PROCESS OF OBEDIENCE

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?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

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

Sorry I have missed you the last couple of days...

Early travel has kept me from the keyboard...

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But since I am at the ANNUAL RECOVERY CONFERENCE in Columbus, today’s OFH is a little “recovery flavored.” But you non-recovery folks, stick with it.

There is a little something for you as well at the end.

I have been back and forth on recently with several folks who “say they want” some help; that they want delivered from their opiate choking lifestyle.  And I fully believe they do, but as much as they say they “want” it, when presented with the “PROCESS” to achieve that freedom, they balk.  

They want a quick fix. They sure don't want a "process". 

And as a result, they constantly counter my “process" questions.

“What is your TRUE motivation when it comes to recovery?

Have you decided to change because you know you ‘can’t’ continue to live the way you have been living without getting into trouble?”

Or worse yet,

“Is there a consequence looming and you know you HAVE TO change now?”

I then typically really press in and say something they often really don't like, I ask if they were ready to embrace obedience over convenience.

Pause on that a second.

This recovery walk, this OBEDIENCE walk will often seem inconvenient.

Discipline is never “easy”.

Change is never “easy”.

I then usually ask another question, “Are you wanting change and recover out of fear of the looming consequences or do you want to begin to experience the blessings that come with obedience and not addiction and leave the consequences to GOD to sort out?”

Why?

Because obedience is the BEST way to recovery. 

Period.

Fear-based, consequence-based recoveries are rickety at best, but daily embraced obedience starts recovery on solid footing and only gets more solid over time! 

By embracing a recovery founded on Jesus and inspired by truth, we begin to learn that trusting and OBEYING GOD is the WINNING ticket!

In fact, when we recover with OBEDIENCE as our motivator we discover that we are often kept safe from the harsh repercussions we deeply fear. And by continuing in a GOD-focused recovery, our fear is replaced by recognition of God’s blessings, His love for us and His passion to see us through the challenge! 

It is the reason STEP 3 tells us to SUBMIT to GOD’S WILL for our lives as the key to recovery. 

Why? 

Because by following God’s will our focus shifts from

“disobedience’s consequences to obedience’s blessings!”

Romans 6:21-23 (MSG)

...now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.

You see friends, once we taste the best GOD has to offer, we will want to keep good flowing into our lives. 

Obedience and God’s best are natural partners — good derives from following divine commands...

And as we become more aware of how blessing follows obedience, we realize that embracing the LORD’S WILL is a very wise choice. It is then we move from “I can’t do that because” RECOVERERS to “I choose NOT to do that because” RECOVERERS.

Now for my “non-recovery friends” this message is for you as well. 

Is there a sin in your life that know you “can’t do” for fear of consequence?  Come on be honest.  You secretly wish you could “keep doing it” if you knew there were no repercussions. 

Step away from that sort of FORCED COMPLIANCE. 

It is bondage friends! 

Instead, follow GOD’s best for your life. Don't "listen to sin tell you what to do". 

Instead experience the blessings of obedience and break free from that consequential conformity!

Remember: 

Obedience always brings blessing (Life Principle #21) – Charles Stanley.

I love you all…

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE