COMMITTED TO LIFE AND GROWTH

The story is told of a pig and a chicken having a conversation about a meal they wanted to provide for their friends.  The chicken suggested bacon and eggs for the menu. The pig responded "Not on your life! For you that's just a contribution.  For me, it's a total commitment." 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 12:1 NIV)

To grow and mature and do well in any area of life requires commitment.  To develop their skills, professional athletes consistently practice for long hours, at inconvenient times, over many years.  Medical professionals spend huge amounts of time and money to learn the necessary skills to properly care for patients who are injured or sick.

Maintaining our life with God in recovery also takes time and effort.  The habits and disciplines we began to practice when we got sober need to be carried on if we are to maintain our sobriety.  We improve our conscious contact with God by praying and meditating on His Word each day and then carrying out His will in all our affairs. Sometimes it will be convenient and many times it will not. 

Moving away from a focus on God’s plan for our lives into a focus of “me and my needs/problems” is a constant challenge for us in recovery and for those who are just living life.  Deciding that going our own way will work better than God’s instructions and the advice of trusted friends is a temptation we will face repeatedly.  Have we decided that God’s way is best and committed to His plan no matter what? This is the challenge in turning our will and our life over to the care of God.  It’s not a one-time pledge but an everyday commitment.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. (Psalm 37:5 NLT)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Once again I turn my will and my life – all the plans and ideas I have about today – over to Your care.  Show me Your will and help me to walk in it.  Amen