It was not enough for us to simply stop using mind or mood-altering substances. We needed something more significant. We began to suspect that our primary purpose in life was not simply to stay clean and sober. While sobriety was an honorable ambition, and one we had desired deeply for many years, we found that mere sobriety fell woefully short of the abundant life promised by Jesus. We began to believe that our truepurpose was to discover the reason for our existence.
We came to realize that sobriety was not the end goal. As it turned out, sobriety was simply a way of life we had grown to prefer, since clarity of mind was beneficial in our quest for true purpose...
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.
Then the Lord God planted a garden in the East, in a place called Eden. He put the man He had formed into that garden. Genesis 2:8
You enjoy a close bond with nature and find peace in the Great Creation. You have discovered the elusive tranquility that many others seek, by walking in harmony with the earth and its inhabitants.
You enjoy tending gardens and working with plants. You also find a deep sense of satisfaction from sharing your harvest to nourish others. You delight in feeding birds, animals, and fellow human beings.
Growing plants from seed and watching them mature into life-sustaining trophies of God’s goodness, is an assignment you willingly accept.
To you, the privilege of sharing the abundance of your harvest is one of life’s most enjoyable experiences.
You function in harmony with the earth, finding both spiritual and physical nourishment from this connection to the Creator.
1 Corinthians 2:7 I speak God’s secret wisdom, which He has kept hidden. God planned this wisdom for our glory before the world began.
The secret wisdom of God’s Kingdom is revealed in nature. Many may find it difficult to comprehend the magnitude of what they are witnessing, when viewing a starry night or a blazing sunrise. However, you are fully aware that each element of nature contains vital information about your Creator.
You have a persistent drive to push past surface layer facts to discover the deeper secrets hidden behind them. You have a curious mind which seeks to comprehend the secrets of God concealed in the world around you.
You remain keenly aware that all understanding comes from the Creator, and you derive great pleasure discovering the intimate secrets of His character revealed in the beauty of nature.
You deeply and fully appreciate a belief in intelligent design. Profound revelations that you encounter, while observing the world around you, unlocks a supernatural enlightenment which reaches far beyond human understanding.
You are enamored by the evidence of God sprinkled throughout the universe. You possess great wisdom and understanding when sifting through the clues to uncover hidden mysteries.
As each layer is peeled back, through scientific research and discovery, the wonder of the universe reveals the magnitude of its Creator.
You easily make the connection between Creator and Creation. You have been given a gift of divine understanding which enables you to live life in both the natural and supernatural, simultaneously.
A life of dual loyalties to both the scientific and religious communities is rarely an easy path to walk. These two entities are often perceived to be in opposition to each other.
However, you have the gift of divine wisdom, so you perceive it much differently. You find insurmountable evidence to the contrary.
You see a spectacular harmony between both the spiritual and the scientific realms. You can quickly detect synchronized cooperation between these two dimensions and are equally comfortable in both worlds.
This is an exciting lifestyle that few can understand. You comprehend it well because it has been your reality for as long as you can remember.
1 John 2:6 Whoever says that God lives in him must live as Jesus lived.
The story of what God has done in your life is a profound message of hope which will change lives. It cannot be kept quiet. It is not meant to remain private.
The exhibition of Jesus’ healing, deliverance, and renewal in your life will be shared as a lasting legacy long after your days in the human realm of space and time have ended.
Not only are you a living display of grace, through your kindness and compassion, you are carrying the teachings of Christ within your own being.
Your message from God is one of forgiveness, love, and empathy for those who struggle.
God has revealed this to you in such a personal way; it seems as if it is simply part of your personality.
Your ability to follow the unique level of Christ’s teaching is a special gift that not many possess. Despite numerous wrongs done to you, forgiveness and the refusal to carry a grudge, is the deliberate response you choose.
The teaching and actions of Jesus concerning forgiveness are part of the mysterious message of truth that God has called you to communicate to his hurting children. His message of mercy is one that most people find difficult to receive until they see it in action.
You are given amazing opportunities to share this mysterious message of the healing power of forgiveness with those who seek what you have found.
Your living example of Jesus’ teachings speak volumes to those who interact with you during your allotted time on this planet.
Additionally, your written words will influence those you never meet. As a lasting legacy, your writings will offer God-given insights to those who enter the human realm long after you have lived out your days.
Whether your it is a little problem or a big one, the proclamation of Jesus, “It is finished!” gives you the power you need to move out of this prison and into the open space of grace.
Like a blank check, Jesus gave us, “It is finished!” His words have the power to put an end to anything that is an obstacle to your best self.
When He said, “It is finished!” He knew it would be specific and unique to every person on the planet. To identify your own, it that may be causing issues, try asking yourself these questions:
We felt certain that we could justify anger when it came to certain evils in the world. When we checked the Sacred Text, we found proof that anger can sometimes be appropriate; perhaps even righteous.
Jesus went into the Temple. He threw out all the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables that belonged to the men who were exchanging different kinds of money. And he upset the benches of those who were selling doves. Jesus said to all the people there, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple will be a house where people will pray.’ But you are changing God’s house into a ‘den of thieves.’ Matthew 21:12-17
So, after reviewing some of Jesus’ moments of fury, we concluded that there may, in fact, be times when anger would be an entirely appropriate reaction.
His reaction was more than simply a display of righteous indignation. It was a display of self-restraint. The Son of God, with an army of angels at His disposal, simply flipped over a few tables and ran people out of the temple. He could have whistled for an asteroid to hit the coordinates where they stood. He could have summoned a flesh-eating bacterium to consume them or an earthquake that would bury them beneath tons of rubble. He could have destroyed them in a million different ways, but he chose rather to use words, with a controlled show of force for emphasis.
We came to understand that when Jesus was angry, His methods were measured and restrained.
Luke 1:30 “Don’t be afraid,” the angel said. “You have found favor with God!”
Your life is filled with the favor of God. He has chosen you to be the recipient of His goodness.
Some believe your life is easy, but like Mary, you also hide many things in your heart.
God’s call isn’t always an easy road to walk, even though it may appear easy to those who watch you move quietly and methodically through difficulties.
Like Mary’s experience, the blessings of God may not always appear as blessings at first.
There are things God asks of you that may not seem possible or even rational. Your destiny is a path which some may question. This is because God has revealed plans to you that no one else could ever understand.
As we called an end to our addiction, using Christ’s words, “It is finished,” our recovery took root and began to grow into a new life filled with promise. We began to detect subtle changes in our thoughts and behaviors, but they often fluctuated so rapidly, we sometimes wondered if they were real or imagined. We understood that the development of our new life would take time, but the changes we had hoped would happen quickly seemed to be taking forever. Many of our old habits, we desperately wished would vanish, continued to linger. And some of the expectations we set for ourselves just weren’t happening.
However, we also noticed that some of our undesirable behaviors that we previously accepted as normal (or just being human) had disappeared without any effort on our part. In fact, there were some attitudes and mindsets which were so deeply ingrained in our personalities; we didn’t even think they could be removed. Yet, they disappeared without a trace, and we knew it was a God thing.
We realized that our relationships improved as we lost our drive to maintain the upper hand. As our lust and greed began to diminish, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we had the ability to connect with others in an honorable manner. We enjoyed the responses we received. Where we once bristled at pushback and rejections, we began to enjoy camaraderie and companionship. Where we once used and abused others, in order to assert our power, we found that we grew to appreciate the strength of unity and the influence of a cooperative spirit.
Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.”
You care deeply about animals, and you understand their fundamental value to the ecosystem of this planet.
You sometimes prefer the company of animals to humans because you appreciate their non-judgmental acceptance.
You realize that the human connection to animals is a deeply spiritual bond.
Medical breakthroughs and scientific discoveries are dependent upon the animal kingdom to guide the way.
Animals play a vital role in the development of life-saving medical procedures.
Throughout the centuries, animals, both domestic and wild, have been the inspiration for countless human inventions and technological advancements. By studying and mimicking the unique traits of other species, humanity was able to survive.
You are intrigued by the interconnectedness of the ecosystem. You hold a deep sense of honor and respect for conservationists. You admire people who preserve the natural habitats of untamed creatures who reside on this planet.
You live in harmony with creation and the Creator, because you hold deep reverence for the wild world.
Finding Total Recovery in the Words of Christ, "It is Finished!" 