Addiction/Recovery
Throughout life, there are obstacles to overcome. Addiction is certainly no exception. The journey to sobriety can be long, and obstacles will inevitably arise. Will you go over, under, or around them? Or will you stop and give up? It is all too easy to relapse and fall back into addiction. The good news is that life is full of choices. And Christ makes victory possible. “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NLT).
To avoid relapse, be on the lookout for—and overcome-—the following six obstacles. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
Taking a daily personal inventory is essential to recovery and personal growth. Life Recovery Step Ten says, “We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” Unlike Life Recovery Steps Four through Nine, which focuses on the past, Step Ten focuses on the present.
Before going to bed, spend a few minutes thinking about the good and the bad things that happened that day. Record answers in a journal. Consider asking the following questions when taking a daily inventory:
1. “What do I have to be grateful for today?”
Take the time to write down all the things that happened that day to thank God for. Write down as many things as possible each day—whether it’s a compliment from a coworker, an opportunity to reconnect with an old friend or an answer to prayer. Seeing life through the lenses of gratitude can give hope to prevent relapses or giving up altogether. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
Is it time to make amends? Does it seem intimidating? It can be hard to make amends because pride, shame, and embarrassment can get in the way. However, the Bible commands us to make amends. Matthew 5:23 says, “If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar and…someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”
Not only does the Bible require making amends, but so do the 12 Steps. Life Recovery Step 9 says, “We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
Here are some suggestions on what to do—and say—when making amends.
1. Start with a heartfelt apology. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
One in 8 children live in households with at least one parent who has a substance abuse disorder, according to the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. A child who grows up with a parent who has an addiction must deal with it as best they can—even if it means developing unhealthy ways of coping that lead into adulthood and are hard to let go of.
But where there seems to be no way, God can make a way! Isaiah 43:19b (NLT) says, “I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Here are some common struggles adult children of addicts face, and how to overcome them. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
Has life been painful? Want to make a change but don’t know where to begin? If so, consider going to a Life Recovery Group. No one should go through life alone, so everyone will benefit from having others walk alongside them on their journey. The Bible says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed…Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12, NLT). Check out these 8 benefits of joining a Life Recovery Group.
1. You’ll have a plan to heal.
Life Recovery Groups offer a path to not only recover from addictions, heartaches, and unhealthy patterns, but to live a new life as well. The 12 Steps of Life Recovery are taught in each group; everyone who attends will have the opportunity to go through these 12 Steps. (more…)
Addiction/Recovery
Leading others is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in their lives. As a sponsor, mentor, accountability partner, Life Recovery Group leader, or in any other capacity, a leader must ensure everyone feels connected and accepted. One of the best ways a leader can prepare to lead well is by being ready to tell their story.
Everyone has a story to tell. Every person has gone through stages in their faith and struggled with relationships and life. Even leaders have struggles. There might be a leader who has recovered from addiction. They may have struggled with their emotions and achieved freedom with the help of God and others. After navigating difficult relationships, perhaps a leader has grown in confidence rather than become codependent. A leader—no matter their past—can offer inspiration and assistance to others who are struggling. (more…)
