“The heart of the matter is the heart of the matter.” This little saying is trying to remind us to find the central issue, the most important point, and give our time and attention to that.
What is the central issue of our recovery? We have so many issues, it seems, when we come into recovery. It all seems so complicated and overwhelming. We’re not sure how one problem impacts another, or which is more important than the other, or which needs to have our attention first. We’ve said things and done things that have resulted in shame and guilt stains on our heart. The choices and actions of others have brought fear and pain that hide around every corner of our thoughts.
God in heaven, the God who created us and knew us before we were born into this world, pursues us with His unfailing love. He is aware of our thoughts and feelings and how overwhelming these thoughts and feelings are for us. The God who invited us into recovery, and is guiding us through it today, has the answer to this question, what is the heart of the matter? The answer; God is God and we are not.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. (Psalm 100:3 NLT)
The founders of AA recognized this when they crafted the 12 steps program. Individuals seeking to enter into recovery first acknowledge; we cannot do life alone; that there is a power greater than ourselves who can restore us; our part is to turn our will and our lives over to God’s care. Our hearts and minds are cluttered with so many issues. God wants to help us deal with all of them but only He knows how they all relate to one another. That’s why, in order to enter into real recovery, we need to first seek God and listen to the truth He reveals to us in love. We need to follow His guidance and direction as we work through the 12 steps and strive to move forward in our life in recovery.
“I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27 MSG)
Let’s make the heart of the matter, the matter of our heart today.
©2016 Partners in Hope
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