Wednesday, October 17, 2012 -- Looking At Addictions And Recovery -- Addiction And The Whole Person

Addictions affect the whole person – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and socially

l.  To live well in recovery requires that we look at the whole person, find out where our pain lies, what our default positions are when it comes to unwanted thoughts and feelings and then find ways to make changes that involve our real self, healthy people, and a safe and nurturing relationship with God.  That’s quite an agenda. 

Life is a gift.  Healing is a gift.  Recovery is something we can’t take credit for but certainly is something that we can receive and hold with care. God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

It is God’s one desire that we get rescued out of what is disaster and chaos in every area of life and that we enter into the wonderful experience of our own life as God created it and planned it for us. To every area of our life (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social) God makes this promise:  “I will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”  (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT)

If I want to end the cycle of addiction and enter into a new way of freedom and hope, I need to build a new system of beliefs, remind myself of new information that supports and strengthens me, and begin to act as though these things are real no matter what I feel. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)

Do I want addiction in one form or another or do I want life in every area of my being?  Do I want to be a whole person?