Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Step 11
There are many folks in recovery that have amazing prayer lives. Those who have the desperation of the drowning are quick to take their need to the One who gives and guards life. And in return for being quick to seek and turn to God they get the Kingdom. How do I know? Because Jesus said so. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the needy, the ones who know they can't take care of themselves, for theirs is the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3). And God's Kingdom is not eating nor drinking, but righteousness (doing what is right, the next right thing), peace and joy (Romans 14:17). The needy and the broken and the sick are the targets of the One who came to set the captives free, to heal the sick and restore the broken, and to make a way for the children of the curse to become the children of God and citizens of the kingdom.
But we all fit those descriptions. We are all, or were all, captive, sick, and broken children of the curse and enemies of God. The only difference between those who are poor in spirit and those who are not is awareness of need, not need. We all need God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, because none of us can walk with God and love God and others with a pure, unselfish love, do what is right and control our cursed mind, body and instincts on our own. None of us can free ourselves from sin. None of us can save ourselves from ourselves. All of us our poor and needy. Only some of us are blessed to have suffered enough, screwed up enough, been abused enough, been crushed and broken enough, been slaves enough and or have gotten sick enough to know we are poor and need help.
One of the scariest things to see in an addict or alcoholic is the attitude that says I got this begin to return as he or she gets healthier and stronger. It's like we have a tendency in the pit to realize we need help, but as God pulls us up from the mire and we start to get our footing we want to let go of His helping hand and say thanks, but I can take it from here. But we can't. We never get strong enough, healthy enough, good enough or wise enough to make it on our own. And when I talk to others who have gotten to that point where the illusion of self sufficiency and the pride that pulls us to pursue our independence from God has risen up or when I see it start to grow in myself, I hear about or observe in myself a diminishing prayer life, rather than one that is seeking to grow and increase and improve our conscious contact with Daddy.
Our Red Sea moment is not a one time thing like the Israelites. Every day we find ourselves in hopeless and helpless need. There are obstacles and difficulties and needs ahead of us that we cannot move, go around, meet or overcome without help from God. Behind us the enemy is rushing toward us hell bent on bringing destruction into our lives. If we attempt to defend and help ourselves, we will find ourselves even worse off. But if we are keeping an eye on the smoke and fire in our spirit that indicates the presence of God to us, for us and with us, and if we are pursuing more of Him and His will and acknowledging our dependence, then we find ourselves closer to freedom, not further from it. The sea parts and we are provided a way to the Land of Promise, that kingdom full of freedom, life, right and good choices, peace, joy and all the fruits of spirit our little souls can eat. The enemy is thwarted time an time again.
But it is so not just the junkie in the pit in need of this. It is not only the alcoholic who still suffers. It is not solely the victim and the diseased. It is also the ones of us who have been set free and made glad and who wish to continue to be free. It is the follower of Jesus who has never brought epic destruction into their life and wants to keep it that way. It is for all of us who are breathing. The goal of faith is not to grow and mature to the point where we no longer need God. We must grow into the people who realize their ever increasing need for and dependence upon God for everything.
Today let us be quick to see that we are poor in needy. Let us accept the suffering of Jesus for us instead of waiting until we suffer to run to Him. Let us not allow wherever we are in relationship be good enough but seek throughout this and each day to desire more of Him and less of ourselves. Let us pray, for it is through talking and listening that we improve our relationship with Him. Let us never deceive ourselves into thinking that we have outgrown our need for Daddy, but let us remain ever poor in spirit. Daddy, I so do not got this. Help me this day to walk with You and love with You.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment