WHY vs. WHATEVER

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

ARE YOU SEEKING?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

One of the things we often stress in FREEDOM Ministry is “IT IS MORE ABOUT THE WHY than THE WHATEVER.”

Just what do I mean?

When we were consumed with addictive and compulsive behaviors, we considered the behaviors to be "the problem." And so does everyone else.

We hear things like “Just stop doing what you are doing and you will be fine.” Or “If you know it isn’t good for you then why do you keep doing it; quit it!” 

And while many of us have “success” at “stopping” the “WHATEVER” and experience some sobriety or some clean time, it is only when we realize that "the challenge” goes much deeper that we can begin to find freedom.

Unfortunately we often believe that if we could just fix our behavior, in other words “stop ‘the whatever’” everything would be “hunky dory”. Yet in order to “fully recover”, in order to experience REAL FREEDOM, we must look at the WHY of our compulsion.  And to do that we must look at the state of our innermost being or “the heart” of the problem.

Let me give you an example of “WHY vs. WHATEVER”.

Early in his life King David prayed, "Declare me innocent" (Psalm 26:1), focusing on his deeds. He was focused on the WHATEVER.

Later in life, he was able to pray on a deeper level, "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). He was searching for the WHY. 

He had realized that his challenges were about the condition of his heart and not merely his actions alone.

At the end of the day, all of us need to realize just like David that our recovery and walk is a heart issue and not a behavior issue; a WHY issue and not just a WHATEVER problem.

Jesus understood this…

Matthew 15:18-19

But the words you speak come from the heart-that's what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander"

Jesus knew our hearts were the “real problem" and knew that NO REAL recovery was possible without a change of heart.

He also knew HE had the power to change them!

Ezekiel 11:19

I'll give you a new heart. I'll put a new spirit in you.

GOD knows that we are incapable of REAL CHANGE on our own.  He knows we NEED Him in order to make lasting and impactful progress in recovery.  He encourages us to draw nearer to Him each day so He can renew us and work us from the inside out!

Romans 12:2 (MSG)

…Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.  

We must begin to realize that each day we need to allow God to go deeper than merely dealing with our destructive behaviors.  We must call on Him to help us with the “WHY’s” along with our “WHATEVER'S”.

And that starts with our hearts.

So let’s get to the heart of it today shall we?  Pray with me…

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me…

 

I love you all

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney