During a morning’s devotional this week, it came to me that many of us have trouble relating to bible-speak terminology at times, but not with the language of recovery. It comes second nature for many of us and has so much meaning to us. Well, the Lord gave me permission to do a little word play with a section of Romans for those of us who struggle with various recovery issues. The passage speaks about our struggle with sin, and how we inevitably do the very things we don’t want to. God wants us to know that he’s certainly aware of our plight to heal and grow, and that his gift to us IS recovery!!! Happy Reading…please post comments too!
Carole
Romans Revised for Recovery! 7:14-25
Struggling to Recover!
God’s design is good then. The trouble is not with his desire for me, but with me, because I am sold into slavery with my old ways, my old attitudes, beliefs and behaviors as my master. Sometimes I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to what is right, what is good, new and healthy, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I am trying to recover from! I know perfectly well that what I am doing is harmful to myself and others, and my renewed mind shows that I agree that God’s design for my life is so very good. But I can’t help myself, because it is my old ways inside, those old tapes that play and knee-jerk reactions which make me perpetuate these unhealthy ways.
I know I am sick, through and through, so far as my old dysfunctional nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself change! I want to change, but I can’t. When I want to step out in faith and do things differently, as God would have me do them, I don’t. And when I try not to do the same old thing, I do it anyway. But, if I am doing what I don’t want to do, then I am not really the one doing it, the old me within is doing it, not the “recovered” me.
It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is healthy and right, I inevitably do what is not, the same old-same old. I love God’s ways with all my heart. But there is another way at work within me that is at war with my desire to change and to grow into his likeness. These ways usually win the fight, and make me a slave to the old ways still at work within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by my old habits and is dying? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So, you see how it is: In my mind I really want to trust and embrace God’s heart, who truly desires my recovery. I so want to break free! But, because of my damaged nature I am often a slave to those same old ways within.
Help us Lord, and re-cover us with your love and grace, in spite of ourselves!