The Storm Forms
If you are easily offended, you’ll always struggle. All authority is God-sent. Most storms come when we’re offended by someone, especially those in authority over us. When acting as the hands and feet of Jesus, serving others, it’s critical to know you cannot be effective and offended at the same time. Offense will hinder you from seeing the truth and loving another into recovery.
Whenever you stumble over Jesus, you’re amid a self-induced storm. Your entire perspective changes and knocks you off track of what God has for you, and where he desires to take you.
It’s critical when feeling offended, and you will, to go directly to the source and talk to them about it. Don’t run to others and spread the poison. If rehearsed and enabled, offense will become part of your response to just about everything, and the only person it truly hurts is you.
Lord, I’m grateful to know storms come when I’m feeling offended. I pray I will go to the source whenever offense comes, to talk about it and give it to you. Amen.
MATTHEW 11:6
Resting in God
Bible Reading: John 14:12-14 
WE SOUGHT THROUGH PRAYER AND MEDITATION TO IMPROVE OUR CONSCIOUS CONTACT WITH GOD, PRAYING ONLY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL FOR US AND THE POWER TO CARRY IT OUT
We may have lived most of our lives trying to take care of our own needs. Our addictive behaviours may have been misplaced attempts to accomplish this very thing. Once we’ve given up our addictions, it’s still hard to rely on others to do things for us, even when we don’t have the power to handle them ourselves. This tendency to avoid reliance on others may come into play in our prayer lives, making it hard for us to depend on God.
Jesus told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:12-14)
Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth to do anything. He demonstrated this throughout his life by the mighty miracles he performed. We may feel that it would take a miracle to deal with some of our unresolved issues. But we may also be afraid of being disappointed if we rely on God to meet our needs. Jesus has given us an open door and strong assurances that there’s no need too big or too small. We really can rely on him for anything
When our requests are in line with God’s will, he promises to answer.
DAY 328
Facing Our Fears
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ” JOSHUA 1:9
A while back, a woman in our recovery group told me that she had faced one of her fears. “It wasn’t a very big one,” she added. I urged her to tell me more, and she did.
“I’m afraid of bugs. I can’t even bear to touch one,” she told me. “But the other day there were some crickets in my house. I tried to shoo them out, which didn’t work. I thought about squashing them, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Finally, I couldn’t think of any other way to get them out except to catch them and carry them outside. That was so hard, but I did it. I could feel them moving in my closed hand, and I almost lost it, but I held on until I was outside. Afterward, I felt good about facing my fear, even if it was just a small one.” while back, a woman in our recovery group told me that she had faced one of her fears. “It wasn’t a very big one,” she added. I urged her to tell me more, and she did.
“There’s no such thing as a small fear,” I told her. “All our fears are big. Anytime we overcome one of them, we come away better prepared for the next hurdle in our lives. We know for a fact that victory is possible. I can’t wait to see what you’re going to tackle next!”
In a way, we grow by going from fear to fear. With each victory, we gain courage and confidence until we become fearless, able to do without hesitation all God asks of us.
PRAYER
Father, I want to be fearless, but I’m still pretty fearful. Help me as I strive to conquer one fear at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
#328 OBSERVE HOW YOU LIVE 
1 John 1:7 We walk in the light, just as he is in the light. Then we share life with one another. And the blood of Jesus, his Son, makes us pure from all sin.
Our light is a reflection of Christ’s presence in our lives. He helps us to see our way and God shows us how to walk in His way. In the process of recovery, we are never to present ourselves as the light to others, but to always point them to personal relationship with Jesus.
The light of Jesus truth is revealed in and through our lives as we put into practice all we have learned through recovery. The truth of His involvement in our lives becomes evident to others when they get to know us and observe how we live.
- Do your actions align with what you say about your recovery?
Prayer: Lord today as I mix with others let my actions marry up with what I say.
sharing my experience, strength and hope. 