Tuesday, December 31, 2013 -- Moving From One Year To The Next

MOVING FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT

In just a few hours the new calendar year will be upon us.  On what basis can we hope to truly have a new and better new year?  When we come into recovery after a long time in addiction we sometimes feel overwhelmed because we have so much stuff to wade through -  so many unanswered questions in our minds, and so many painful things in our hearts.  If we've come and gone from recovery before then we are often worried about our ability to maintain any level of sobriety with peace and joy for any length of time.

God's answer is very positive, very simple and very direct.  It comes in the form of an invitation: Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!  Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  (Ezekiel 18:30-32 NIV) 

It is God's promise to us that if we will believe and accept, that the blood of Jesus covers all sin, then those offenses committed by us, and those offenses committed against us, will never  again be our downfall.  We will not live in fear and resentment and bitterness and woundedness.  These things will not have the power to drive us back into an addictive mindset and ultimately some kind of addictive attitude or behaviour.  God's offer is a new heart and a new spirit.  In fact, God offers a brand new person, a brand new life with the old gone.  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

Does this sound like pie in the sky?    It's not.  It's simply making ourselves available to a kind and loving God to be taught a new way of living today and every day.  

Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)

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