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Bedrock of Recovery

Originally posted at Theresstillhope.org

Let’s talk about a bedrock of successful recovery. It’s called self-control.

Jim Rohn said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” 

Scripture teaches, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Navy SEAL and leadership expert Brent Glesson writes, in The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life, “People with a higher degree of self-control spend less time debating whether to indulge in behaviors and activities that don’t align with their values or goals. They are more decisive. They don’t let impulses or feelings dictate their choices. They aren’t easily distracted by temptation.”

Until you make it a priority to practice self-control, you will never have self-control.

Recovery Step: Focus on one decision you can make today that demands discipline and self-control.

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Laugh A Lot

Originally posted at: http://www.theresstillhope.org

Noted philosopher Reba McEntire offers this sage observation: “To thrive in life you need three bones – a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.”

Let’s focus on that last one – the funny bone. Laughter is a gift from God. The Bible says a lot about laughter. My favorite laughter verse is Proverbs 17:22, “Laughter is a good medicine.”

Science agrees. Health expert Dr. Elizabeth Scott, identifies several benefits from regular laughter:

  • Reduced stress
  • Emotional release
  • Distraction
  • Social benefits

Take God at his word. Find pathways to laughter everyday.

Recovery Step: Laugh at others. Laugh at yourself. Laugh often.

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You Can’t Control The Wind But You Can Adjust Your Sail

Sailing is both peaceful and adventurous. Imagine being on a sailing boat working the sails for quiet, controlled movement or for exciting speed as you skim across the water. You can learn to work with the wind and apply it to your advantage. Anyone who tries to sail his boat willfully, contrary to the conditions of the wind gets nowhere.

A well lived life also draws on experience and we continue to learn as long as we live. Our male role models told us that masculinity meant conquering our surroundings and many of us instinctively saw competition and confrontation as a matter of personal honour. We believed that, as men, our self esteem was tied to subduing any obstacle before us. But these were a boys idea about what a man is like.

As we grow wiser and genuinely stronger we set our sails to work with the wind. We can neither stop the wind nor make it blow.

Today I will watch the winds in my life and work with them to live better.

(Reading taken from stepping stones daily meditations for men published by Hazelden meditations)

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The Full Armor of God

Originally posted at: https://zachuramblog.com/2022/07/19/the-full-armor-of-god/

This poem is about putting on the full armor of God, as delineated in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Tis the Devil I fight today
I will battle him without delay

Not by my own might
By God’s power that serpent will seek flight

I can do nothing by my power
But all can be done as Christ’s soldier

Don the helmet of salvation to discern spiritual manipulation
You won’t be in a spiritual depression

We put on the full armor of the Lord
And wield the Word of God, the Spirit’s Sword

The breastplate of Christ’s righteousness
Preserves us from Satan’s deadliness

With the belt of truth
We resist Satanic deception forsooth

The shield of faith protects us from doubt
With it, unbelief we shall rout

Our feet will be covered by the Gospel of peace
Even in troubled times we can find solace

And so we have on the full armor of God
Our victory is assured