So, this is about the longest I’ve gone without blogging in several weeks. I’ve just been in a bit of a funk and it’s been slow going in my life, therefore, I just didn’t have much to write about. Ministry was slow over the weekend, numbers were down because of the cold and the rain, teammates are tired, and we are all a bit on edge I think.
This morning as I was out walking and praying as I do most mornings, I just felt like there was a definite wall between me and God. I couldn’t focus, my prayers felt rehearsed and fake, and I was just really rambling more than anything.
So, I decided what I needed was just to stop talking and listen. I asked God to silence my voice and my thoughts, to silence the voice and distractions of the enemy, and for God to speak to me. In the next few minutes God spoke to me clearly and revealed to me what the wall or roadblock was in our communication.
Last we I talked a lot about gratitude and writing out gratitude lists, however, in my gratitude I neglected other areas of my walk with God. Rick Warren has helped pioneer a ministry called “Celebrate Recovery.” In this program they have what is called the “Road to Recovery.” I would like to share that with you:
Eight Principles Based on the Beatitudes
By Pastor Rick Warren
Realize I am not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.
Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
Happy are the meek.
Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
Happy are the pure in heart.
Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.
Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.
Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for the harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.
Happy are the merciful. Happy are the peacemakers.
Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.
Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.
If you were to break my spiritual life down according to that little acrostic, I have been doing really well on the R E C, skipping the O V E, and doing well (but not all that productive or deep) with the R Y. My life has been a bit of a wreck (R E C) the last two days because I was out of balance.
So this morning God clearly spoke to me the words confession and amends. While I have been making a gratitude list each morning, I am now going to work on a confession and amends list each evening.
I feel 82% better after clearly hearing from God this morning. I feel that it will still be a bit of slow going for the next few days but at least I know where I am at and what I need to be doing. As I continue to memorize Psalm 34 with Heather, the verses that are speaking to me and that God is working in me through are verses 12 to 14:
Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard to live at peace with others.
And that’s where I am on the cold and rainy Tuesday morning.
It’s my hope that these words might help bring life, love, and recovery to you today.
Cheers!
Chad
