11/09/2024
Most of us wrestle with our temptations and problems, thinking that if we can defeat them, we will be able to live in a godly way. Galatians 5:16 says the opposite. It teaches us to focus on walking in the Spirit— and then we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. If we are doing the right thing, there is no room in our life for the wrong thing. If we think about good things, there is no room in our mind to think about bad things. Susan’s story makes this point well:
{Susan’s Story}
"I was in addiction for thirty years. I was a functioning addict. I worked, but any life outside of my work focused on me. When you’re an addict, your life revolves around getting high. I don’t know any addict that doesn’t think about themselves excessively. You just want to feel better, but you never feel better because of the guilt and shame of getting high, so it’s a vicious cycle. When I gave my life to Christ and accepted His love for me, He not only set me free from my addiction, but He taught me an important lesson about love for other people. Had I not developed a lifestyle of helping others, I could have fallen back into addiction. God knew I had to get my mind off myself and onto others to live the life I’m living today. I realize now that the number one reason for staying in bo***ge is keeping your mind on yourself too much. God has taught me that it’s not all about me and shown me the importance of realizing that He is God and that He loves me. I’m important to Him, and other people are just as important to Him. I am to love those people as He loves them and to try to bring honor and glory to Him through the way I act toward others. I started jail ministry about three years into my salvation. I felt God called me to serve in this way, even though I have never been incarcerated. Because of my battle with addiction, I can relate to the women in jail and often understand what leads to their time behind bars. I would say that 90 percent of the women I talk to deal with substance abuse. So many people in this world just need a helping hand. They need someone to help. What I have, I have because God has blessed me, and so, with that, I want to bless others the best way I can."
Credit : Joyce Meyer