Tag: Hope

Tetelestai Recovery

The Insanity of Addiction: A Journey to Mental Freedom

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There is an overpowering conflict that occurs within the mind of anyone who has encountered the desperation of addiction. The struggle to escape one’s own mind by flooding it with toxic levels of mood-altering chemicals is the true definition of insanity. Yet many of us suffered from this fatal and debilitating disease, consenting to the madness as if there were no other option.

In search of total recovery, we discovered we were not only seeking to be delivered from our dependency on mind or mood-altering substances, but we also searched for freedom from our thought processes, our twisted perceptions, and our obsessive fears.

In this emotional state of chronic crisis, we were exhausted.

We struggled to be free from a mind that plotted its own demise. Our thoughts quite literally tormented us to the point of insanity. We needed a way to manage our feelings and silence our sickness…

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A Date With Destiny

Embrace God’s Protection Against Negativity

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Thousands of enemies may surround me, but I am not afraid. Psalm 3:6

When faced with questions and uncertainty, you sometimes doubt your own ability to fend off the enemy forces of negativity and strife.

However, the Spirit of God resides with you and around you. His protective bubble creates a force field which keeps you safe and unharmed while angel armies fight for you. 

As you encounter the icy chill of a society which applauds greed, aggression, and ego, you are warmed from within by the Holy Spirit’s flame.

Like a crackling fire on a cold winter night, the presence of Jesus permeates the atmosphere and brings comfort to your soul.

God’s sovereignty is undisputed. His angels stand ready to rise up on your behalf.

You are therefore able to claim victory over any criticism, conflict, or insult which threatens to distract you from your true purpose.

Your soul is at rest and your mind is at peace because you know the power of your position in Christ.  Since God is for you, and has promised to defend you, there is no need to fret over trying to defend yourself. 

You have an army of angels at your side, ready to assist as you claim your destiny.

The Commander of Angel Armies and His heavenly warriors are on your side.

You are not afraid because you know that these powerful protecters are greater than anything that could ever come against you.

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A Date With Destiny

Diamond Foreheads: The Power of Resolve in Life’s Challenges

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Ezekiel 3:9: ‘I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.’

Your tenacity and determination may cause you to be labeled ‘hard-headed’. While it might not always seem like a gift, this character trait is a valuable asset God has granted you for your particular journey.

When others may get discouraged or give up, you continue to persevere. You do not see quitting as an option. You find your greatest success comes from the simple practice of persistence.

There are times when life is hard, but the difficulties never get inside your head. God has protected your mind with an unyielding resolve which enables you to resist both internal and external pressures. There are times in your life when fear may seem to be the logical response. Other times, discouragement may cast its shadow across your path. But you have been designed by the Creator of the universe and He has constructed you with a supernatural ability to withstand such destructive forces.

A Date With Destiny – March 9

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Tetelestai Recovery

Breaking Free: Addressing Addictions Beyond Drugs

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We concluded that all humans suffer from at least one type of addiction. However, we also know that every addiction can be called out and destroyed, using the pronouncement of Jesus, “Tetelestai” (It is finished).

Last Word Recovery Ministries developed the Tetelestai Recovery program that is based on the power of Jesus declaration which offers the possibility of permanent freedom for anyone struggling with addiction.

 As the ripple effect of this program began to reach the families and friends of those who were enjoying permanent sobriety, we received requests for an expanded version of the program which could address other destructive addictions and dysfunctions beyond the scope of drug or alcohol dependence. We were intrigued by this idea and excited to pursue it. 

In this third volume, Tetelestai Recovery – Leveling Up, we address some non-drug addictions, along with other dysfunctional behaviors related to the human condition. We offer Sacred Text selections that can break these strongholds and prevent further harm.

Tetelestai Recovery is not just for addicts. It is for everyone. Jesus says, “It is finished!” to the behaviors and dysfunctions that weigh us down and hold us back.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Walk with Confidence

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Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.  Proverbs 4:25-26

Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.  Hebrews 12:13

Both verses spoke of walking level paths which offer firm footing and stability. There was no demand to scale mountain ledges, hike over rocky terrains, lose ground on shifting sand dunes, or trudge through marshy swampland. We were not told to look down, closely examining each next step with caution because the journey was so treacherous. We were simply instructed to seek out level paths and keep our focus upward.

In other words, we had to stop making it harder than it needed to be. We were simply to ask God for direction and trust that He would deliver us to exactly the right place at exactly the right time. We simply needed to keep walking. One foot in front of the other. Forward motion. No fear. One step at a time. No looking down and no looking back.

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A Date With Destiny

Navigating Conflict: Finding Peace in Turbulent Times

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 2 Timothy 2:25   
   The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who do not agree with him.

In a world filled with humans fighting for the upper hand using insults and clever arguments, you choose to exhibit the power of peace instead.

You stand out as a beacon of light to those who are lost in a swirling sea of conflict. You are a peacemaker.

The Spirit of God enables you to create a safe space in which differences can be addressed and forgiveness can flow. You are able to make peace when there is conflict and hold the line when peace starts to slip away.

Others rely on your logical input when settling a dispute or searching for a reasonable compromise. As you walk in the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, you are able to guide others toward common goals.

The peace you bring to a situation is often the glue which repairs broken relationships and holds organizations together.

It is one of your most intriguing gifts, and even you don’t know exactly how it works. All you know is, you are delighted to see peace win, and you are thrilled to be a part of making it happen.

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A Date With Destiny

Hidden in Darkness

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Daniel 2:22  
  He makes known the secrets that are deep and hidden. 
He knows what is hidden in darkness and light lives within him.

Many of the good things you do are done in secret. You are not boastful or arrogant about your charitable contributions or personal sacrifices.

You help others in ways they may never realize. You attend to the needs of your family and community without recognition or fanfare.

Sometimes you feel as if your efforts are unappreciated or even unwanted.  There are times you believe you may be wasting your time and energy because you can’t see the fruits of your labor.

Thankfully, you have the Word of God and His wonderful creation to remind you that a seed hidden in the darkness is a harvest waiting to happen.

Seeds planted in soil remain unseen during the germination phase. In the dark, a seed breaks open and new life is formed. There is a waiting time before the shoot appears. There is another waiting time before the harvest comes.

In the same way, your good works and loving efforts may be often hidden in the dark for a time, but this doesn’t mean they remain unfruitful.

When the time is right, God brings your results into the light, much like the tiny plant which emerges from the dark soil. Your random acts of kindness and quiet loving gestures are no longer hidden in the darkness. The results become visible and each tiny sprout holds the promise of a bountiful harvest.

You may not always receive human recognition or praise for the contributions you make. Sometimes your good intentions may even be misunderstood. But God knows what is in your heart and He promises that someday you will enjoy a harvest which far exceeds your expectations.

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Tetelestai Recovery

Stepping Out in Faith: Leaving Your Comfort Zone

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It only takes a little faith for us to get out of the boat and trust Jesus to keep us afloat.

Sure, we want to stay in the safety of the boat where everything is familiar. We also want to experience smooth sailing with no waves or winds.

However, there is a little seed of faith inside that tells us there is so much more to life what we have known. We are certain that we have a destiny to fulfill. We know it starts with a single step; out of the comfort zone and into the unknown.

We take a deep breath, whisper, “It is finished!” to our fear of change and take that first shaky step toward the sound of His voice.

  • Think about a time when fear has kept you from getting out of the boat: (making a life-altering decision; going back to school; starting a new job; taking a risk, moving forward, etc.)
    • Think about a time when you have taken a risk to move forward despite the presence of natural fear? How has that experience empowered you?
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    Tetelestai Recovery

    The Illusion of Relief: Understanding Emotional Dependence

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    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 that occurred when our brain chemistry became altered. We didn’t care that the relief would be short lived or cause irreparable damage. The long-awaited relief of rightness, contrasted against the life-long agony of wrongness, offered such an enchanting embrace, we surrendered without a fight.

    Without mind and mood altering substances, we fell into total despair. Sadly, these moments of disparity began to seep into every moment, and the temporary relief withdrew as quickly as it came.

    We became slaves to our feelings. We tested the quality of our product by the way it made us feel. We watched for warning signs of overdose by the way our bodies felt. We discovered ways to get out of responsibilities by saying, “I don’t feel well.” We made all sorts of excuses to ourselves and to others, based on our feelings. We accused our dealer of cutting because his product didn’t make us feel the way we wanted, or the way it used to. We sank into despair when the supply ran out. We drove through blizzards, walked through storms, and did whatever necessary to get the substance that would make us feel right. We went without sleep, food, and basic necessities. We lost relationships and emptied bank accounts in a mad pursuit of a feeling we wanted to feel.

    We were caught in a cycle of frenzied flight. Running from feelings we couldn’t stand. Searching for a feeling we thought we knew. We didn’t like to feel wrong, and we didn’t know how to feel right.

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    Tetelestai Recovery

    Understanding Tests: Cultivating Patience

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    My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  James 1:2-4

    When caught up in a moment of testing, we must resist letting our feelings and circumstances serve as a litmus test for our faith. It is not healthy, nor is it accurate.

    Tests are for the express purpose of developing patience. Whether the tests come from internal or external forces, they have a purpose. Some of the tests we face are due to our own weaknesses and might easily become our demise, but even then, God always has a better plan. Any test that activates patience is beneficial. Guilt and blame serve no purpose.

    Patience tells us that tests are only temporary. Patience tells us that God is doing a good work in us, and He will complete it. Patience tells us not to judge our walk by one random stumble. Patience keeps us steady as we wait for the storm to pass.

    It is patience that we lack when we throw up our hands and give up. It is patience that we lack when we question our progress. It is patience that will get us to the finish line. It is patience that will help us be gentle with ourselves.

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