To cope with living an addictive lifestyle we often repressed our moral thinking and denied the downward trend we were on. We made excuses for our behavior and convinced ourselves that we were not as bad as others made out. Our dependency enabled us to selectively forget our responsibilities and we lived in an unreal world where we refused to admit the changes in our personality.
In recovery, avoiding reality will hinder us from having the meaningful, purposeful life that we desire. Feelings of anxiety about our former lifestyle will surface and we need to be willing to set aside our learned defense mechanisms and be honest about what is truly going on inside us. The road to addiction is paved with dishonesty about events that negatively impacted our lives. The truth is, God made us and knows us, and nothing is hidden from His sight.
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. (Psalm 139:2-3 NLT)
To survive in our home environment, we may have avoided things we were unable to cope with and were afraid that our peers might find out about. The result of this situation may have caused us to become violent towards others or retreat from them. Whichever way we reacted, we were repressing and denying our true self. Letting ourselves be known as the person God created us to be, and not hiding from our fears, will enable us to live the fulfilling life God intended.
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You made me and You know me. Please give me understanding of Your Word and help me to be a doer of what it says, so I can truly be the person You created. Amen
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