Tag: The Twelve Life Recovery Gifts

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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.