We found the facts of the first story in Mark chapter five, concerning a demon possessed man who cut himself and lived in tombs, to be tragic and disturbing. We also identified with him in a way that few others can. This man was out of his mind, and everyone knew it. The historical facts had proven that human power was no match for a demon. Evil was an entity to be feared and avoided.
When we were lost in our addiction, we were self-destructive, violent, fearful, crazy, and more conspicuous than we cared to admit. The demoniac man is one we relate to with deep heartbreaking empathy. We walked his path. Like him, our path led to Jesus. And in like manner, Jesus called out our demons and returned us to our right minds.
Fact: this man was violent and dangerous.
Fact: anyone who got close got hurt.
Fact: the man had been this way for many years.
Fact: there was no treatment or remedy available for him.
Fact: no mortal man could throw down with a legion of hell hounds and live to tell about it.
Fact: the demoniac man ran toward Jesus.
Truth: Of all these facts, only one held any significance: He ran toward Jesus.
Truth: When he ran to the Prince of Peace, with his frightening facts, they were overpowered by the Truth.
Truth: The man’s sanity was restored, and his life changed forever.
Oddly, the story states at this point that the people were afraid. Sadly, when we were delivered from our addiction, some of our friends and family were afraid too. They were afraid it wouldn’t last; afraid it was too good to be true; afraid it was a manipulation technique; or just afraid of being hurt again.
Tetelestai Recovery – Chapter 8, Facts are Changeable
When has worry EVER made something better? Â It usually makes us weak and sick.
We can overcome fear by looking to God and receiving his love. 1 John 4:18 tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.”Â
Marcus Aureoles wrote, “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
We can choose to be fearful. We can choose not to be fearful.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
The spirit of fear doesn’t come from God and it certainly isn’t what He wants for you.
Fear, worry, and anxiety are silent killers. They shorten our lives and have a negative impact on those around us.
You have a unique ability to internalize the insights which have come to you from the Spirit of God. This personal interaction creates a bond of admiration and affection between you and your Creator.
Your imagination is the canvass on which God paints a self-portrait, allowing you to see Him more clearly. In this sacred space, your love for Him grows deeper.
You recognize Him in places where no one else would think to look. You feel His supernatural strength propel you on your journey. You sense His compassion toward the hurting world around you. You recognize God’s goodness in your life and in the lives of those you love.
You know God is with you, even when you feel surrounded by darkness. You are confident that His light will always shine through, to guide and protect your path.
You identify God as a loyal and devoted ally who has your back and guards your future. You remember how He has appeared to you in some of your darkest hours. Therefore, you have no doubt He will always be there beside you, even when your perception of Him might be obscured by conflict, anxiety, or confusion.
God has always been your safe companion. From early childhood, you have sensed a supernatural bond between yourself and the Divine.
There have been times in your life when it seemed as if the skies opened, and you caught a glimpse of His majestic presence. In those momentary flashes of clarity, you realized that God truly knows all about you, and His desire is for you to know all about Him too.
As we leveled up in our new normal, we had to adopt the same type of mindset with our life choices as we did for driving on muddy country roads. Our decisions and actions needed to be precisely calibrated in order to achieve the results we wanted. Just as it would be foolish to see how close to the ditch we could drive without sliding off the road, it was also foolish to see how close we could get to temptation without giving in.
In our leveled-up position, we learned that every action started with a choice. And every choice carried an equal and opposite result. In other words, every choice carried both a yes and a no decision.
If we said yes to sobriety, we said no to the chaos and destruction we once lived. And visa-versa. If we said yes to a drink or drug, we said no to hope and sanity. When we said yes to thinking out our choices, we said no to making the same dumb decisions over and over, expecting different results.
To level-up, we had to accept our own responsibility for the choices and events of our lives. We had to realize that our decisions, even in little things, mattered. Whether it was getting a good deal on a laptop we suspected was stolen, or working the system to get benefits we didn’t really qualify for, every decision set off a chain reaction of negative results and consequences.
We evaluated some of our individual experiences and shared them with the group.
One member who had been an addiction to porn, shared his decision-making process when it came to watching television. He knew which shows would trigger lustful thoughts, so he simply chose not to watch them. He chose instead to watch sports, cooking shows, and educational programs like Nova. He said yes to living free from his addiction which meant he said no to shows that triggered him. Each time he made that choice, he placed himself into a position of freedom. He continues to pursue his destiny using the wisdom God has given. He has leveled up into a mature, godly man who demonstrates great leadership skills.
Another member of the group shared about self-esteem issues. From childhood, he had been trying to cope with the confusion of trauma, unaware of what to call it. He struggled with feelings of unworthiness and was unable to feel a sense of value. That all changed when he made the choice to learn about trauma and its effects. He chose to develop a relationship with Jesus, his Healer. He made a choice to forgive and move away from the pain. Because he said yes to openness, and no to suffering in silence, he now operates in a position of power and serves as an advocate for others. He has the wisdom of God and the heart of a servant.
Another member shared about his past life of uncontrollable rage. He spoke about feeling as if he had no choice when it overtook him. His experience with rage was like driving on a slippery, muddy road at full speed, headed straight for the ditch, and unable to stop. It was hard for us to believe he had ever struggled with rage. This was a man who carried the joy of the Lord on his face. His smile was contagious, his demeanor was gracious, and he radiated positive energy whenever he walked into the room. He often spoke of love and forgiveness as if it were his lifeline. He had made a conscious choice to forgive whenever he was wronged. He refused to carry a grudge, but instead, chose to walk in love. He said no to rage and yes to compassion. Forgiveness and joy were no longer second nature to him; they were his new normal.
Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, "It is Finished!" 