 Partners in Hope  
More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

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