Tag: Powerlessness

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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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Painful Obedience

 

Perseverance3

God has asked me to give up something and honestly I’m not at all happy about it. However, I know if I don’t obey the consequences could be severe, maybe even irreversible. 


So I have no choice but to trust God’s will as I press through the pain. 


The most difficult challenge is that while giving up this habit / behavior I’m living in an environment where I see it every day. 


No matter how tough,  it’s vital that I intentionally keep a good attitude expecting God’s blessing on the other side of this mountain.  

If you’ll willingly obey, you’ll feast like kings. But if you’re willful and stubborn, you’ll die like dogs. ~ Isaiah 1:19-20 MSG

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SLIPPERY SLOPES

Life has a way of showing up with circumstances that can set us up for a fall.  If we aren’t centered and grounded at that time we may be subjected to the consequences that prevail.

slippery slope

Not long ago I found myself in a position that could have set me back ten years in my recovery.  At the night’s end I was in tears. 

Painful feelings I hadn’t felt in many years washed over my body, mind and soul. I was overcome with sadness, desperately grieving desires I could no longer fulfill.

It was all I could do to remain thankful and content with where God had placed me in this season of life.  

I was quickly reminded to tighten my guard and to hold steady to the answer for my hope! 

But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you. ~ I Peter 3:15 GNT

 

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POWERLESS

powerless woman

 

Step 1: We admitted that we were powerless over our dependencies–that our lives had become unmanageable.

 

I think about how many times I’ve complained about maintaining this body of mine. Then God gently says in my spirit they if I weren’t alive I wouldn’t need to care for it at all.

This is the same with our weaknesses of character. It is a huge pain to deal with – but what’s the alternative as long as we are breathing?

As humans we are going to fail over and over again. The answer, of course, comes only by turning our weaknesses over to Him. 

For when I am weak then I am made strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:10

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Working the Steps: Step One

We admitted we were powerless over our dependencies–that our life had become unmanageable.

In October 2004, in a last ditch effort to deal with my addiction, my husband, Bill, asked me to go with him to a couples seminar. Dr. Doug Weiss from Heart to Heart Counseling Center in Colorado Springs was to be speaking on his book Intimacy ~ A 100 Day Guide to Lasting Relationships.

Reluctantly I agreed.

With my defenses up, I was nervous, but the small group of couples was friendly and inviting. Dr.Weiss spoke from his heart about how he had grown up with a sex addict for a mom. Because of her addiction he was shuffled back and forth from her home to foster homes. Through his mother’s bad influence Dr.Weiss became addicted to sex and pornography at a very young age.

Transparent and real, Dr.Weiss seemed to understand the pain I had. As I listened, I realized for the first time he was talking about me. I was just like his mom.

I was a sex addict.

When Bill and I returned for the Saturday morning session I was anxious to tell Dr.Weiss I wanted to go to Colorado for a 3-Day Intensive Counseling Session. I left the seminar scared but hopeful because I knew help was available.

After all the sex, drugs, alcohol, running away, therapy, medication and jail time; I was finally able to see the truth of my own addiction.

It was a miracle. It was the beginning of my recovery.

The first step is always the hardest. It can be scary and humiliating to admit powerlessness, especially for someone who likes to be in control. And all addicts think they have everything under control.

We must come to a realization that not only are we powerless over our addiction, but over ourselves as sinners. We can’t do anything without the healing power of Jesus Christ.

I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t… Oh what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ Romans 7:15; 18; 24-25 NLT

You may want to pray something like this…
 Denial has kept me from seeing how powerless I am and how unmanageable my life has become. Today, I ask for help to deal with my addiction / co-dependency.