I was blessed by a dear friend with tickets to see Joel Osteen on Friday night. There were originally 9 of us going....and people were dropping like flies! For one reason or another, people were unable to go, including my husband who was still pretty sick. I myself, had awoke that morning, queasy and not feeling quite 100%. A couple of people who had dropped out were replaced by others who were able to attend. I figure God had exactly who He wanted there for exact time and that exact message. So nine dwindled to seven and off we all went to see this very upbeat, inspirational speaker.
The night begins with music, and then Joel speaking a few words, more music, a short teaching by his wife, Victoria, and so on until the main message and altar call. But for me, it was almost the first sentence from Joel that hit home. I knew that the Lord was speaking directly to my heart in the words he said. Joel said that this was going to be the year of acceleration and that those who have been fighting addiction were going to be set free. The seeds were planted, and freedom was to be the fruit!
I've been free from drugs and alcohol for almost twenty-two years, cigarettes for almost twenty-one. But that doesn't mean I've been free from addiction. Food, especially junk food, coffee....these became my socially "acceptable" addictions of choice. And I've battled them for many years....usually only having success in short bursts. I also believe complaining has become an addiction for me as well. I have often chronicled here my struggles and successes in that area and the fact that I know the Lord wants me to eliminate that from my life.
For approximately the last six weeks, I have been walking in victory over these first two addictions (and to varying degrees of success the complaining as well.) I've had a few slips, but when I do the Lord reminds me physically....I literally feel horrible....that He does not want me overdoing it in either food or coffee any longer. It took getting a very uncomfortable stomach bug to accelerate breaking the addiction chains...but the Bible says that the Lord uses all things for our good! For me, coffee was a stress relief, an enjoyable treat. But it was also an enslavement and I was dependent on it to wake up, stay up, feel up. Food seemed to fill some unknown, unnamed empty space inside that really only the Lord is meant to fill. One problem is I have a medical condition which coffee, overeating, and unhealthy food choices, exacerbates and for which they can also lead to some very serious other conditions. But the main problem is substituting these items for God in my life, letting them control me instead of being led by the Holy Spirit.
When Joel spoke those words Friday night, it was as if the Lord put the picture together for me. He wants my freedom, He wants me healthy, probably even more than I do. His deliverance was at hand. Am I still struggling with cravings....yes. But when I am experiencing them, I am making it a habit to cry out to the Lord, and cry out and cry out and cry out until the hunger and longing pass. I believe it will take some time for me to not think about food and coffee as my go-to companions, both were like best friends to me, and it's funny I can still remember the depression and sense of loss I felt when I gave up my other "friends" (alcohol, drugs, cigarettes)...it's the same feeling now. But I want the Lord to be that best friend. Him to be my constant and much craved companion. And each time I succeed, the feeling of joyous victory is oh so sweet and feels me with gratitude. God is so good.
I pray that every time I get off track the Lord will lead me back on in what ever way He has too. I want to be healthy to run my race, to complete His course for my life, and do the good works He has planned for me. And I want this entry to be an encouragement to you too dear friends and readers, The Lord wants your freedom as well. And YES YOU CAN!! We don't rely on our own strength (for I would surely fail), but on HIS.
Lord, help us to step out of the prisons we live in. You have opened the door through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. This week we celebrate Your death and resurrection....our addictions, as well as our sins died on the Cross with You, Jesus. And when You walked out of the grave, alive and glorified, we too were raised to new life. Help us to walk in that new life, to leave the enslavement of addiction behind and walk onto the path of deliverance and freedom You desire to lead us on. There are so many forms of addiction, but all take us away from You. Help us to put You, and not substances, habits, people, things...whatever, on the throne of our hearts and lives. you promise to never leave nor forsake us. Thank You. You are the great deliverer. The healer.
The Lord is telling you right now, He wants to heal you, to set you free....what are those areas you need to walk away from in your life? What addictions do you put in the place of God? Pray and walk in His answers. And before you put it aside, YES, this message is for YOU!
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training to to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Romans 6:1-4 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we may live new lives.
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