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Since
you first put your faith in Christ,
you've seen some significant changes
in your life. You may feel you no longer
need:
- to
binge
- to
drink
- to
compete
- to
control
- to
take drugs
- to
gain others' approval
- to
be perfect
- to
lie
- to
cheat
- to
resent
- to
go to porn sites
- to
be promiscuous...
...in
order to fill up the void inside, to
decrease the loneliness, the pain, the
stress, the fear, the anger.
You've
stopped (or mostly stopped) the destructive
behavior, but, still you don't feel
the peace and the joy you thought Christians
should experience. You take one step
forward, but then feel like you've taken
another step back. You're at the steering
wheel of your life, trying to make your
way down the road, missing some obstacles,
but still running into low self-esteem,
envy, fear and defeat. What more do
you need? Where can you find it?
Jesus.
Yes! Jesus is enough for you. Jesus
can help you do life and help
you on the road to recovery. He is the
answer to all your longings.
He is the husband or wife you may never
have. He is the peace and the light
during suffering and confusion. Jesus
is enough for any problem. Sufficient
to meet your needs and empower you in
your weakness. He loves you. He longs
for your fellowship. He is the Good
Shepherd who cares for you, one of His
sheep. The Savior who forgives all your
sins. The King who invites you to His
throne of grace.
Hebrews
12:1-3 reads, "Therefore, since
we are surrounded by such a great cloud
of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us. Let us fix
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of our faith, who for the joy set before
him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God. Consider him who
endured such opposition from sinful
men, so that you will not grow weary
and lose heart" (NIV).
So,
keep going and keep believing. Consider
Jesus along the way.
When
you are overwhelmed with disappointments
and sorrow...
Jesus says, "Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls. For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light" (Matthew
11:28-30).
When
people and relationships disillusion
you...
Consider Jesus, who proclaims, "You
are my friends if you do what I command.
I no longer call you servants, because
a servant does not know his master's
business. Instead, I have called you
friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to
you" (John 15:14-15).
Consider
Jesus...when responsibilities and challenges
trouble you...
He declares, "I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the
world." John 16:33 (NIV)
Consider
Jesus when your prayers seem to go unanswered...
Hear Him as He says, "You may ask
me for anything in my name, and I will
do it" (John 14:14).
Consider
Jesus when the one you loved leaves
or dies...
He promises, "Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you."
"And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age." "I
give you eternal life, and you shall
never perish; no one can snatch you
out of my hand" (Hebrews 13:5;
Matthew 28:20; John 10:28).
Consider
Jesus when you face changes in your
life and you don't know which way to
go...
Jesus assures you that "I am the
good shepherd." "My sheep
listen to my voice; I know them, and
they follow me." "And I will
ask the Father, and he will give you
another Counselor to be with you forever"
(John 10:11, 27; 14:16).
Consider
Jesus when you don't know whom you can
trust anymore...
Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts
be troubled. Trust in God; trust also
in me" (John 14:1).
Consider
Jesus when...you are anxious about your
life...
Jesus declares, "Peace I leave
with you; my peace I give you. I do
not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and
do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
Consider
Jesus when guilt overwhelms you...
Listen to Him proclaim, "This is
my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many for the forgiveness of
sins." "Friend, your sins
are forgiven" (Matthew 26:28; Luke
5:20).
Consider
Jesus when you sense an emptiness inside...
Jesus says, "I am the bread of
life. He who comes to me will never
go hungry, and he who believes in me
will never be thirsty" (John 6:35).
Consider
Jesus when you feel rejected and unworthy...
He promises,"As the Father has
loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain
in my love" (John 15:9).
Consider
Jesus when you are confused about which
religion to believe...
Jesus, who declares, "I am the
way the Truth and the life. No man comes
to the Father but by me" (John
14:6).
Consider
Jesus when you wonder what eternity
holds for you after you die...
Jesus, who pronounces, "I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes
in me will live, even though he dies."
"Before long, the world will not
see me anymore, but you will see me.
Because I live, you also will live"
(John 11:25; John 14:19, NIV).
Application
Take
an inventory:
- When
do you feel low?
- When
do feel like you've relapsed?
- What
are you thinking and believing about
God and you during and after those
times?
- What
are you telling yourself? How do your
thoughts coincide with Scripture?
- Do
you react with frustration and hopelessness
when you fail or when you feel down?
- Do
you accept the fact that you are human
and in constant need of your Savior?
- Can
you forgive yourself?
- Can
you believe that God is still in the
business of restoring your life? That
His forgiveness is enough? That Jesus'
power is enough? That Jesus will provide
a way of escape when the temptations
come?
- How
has He helped you in the past?
- How
can you apply Scriptures, prayer and
obedience this week in order to let
God take control of your life?
~ Lynette
J. Hoy, is a Marriage and Family
counselor, speaker, writer and the Chicagoland
Chair of Community and Business Women
for Christ. Her newly released book,
What's Good About Anger? can
be ordered online at: Counsel
Care Connection or Amazon.com.
*
all verses taken from the NIV translation
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