Category: Addiction Recovery

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THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY | Humility

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TOPICS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH. EACH TOPIC IS A 12-MONTH STUDY ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS WE REVIEW INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEDIA.
On the third Friday of each month in 2022 we’re focusing our life recovery work on The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery: God’s Wisdom and Guidance for Your Journey with Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. This powerful study will take our life recovery to a level of freedom most of us haven’t yet experienced.

THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY 

Each month we’ll look at a requirement that guides us to a specific result which will fill our lives with love, gratitude and serenity. Each of the Twelve Laws of Life Recovery are aligned with one of the Twelve Steps of Life Recovery. As you go through the study you will see how they work together.

THE LAW OF HUMILITY

REQUIREMENT: humility

RESULT: honor

 

The fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. ~ Proverbs 15:33

We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. ~ Step Two

“God asks us to give up on our self-engineered crashes, admit that only He can restore us to sanity, and lay ourselves at His feet.” ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery

Powerlessness Leads to Humility

Having worked through Step One and its requirement of powerlessness, we’re in a better place to humble ourselves before God than when we were at the peek of our self-sufficiency and pride. To move forward in true humility requires us to look within and search for the root of our selfish motives.

When our self-delusions crumble we will see that God is the source of all things good in our lives. As we grow in the Lord and humility we begin to embrace our own successes. We’re able to look past our own pain and begin to recognize others around us.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. ~ James 4:10

“Choosing humility and recognizing our powerlessness are what it takes to stop all of our anti-recovery acts of futility. When we are able to truly humble ourselves before God, life starts to work again.” ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery

Graced With Honor

In obeying the Life Recovery Step Two law of humility we are graced by God with the result of being honored in some way. It may not look like what we might expect. But God always honors those who humbly obey Him.

Honored With Freedom

As we walk in humility with God, He gives us the courage, strength and wisdom we need to grow through each step of our journey. By the grace of God our worst is turned into His best. We’re able to honor in Him, live a life of freedom God intends for us and bring glory to His name.

Contemplate walking in humility with the Lord as you watch this beautiful music video. Be blessed.

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THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY | Powerlessness

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TOPICS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH. EACH TOPIC IS A 12-MONTH STUDY ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS WE REVIEW INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEDIA.
On the third Friday of each month in 2022 we’re focusing our life recovery work on The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery: God’s Wisdom and Guidance for Your Journey with Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. This powerful study will take our life recovery to a level of freedom most of us haven’t yet experienced.

THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY 

Each month in this study we’ll look at one of the twelve laws that will guide us toward a specific RESULT. THE RESULT will fill our lives with love, gratitude and serenity. This powerful study of GOD’S  RECOVERY LAWS will take US to a level of freedom most of us haven’t yet experienced.

THE LAW OF POWERLESSNESS 

REQUIREMENT: powerlessness

RESULT: strength

“The law of powerlessness says that, if you truly understand and acknowledge that you are powerless, you are about to be provided with real strength.” ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery

But He answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

WEAKNESS BECOMES STRENGTH

Even the foolishness of God is wiser than men. Even the weakness of God is stronger than men. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:25

“If you are feeling weaker than you have ever felt, you are right in the place where God does his very best work.” ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery

The idea of powerlessness can be uncomfortable because it makes us feel like we are helpless or weak. God turns our areas of weakness into strength when we give them to Him. As we recognize that we don’t have any power over the weak areas of our life, we will find the gift of great strength from God.

IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE

Jesus responded, “What appears humanly impossible is more than possible with God. For God can do what man cannot.” ~ Luke 18:27

“The more impossible something seems, the more possible it is with the strength of God empowering you.”  ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery

In God’s kingdom things are counterintuitive from the way of the world. The world tries to tell us that our powerlessness is hopeless; that it will never change, that we will always be this way. But God’s Word tells us what is impossible with humans is more than possible with God!

Does your life seem hopeless?
Do you have an impossible circumstance to overcome?
Are you feeling powerless in some area today?

 

Then I have good news for you! God has been waiting for you to come to the end of yourself and call upon Him. He is inviting you to admit and accept that powerlessness. Confess your weaknesses to God. Let Him strengthen you as you reach out to Him.

Contemplate how your powerlessness could result in strength and allow God’s mighty power to come into your life today!

We admitted we were powerless over our problems and that our lives had become unmanageable. ~ Step One

As you contemplate what God is revealing to you, I pray you’ll be blessed by this perfect song for today by The Response.

RESOURCES:

THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY: God’s Wisdom and Guidance for Your Journey by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: PEACE

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
Today’s post is the twelfth and final post in this series. Join me as we learn about the Life Recovery gift of peace.

The gift of peace can be defined as the absence of conflict or violence; a state of harmony in personal relationships with other people and with God; a state of quiet tranquility.

I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. ~ John 14:27

The gift of peace is probably the most important gift the life of recovery brings. Most of us in recovery have spent at least some portion of our lives seeking peace through a substance or compulsive activity that we were addicted to. We might have found peace for a short time.  But then the cycle of guilt and shame returned and the peace we thought we had found disappeared.

“The gift of peace can finally be ours when we have consciously connected with the person of God and with His Son, Jesus Christ. A peaceful heart is only possible when we have made our peace with Jesus, the Prince of Peace.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

Absence of Peace

The world can’t give us peace. Though it may offer ways to find a false temporary peace.  In reality, it actually takes peace away.  Inner turmoil comes from a life not rooted in biblical truth or God’s Word and can certainly destroy our peace. Working the 12 Steps can help us deal with our inner turmoil and lead us to the peace we are desperately seeking. True peace comes when we turn our life over to the Pacemaker!

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7

The Foundation of Happiness

When our feelings begin to line up with God’s truth and His Word, our choices change, our actions change and the result is a peaceful life. As we deal with our past wrongs and accept Jesus’s forgiveness for our mistakes; then trust our future to God’s care, we will experience a peaceful life.

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. ~ Philippians 4:6-7

“The gift of peace is founded on a life lived to the fullest and built on our relationship with Christ.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery.

Enjoy this great teaching from Stephen Arterburn Going Deeper with The Life Recovery Gift of Peace.

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: SERENITY

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the eleventh post in the series. Today we are learning about the life recovery gift of serenity.

Serenity is a gift given by God, who is the true source of serenity.  We experience the gift of serenity when we follow God’s will. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Those of us in the life of recovery know all too well, the never-ending search for peace of mind… the constant looking for the next escape from today’s emotional torture.

The often quoted first stanza of the famous Serenity Prayer gives us divine insight into how we can achieve the sought after state of being: SERENITY. Below is the complete Serenity Prayer but we will focus only on the first stanza today. Let’s take a deeper look.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world, as it is, not as I would have it.

Trusting that God will make all things right if I surrender to his will; so that I may be reasonable happy in this life, and supremely happy with him forever in the next. Amen 

ACCEPTANCE: the willingness to receive what life has given us and be content with it.

I can be content in any and every situation through the Anointed One who is my power and strength. ~ Philippians 4:13

For most people this is very difficult. Honestly, I believe, it is impossible without a solid relationship with God, and prayerfully staying in His Word daily. With God’s help we can learn to accept our past, present and whatever the future may hold. Because in the end, we can trust that He will make something good come from it for us.

COURAGE: the state of mind that enables one to face difficulties without fear.

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! ~ Psalm 31:24

This is an attitude that also requires action on our part. We will need take steps that require physical activities in order to face and change some difficulties. In particular two of the 12 Steps fall into this category: processing our moral inventory and making amends. Taking responsibility for our lives requires courage.

WISDOM: the knowledge of what is right coupled with discernment and insight.

If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking. ~ James 1:5

Note that wisdom isn’t simply knowledge. Book knowledge doesn’t give us wisdom. There are plenty of knowledgeable people in this world who have little or no wisdom. OnlyGod is the source of all wisdom. Also, it’s important to point out that serenity doesn’t come from wisdom itself. Wisdom is a by product of seeking God’s will and spending time with Him.

“If we are willing to accept what can’t be changed and to have the courage to take action on what can be change, God will give us the wisdom to discern the difference.” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

Take a few minutes to glean from, Stephen Arterburn, one of the authors of this excellent book that we’ve been studying all year. Here with his series Going Deeper: The Gift of Serenity.

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PSALM 91 :: CALL AND BE RESCUED

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.
On the first Friday of each month in 2021 we will be studying Psalm 91. We’ll be learning this powerful psalm and applying its phenomenal promises to our life one phrase at a time.  We continue today with verse 15.

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.I will rescue and honor them.~ PSALM 91:15

Sometimes in the middle of our toughest struggle it’s more difficult to call out to God for help. Even though Scripture tells us that God knows all our needs before we ask for them, I believe the process of crying out to God is part of the process of receiving our answer.

Whatever our struggle may be, the humbling experience of recognizing that we need help and asking for it may actually bring our rescue faster.

 

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: HAPPINESS

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the tenth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of happiness.

Happiness is a gift given to all who make up their minds that they will enjoy life to the fullest. The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. ~ Psalm 86:4

Most people make searching for happiness the primary objective for their life. Happiness is never found when we are searching for it. True happiness is produced by a certain lifestyle. In other words, we can’t go find happiness in a person, place or a thing. We will only experience happiness when we choose a godly life.

The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing. ~ Proverbs 10:28

As our hearts become more and more in tune with the heart of God, we experience the gift of happiness as a by-product of a godly life. ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

There are two critical things we must do be certain the gift of happiness will continue in our life:

    • Avoid places or people that tempt us to fall back in old patterns.

   If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:12

    • Do your best to live Step 12. As we do we will stay strong in our recovery.

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. ~ Step 12

It’s not just a matter of removing bad habits and bad people from our lives. We must replace them with godly habits and godly, recovering people who are strong examples we can follow. Spend time with people that are involved with a life of recovery and are supportive to you. And remember, to work Step 12 and successfully help others in their recovery we must be solid in our own recovery success.

Be blessed by this short teaching from Stephen Arterburn Going Deeper on The Gift of Happiness.

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: COURAGE

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the ninth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of courage.

The gift of courage: the ability to do something that frightens us… It replaces our old cowardice with boldness, strength and initiative. ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

COURAGE: the quality of mind which enables us to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, without fear or depression of spirit.

Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13

Before most of us had the courage to change, we had to come to the complete end of ourselves. We had to get to the place where the pain of staying the same was greater than the fear of change. It requires courage to stop living in denial and face the reality that we need the help of others to get better.

“To succeed in life recovery, we must confront our fear and conquer it. By God’s gift of courage, we can succeed!” ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

It takes courage to faithfully walk in daily realities when we’d rather self-medicate ourselves or simply run from them. Whatever our drug of choice was, sex, gambling, shopping, eating, or alcohol — they were all a mechanism we used to hide from life instead of facing the challenges in front of us.

This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9

With God’s gift of courage we can solve our problems instead of avoid them. We can go forward working our Life Recovery Steps no matter how difficult. As we do, our self-worth improves and soon we will see those old character defects turn into new positive traits.

God replaces our cowardice with His gift of courage!

Receive it today! Amen.

Be blessed with this beautiful song by Tim Hughes.

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: SELF-CONTROL

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the eighth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of self-control.

The gift of self-control is the ability to control our emotions, desires and actions especially during difficult situations.

When the Spirit of Christ empowers your life, you are not dominated by the flesh but by the Spirit. ~ Romans 8:9

When we give in to our weaknesses and system of addictions we are opening the door for the enemy to attack us and shutting the door to God’s protection over our life. This is very serious. God has called us to live in His kingdom not the kingdom of this world. We aren’t supposed to look like the other people or behave like other people.

As you yield to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you!  ~ Galatians 5:16-17

Self control isn’t something we have the power to create in ourselves. It’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  When we make a decision to walk in our addictions we aren’t walking in the Holy Spirit. We’re actually grieving or squelching the Holy Spirit when we give in to our areas of weakness. We are preventing the Holy Spirit from having full reign or room to live in us.

God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. ~ Romans 1:24

If we continue giving in to our weaknesses God may eventually give us over to those fleshly desires and allow us to go down the dark spiral of death. Sure we might still make it to heaven. But we will have lost our witness and the opportunity to bring others with us.

The gift of self-control changes our orientation: Instead of seeking to accomplish our own will, we desire to understand God’s will for us. The more our desire to do God’s will overrules our own will the more our experience of self-control grows. It’s not our willpower that does it; it is God’s gift to us in our recovery. ~ The Life Recovery Bible

We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out. ~ Step 11

Let’s protect ourselves, our life, our family, our future and our testimony by leaning in to God’s loving hands. He will be with us and protect us as we do.

Be blessed by this short teaching by Stephen Arterburn on The Gift of Self-Control.

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: WISDOM

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the seventh post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of wisdom.

The gift of godly wisdom is a combination of the depth of our relationship with God and our ability to bring our experiences into relationship with Him. ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

WISDOM: knowing what’s right and doing it.

And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace. ~ James 1:5

“All of us have made wrong choices that have led us into trouble, ultimately affecting our relationship with God and with others. When we ask God for wisdom, He is more than willing to give it. Since God is the source of all wisdom, we can make fewer unwise decisions by turning to Hi for guidance. In recovery we are told to improve our conscious contact with God so we can better know His will for us. This can be achieved by studying God’s Word and praying regularly.” ~ The Life Recovery Bible

We develop the gift of wisdom as we seek God’s will and carry it out. Through daily prayer and meditation in God’s Word, His truth will eventually begin to infiltrate our lives. We will begin to make wiser decisions and soon become strong enough to overcome our weaknesses.

One caution is the sneaky false pride that may try to creep in, telling us that we are strong enough to make it in our own power. That’s a recipe for certain disaster and relapse. Scripture teaches us that pride leads to a fall!

When you act with presumption, convinced that you’re right, don’t be surprised if you fall flat on your face! But humility leads to wisdom. ~ Proverbs 11:2

Stay fully surrendered to God. Do whatever it takes to change your life and keep it changed! It takes a humble heart that’s willing to change and continue a life of recovery.

Be blessed with this sweet song by Colton Kelley.

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THE TWELVE LIFE RECOVERY GIFTS :: ABUNDANCE

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.
EACH OF THE POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH BEGINNING IN JANUARY. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. COME ALONG. LET’S LEARN SOME NEW THINGS TOGETHER!
For my addiction recovery work this year I’m going through The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. On the third Friday of each month in 2021 I will be sharing the blessings God brings us to honor our choices and encourage our recovery journey.
This is the sixth post in the series. Today we are learning about the gift of abundance.

“When we have a scarcity mindset we cling to our possessions and our toxic relationships….The gift of abundance leads us to lives filled with new and fulfilling opportunities that we may never have dreamed of or thought possible.”   ~ The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery

Actively living in our addiction we had a scarcity mind-set. We were always making sure we didn’t run out of our drug of choice. We were living guarded lives that robbed us of much joy and pleasure.

The thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! ~ John 10:10

When we give our lives over to Jesus Christ and begin the life recovery journey, the gift of abundance begins to emerge. Instead of having a fear-based scarcity mind-set that is focused on losing what we have, we begin to have a grateful heart attitude and appreciate what we do have.

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. ~ Ephesians 3:20

As we work our life recovery steps, especially Steps 4 (Looking Within), 9 (Making Amends) and 10 (Daily Inventory), we mustn’t focus on what we’ve lost.  Instead we can reframe every past mistake and every current problem into an opportunity for something new and good to come about in our life.

“As we learn how much God loves us, we will become confident that He is able to do far more in and through us than we could ever imagine! We can bank our recovery on this truth!” ~ The Life Recovery Bible

As we stay obedient to God and faithful to the life recovery journey we begin to see God’s promised gift of abundance displayed in our daily lives. Soon we will have an abundance of peace, harmony, time, energy, money and health in ways some of us have never seen in our lifetime

Contemplate how the gift of abundance is showing up in your life as you enjoy this beautiful song by Jesus Culture. Be blessed… Tamara