Joshua 1:6 So be strong and courageous, for you will lead these people.
While it is true that there is strength in numbers, there is another type of strength which is required when you must stand alone.
Your path is not always the one of least resistance. You are often led across barren deserts and through dense forests. These are times that try your soul and require strength beyond any human support system.
These are the times when you must strengthen yourself in order to accomplish the assignments God has ordained for you.
Personal and spiritual strength come from daily diligence. You have dedicated yourself to a spiritual workout each day, in order to be strengthened for the journey ahead.
As far back as we could remember, we felt different, damaged, and just plain wrong. We did not know exactly what was wrong with us. We only knew that we felt more intensely than others and we processed our problems with great difficulty.
We obsessively examined ourselves, looking for clues to solve the mystery and to find a key which would unlock some invisible door into normalcy. We noticed people we admired and made feeble attempts to imitate their personas. We sought out damaged friends who would validate us in our dysfunction. We pursued money to prove our worth. We questioned and we blamed. We fought with ourselves and resented God. We learned how to act right, but we didnโt know how to feel right. Eventually it was our feelings which became our undoing.
As far back as we could remember, we felt different, damaged, and just plain wrong. We did not know exactly what was wrong with us. We only knew that we felt things more intensely than others and we processed our problems with great difficulty.
We obsessively examined ourselves, looking for clues to solve the mystery and find a key to unlock some invisible door which kept us perched precariously on the outside edge of normalcy. We noticed people we admired and made feeble attempts to imitate their persona. We sought out damaged friends who would validate us in our dysfunction. We pursued money to prove our worth. We questioned and blamed. We fought with ourselves and resented God. We learned how to act right, but we didnโt know how to feel right. Eventually it was our feelings which became our undoing.
The presence of unwanted feelings such as insecurity, inadequacy, fear, anger, and other social phobias, coupled with our inability to manage or control them, unleashed within us a desperation for relief at any cost.
We soon learned of a temporary reprieve which occurred when our brain chemistry became altered. We didnโt care that the relief would be short lived or cause irreparable damage to our relationships, our finances, and our minds. The momentary relief of rightness, contrasted against the life-long agony of wrongness, offered such an enchanting embrace, we surrendered without a fight….
Addiction is stealing the lives and destinies of so many of Godโs children who canโt find their way out.ย Many good people suffer in silence from the effects of this deadly disease.
We were addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. The disease tried to kill us, and we thought there was no hope.
We finally hit rock bottom (incarceration) and found a word that would change our lives forever: Tetelestai.
Tetelestai is the Greek word that means,ย “It is finished!” It was the final declaration of Jesus from the cross.
We watched the power of Tetelestai play out in a courtroom verdict that no one saw coming. The shock and disbelief gave way to hopeful anticipation as we enthusiastically came into agreement with Jesus and declared our addictions FINISHED.
Living clean and sober in the power of Jesus’ words ushered us into a life that is better than we ever thought possible.
This program was developed by addicts, for addicts. God redeemed our past, gathered the broken pieces, and made us into something useful for His Kingdom.
Have you ever felt stuck? I donโt mean stuck in prison, stuck in a ditch, or stuck in the mud or snow. I also donโt mean stuck in an unfulfilling relationship, stuck in a job, or stuck with your kids.
The kind of stuck Iโm talking about has to do with feelings of despair, dysfunctional behaviors, addiction, or anything else that impacts your life negatively, leaving you feeling hopeless about getting unstuck.
Sometimes we become stuck due to an obsession of the mind. Itโs something that we just canโt let go of. We want to break free, but it seems to have an unshakable hold on us. What do we do?
Mark 12:28 One of the teachers of the law came to Jesus. He saw that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, so he asked Jesus, โWhich of the commands is most important?โ
You recognize the clues to your destiny which come to you from Jesus. Your imagination is the canvass on which He paints the portrait of your future.ย However, your spiritual journey of discovery often starts with more questions than answers.
Like the teachers of law in Jesusโ day, you have questions about the expectations of God. Rather than discussing them with other humans and risking heated arguments or controversy, you take your questions directly to the Source. You arenโt afraid to ask Jesus for reassurance and clarity…
What does your birthday reveal about your spiritual gifts, character, and calling?
This unique devotional uses your birth month and day to guide you through key passages of scripture, using the chapter and verse numbers that match your special day.
Whatโs inside:
Ancient verses matched to your birthday
month=chapter, day=verse
Reflections on your personality, strengths, and values
Encouragement and inspiration for your walk with the Divine
A powerful tool for self-discovery and growth.
Perfect as a Christmas gift, Birthday gift, personal devotional, or keepsake.
Tetelestai is recorded in the original Greek text describing what Jesus said from the cross in His final moments of mortality. The English translation, โIt is finished!โ (John 19:30), is the basis for this program.
We believe that Jesusโ words hold miraculous power. We speak these words into our own lives and into the lives of others. We are confident that a spiritual principle is set in play when our statements come into alignment with the words of God.
So also, will be the words that I speak: it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do. Isaiah 55:11
Since Jesus gave witness on the cross, โIt is finished,โ we align with Him in calling an end to our addictions and dysfunctional behaviors. We testify in agreement with Jesus and thus, the matter is resolved.
Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 2 Corinthians 13:1
Hebrews 12:12 So take a new grip with your tired hands. Stand firm on your shaky legs.
While it is true that there is strength in numbers, there is another type of strength which is required when you must stand alone.
Your path is not always the one of least resistance. You are often led across barren deserts and through dense forests. These are times which try your soul and require strength beyond a human support system.
These are the times when you must force yourself to fulfill your duties, even when you feel too tired or too weak for the task at hand. You do what is required, relying on the power of the Spirit to keep you strong and steady.