Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.Philippians 4:6 We can hang on to our attempts to control ourselves and others and stay anxious. Or we can let go and let God. We are anxious because we think we have to take care of everything and everybody. We are anxious because we believe we cannot be happy unless we … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us.1 John 1:8-9 Few people will be so overt as to say 'I am without sin'. Self-deceit is rarely that obvious. It often comes masked in socially acceptable and socially rewarded forms of behavior. Perfectionism, for example, is a common expression of self … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. "1 Corinthians 11:24 People in the recovery process are people with painful memories. We remember our losses. We remember our sins. We remember the sins which have been committed against us. It is part of the hard … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled" 1 Thessalonians 5:6 The first step toward honesty is to pay attention. In the words of this text, the choices we face are either to sleep or to be alert and self-controlled. There are days when we would rather 'sleep'. There are days when the emotional numbness of denial seems less painful … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
No more lying then. Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow believers because we are all members together in the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:25 Honesty is essential to recovery. Honesty is essential to intimacy. But honesty is not easy. We were not created to be isolated, independent creatures. We were created to be interdependent. We need each other. And in order for us to be helped by … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.Romans 12:15 We have many reasons, often what seem to be really good reasons, to be 'strong'. But if the bottom line of being 'strong' is to constrict the range of emotions which we allow ourselves to experience, what do we gain? We become people incapable of honestly experiencing the emotional realities of life. In this and many other … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales. It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas - no wonder my words have been impetuous.Job 6:1-3 When we have lived for a long time by the 'don't talk' rule, learning to talk honestly and personally can be a real challenge. Our attempts to move away from self-deceit toward honest self-disclosure may be quite awkward. … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.James 5:16 Sometimes honest confession can seem astonishing, impossible, and dangerous. Because we have learned silence so well, we experience honesty as full of risk. After all, if we are honest, then other people will know what we think and feel. We will be exposed. The appearance of strength and … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?Psalm 13:1-2 Sometimes our spiritual distress is centered on questions about God. Where is God? Why doesn't God help? At other times our spiritual distress is centered on questions about ourselves. What is wrong with me? How come I'm still struggling this much? Doubts about ourselves can be profoundly troubling. We … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love
Rooted in God’s Love
The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. "1 Corinthians 11:24 People in the recovery process are people with painful memories. We remember our losses. We remember our sins. We remember the sins which have been committed against us. It is part of the hard … [Read more...] about Rooted in God’s Love