Release From the Bondage of Self-Rejection

Therefore, accept each other just as

Christ has accepted you, so that

God will be given glory.

Romans 5:7

There’s many people that live in bondage and aren’t even aware of it. Even though they don’t face bars and chains, they’ve fallen victim to beliefs and behaviors that keep them in captivity. They may go about their life thinking that everything’s all right, but deep down inside of them something’s really wrong.

The bondage is that of self-rejection, which can have absolutely devastating effects on your life. When you internalize the cruel words and rejection of certain people and believe their lies about you, it can wound you deeply. You begin to think that everyone views you the way that they do - even God. Yet, it's bondage and you MUST break free of it.

Rejection is one of the most painful emotions that a person can experience. We sense someone else’s disrespect or disapproval and it undermines our confidence. No one ever enjoys feeling rejected, but when a person experiences it continually, they eventually become accustomed to it. It permeates all their thoughts and everything that they do. They eventually reject their self because those feelings of failure and disapproval become part of their identity.

When a person falls to the bondage of self-rejection, they can’t believe anything good about their self. They need someone who they see as more important to accept them in order to feel approval. Of course, this is undermined the moment they fail to earn that person’s approval. This is a trap that can be devastating to

a person’s life because it affects everything.

As a result, they may:

• have a critical spirit because they feel rejected

• have difficulty loving others

• continually feel inferior and incapable

• attempt to get attention in immodest and unwise ways

• have a spirit of perfectionism, and because of that will often procrastinate

• have an ongoing attitude of anger and bitterness

• be very easily hurt and offended

• be very suspicious of other people’s kindness

• tend to be a loner because they eventually drive people off

When people experience rejection, they may take all kinds of wrong steps to feel better about themselves. Instead of looking to God for their worth, they focus on the people who disapprove of them and look to ungodly ways to earn others’ endorsements. As Christians, it’s easy for us to be critical of them and we need to stop. So often we wind up rejecting them for their behavior and just add to the hurt and woundedness, instead of loving them despite their actions. When we tell someone, ’You’re bad. You’re evil. You’re no good,’ we fire darts at the person’s heart and damage them. However, when we confront them with the truth out of love, we can impact their life for Christ.

We ALL need a sense of belonging, a sense of worth, and a sense of comptence. We’re accepted by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If God approves of someone, what other people think shouldn’t make much of a difference.

You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:15,16

Although all of us were alienated from God by sin, now … through Christ, we’ve been adopted into His family. We belong because the Father loves us. The One who’s opinion really matters has accepted us - and NO ONE can change that.

Our worth is found in Jesus Christ. God loved us so much that He gave the life of His only Son to save us. THAT IS LOVE and in its ultimate expression. How much are we worth to God? EVERYTHING.

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Our competence comes through the Holy Spirit. We have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling in us. He prepares us, equips us, and helps us in every task God calls us to do.

If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Have you experienced rejection? Do you know someone who has? Rejection is painful and destructive. However, you can’t focus on the feelings it causes because they’ll lead you away from the truth of God’s love for you. As a Christian, you belong to almighty God. Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you have an ever-present, all powerful Helper in every situation. God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY, has forgiven you COMPLETELY, and has accepted you TOTALLY. You are a whole person in Christ, which is why you should thank God for all that He has given you. Praise is the best and surest way of overcoming your feelings of rejection, because you are affirming the truth with your words.

Though we would like all people's approval, the truth is it's not going to happen. We have to be ok with ourself and carry on, whether we ever get people's approval or not.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for loving us unconditionally, forgiving us completely, and accepting us totally. Thank You for making us a whole, accepted, worthy, competent person through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.



see also: Do You Hate Yourself?

Got Panic Attacks?

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jn 14:16








Isn't it time to FULLY surrender? Letting go of the control brings TRUE freedom.

Heard it may not just be fear or stress that causes panic attacks, sometimes it can be not wanting to let go of something God's asking us to give up.

Let go of the control, don't be afraid to submit your ALL to Jesus - He's not going to hurt you or let you down - He CAN be trusted.

Fear used to come against me so strong that it would literally consume me.  The fear in part came as panic attacks. There were times that I literally thought I would die from not being able to breathe. I would feel fear crawling on my skin and sometimes it would make me shake. I have Tachycardia and one day my heart doctor put a heart monitor on me (for 2 days) and it registered other heart issues besides Tachycardia, but the doctor couldn't identify what it was that was wrong. I later discovered that what it was really registering was panic attacks.

I told the Lord, ‘I'm rebuking the fear and panic and telling it to go. I know I have authority, how come it's still here paralyzing me?’ The Lord gave me such a simple answer, 'You're telling the fear to go, but you're NOT BELIEVING it's gone when you command it to. BELIEVE!' So, when fear or panic attacks would come against me, I started telling it to go, believed it had to leave and was gone, and ignored it till it left. Every time the panic attacks would come and the enemy would try to scare me, I’d tell the enemy, fear, and panic attacks to go and would tell the enemy that he was a liar, that I didn’t have severe heart problems and wasn’t going to have a heart attack. I stood in faith, believing. It took awhile and it hurt going through the process, but thank God I’m delivered of panic attacks completely ... it’s probably been like 12 years since I’ve had one, praise God.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm  34:4

Food for thought: LET NOT your heart be troubled (John 14:6) - implies that we play a part in whether our heart is troubled or not.

Be careful if doctors have you on something like Xanax, it can slow your heart rate and relax you too much when you're trying to sleep ... or antidepressants, they just make you not care about anything but don't fix anything. They don't care to get to the root, they just want us drugged out. There's a place for medications, but in moderation and as the Lord gives peace and a leading to.

The best cure I've found is reading the Psalms as often as I can or writing down a bunch of peace scriptures and reading them ALL THE TIME and especially refering to them when having the most trouble. If you're not able to hold or motivate to read God's Word, you can download a Bible application to your phone (like YouVersion) or use one on the computer (like BibleGateway). You can read on your phone, on the computer, or have the programs read the Word to you.

I actually made a CD of scriptures IN MY VOICE (because we trust our own voice) and play it all night when I sleep (because our subconscious hears it) when I'm having trouble.

It’s time to confront some things. Confront fears, confront people, confront issues in our life that we haven't submitted to the Lord yet (like our schedule, our will, our desires, our way of thinking, the people that we worry about, our finances, our relationships, etc.).

Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus I pray peace, Your perfect peace that passes understanding, to wash over us. You ARE our peace, Lord Jesus. Comfort us with Your love and Your presence that helps to cast out all fear. Help us to submit to You, for that's when the enemy will flee. Help us to surrender our all to You and confront issues that need to be confronted, so that we may find healing and draw closer to You. In the name of Jesus, amen.


see also: Shoot – We Ain’t God No Reason to be Fearin’
               Don't Expect It
               The Unpardonable Sin

Keep it Zipped



                                    

Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of  the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul. 1 Peter 2:11

Ismael usually comes before Isaac – so don't fall for the first thing that comes through the door.  It's a shame the Ismaels (wrong for us) usually come along before the Isaacs (right for us). Set some standards ladies, DON'T fall for the first 'Joe Doe' that comes along just because you’re lonely or want a way out of the house.

We DESERVE to have GOOD relationships where people treat us RIGHT. And, it takes a lot to be secure in ourselves and be trusting if we've been hurt a lot.

Don't ignore the warning signs the Holy Spirit is trying to show you. If you see signs from the person you’re dating that make you uneasy TAKE A STEP BACK AND PRAY NOW before you get too hooked.

Make sure you got that discernment working, instead of just fuzzy feelings. If he's pressuring you into having sex to prove you love him, he's not respecting and honoring you. You DO NOT have to have sex with somebody to prove you love them, walk away from those who try to force you in to it.

If he won't make time for you now and put you first now, he sure isn't when he knows for sure hes 'got' you. If he isn't treating you right and telling you the truth now, what makes you think he will when he knows for sure hes 'got' you.

If he's not treating you with respect, why are you with him in the first place ---  move on. Ladies, steer clear of those who are controlling, jealous, possessive and/or emotionally & physically abusive.

Know that going to church and talking about God all day doesn't mean he's the right one or that He's really saved and living for the Lord.

No trust = no relationship. 

Not being vulnerable with each other is a definite relationship killer. When a guy's willing to put aside their own feelings and expectations and the way they ‘appear’ some of the time might be a good indicator of who or who wouldn't be worthy of us.  A healthy relationship is give and take, which means the men should attempt to minister to our emotions and us to theirs to make it work.  It's in sharing that we form closeness. Men see closeness as weakness. So it's not always that they can't be emotional, they don't want to so we can’t see their vulnerabilities.

Are you sure you really wanna settle for that??? You're smarter and worth so much more than that. You're a LOT stronger than you think you are. R-E-S-P-E-C-T yourself. Stop being with and/or going back to the one who brings you more pain than happiness, it’s not worth it to continue to invest your life into someone unworthy of your love. Quit lettin' people talk you into stuff that you KNOW in your heart is wrong. Make wise choices today, not pressured ones.

Surround yourself with those who encourage you and help you to feel good about yourself ... you want to be lifted up, not brought down.

A friend recently asked me if you pray for God to change someone for the better that she wanted to be with why didn’t He? God always answers our prayers, just not always in the time or way we want. Each person still has their own free will, so I think our prayers are 'in the waiting' for a person to want & ask for help. We have to want to change. God works through our prayers to try to reach the person but they can still choose to say yes or no. So we keep pray and believe for the Holy Spirit to woo them to Jesus. But we DON'T have to stick around while God is doing His work, it can bring harm and heartache.

Don't hold on to what God has told you to let go of, it'll hold you back ... God wants to do a NEW thing.

GOD'S choice is always the right choice and ONLY HE can see the end from the beginning. Whether He has a partner in the waiting for you or whether He has set you aside for Himself and chosen for you to remain celibate and live a life just devoted to Him … trust Him to have the plan that’s best for you.

A woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. 1 Corinthians 7:34,35

I'm so IMPRESSED by and PROUD of today's young people that have choosen celibacy till marriage or just to remain devoted to the Lord's work till Jesus comes back.

Remember ---  a guy'll say just about anything to get in your pants, zippers up ladies.

Father, I pray that You help us to keep our mind and thoughts stayed on You. Guard our hearts. Give us discernment to know who to let into our circle of closeness and help us to be able to abstain from fulfulling sexual desires unless we are married. Give us grace, lead us not into temptation, and give us discernment about who we are supposed to be in relationship with and who we're not. Keep those away from us that aren't good for us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Keep it Zipped



Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of  the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul. 1 Peter 2:11

Ismael usually comes before Isaac – so don't fall for the first thing that comes through the door.  It's a shame the Ismaels (wrong for us) usually come along before the Isaacs (right for us). Set some standards ladies, DON'T fall for the first 'Joe Doe' that comes along just because you’re lonely or want a way out of the house.

We DESERVE to have GOOD relationships where people treat us RIGHT. And, it takes a lot to be secure in ourselves and be trusting if we've been hurt a lot.

Don't ignore the warning signs the Holy Spirit is trying to show you. If you see signs from the person you’re dating that make you uneasy TAKE A STEP BACK AND PRAY NOW before you get too hooked.

Make sure you got that discernment working, instead of just fuzzy feelings. If he's pressuring you into having sex to prove you love him, he's not respecting and honoring you. You DO NOT have to have sex with somebody to prove you love them, walk away from those who try to force you in to it.

If he won't make time for you now and put you first now, he sure isn't when he knows for sure hes 'got' you. If he isn't treating you right and telling you the truth now, what makes you think he will when he knows for sure hes 'got' you.

If he's not treating you with respect, why are you with him in the first place ---  move on. Ladies, steer clear of those who are controlling, jealous, possessive and/or emotionally & physically abusive.

Know that going to church and talking about God all day doesn't mean he's the right one or that He's really saved and living for the Lord.

No trust = no relationship. 

Not being vulnerable with each other is a definite relationship killer. When a guy's willing to put aside their own feelings and expectations and the way they ‘appear’ some of the time might be a good indicator of who or who wouldn't be worthy of us.  A healthy relationship is give and take, which means the men should attempt to minister to our emotions and us to theirs to make it work.  It's in sharing that we form closeness. Men see closeness as weakness. So it's not always that they can't be emotional, they don't want to so we can’t see their vulnerabilities.

Are you sure you really wanna settle for that??? You're smarter and worth so much more than that. You're a LOT stronger than you think you are. R-E-S-P-E-C-T yourself. Stop being with and/or going back to the one who brings you more pain than happiness, it’s not worth it to continue to invest your life into someone unworthy of your love. Quit lettin' people talk you into stuff that you KNOW in your heart is wrong. Make wise choices today, not pressured ones.

Surround yourself with those who encourage you and help you to feel good about yourself ... you want to be lifted up, not brought down.

A friend recently asked me if you pray for God to change someone for the better that she wanted to be with why didn’t He? God always answers our prayers, just not always in the time or way we want. Each person still has their own free will, so I think our prayers are 'in the waiting' for a person to want & ask for help. We have to want to change. God works through our prayers to try to reach the person but they can still choose to say yes or no. So we keep pray and believe for the Holy Spirit to woo them to Jesus. But we DON'T have to stick around while God is doing His work, it can bring harm and heartache.

Don't hold on to what God has told you to let go of, it'll hold you back ... God wants to do a NEW thing.

GOD'S choice is always the right choice and ONLY HE can see the end from the beginning. Whether He has a partner in the waiting for you or whether He has set you aside for Himself and chosen for you to remain celibate and live a life just devoted to Him … trust Him to have the plan that’s best for you.

A woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible. 1 Corinthians 7:34,35

I'm so IMPRESSED by and PROUD of today's young people that have choosen celibacy till marriage or just to remain devoted to the Lord's work till Jesus comes back.

Remember ---  a guy'll say just about anything to get in your pants, zippers up ladies.

Father, I pray that You help us to keep our mind and thoughts stayed on You. Guard our hearts. Give us discernment to know who to let into our circle of closeness and help us to be able to abstain from fulfulling sexual desires unless we are married. Give us grace, lead us not into temptation, and give us discernment about who we are supposed to be in relationship with and who we're not. Keep those away from us that aren't good for us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Avoid Burnout

But he [Elijah] went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a lone broom or juniper tree and asked that he might die. He said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4




Those who are addicted to approval frequently get 'burned out.' For them there always exists the danger of attempting too much. They so desperately want to please that they do everything they feel is expected of them and then some. Sometimes they say yes just because they cannot say no, not because they think their actions are the will of God. They burn out for lack of discernment or because of unwarranted guilt. And then, their anger builds.

We become angry when we feel all used up and pulled in every direction. Burnout makes us angry, because we recognize deep down inside that it is not normal. We become angry with the people pressuring us, when in reality we are allowing ourselves to be pressured. To avoid pressure from others and from ourselves, we must take control of our lives under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Once when I was complaining about my heavy schedule, I heard the Holy Spirit say, 'You are the one who makes your schedule. If you don't like it, then do something about it.'


Prayer: Lord, pressure comes from every side, and it seems impossible to keep up. Help me to take control of my commitments and eliminate what is not of You. Amen.

















From the book The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Devotions (except the picture) by Joyce Meyer.

Encourage Yourself in the Lord

David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

When no one gets in line to tell you what a great job you're doing, when no one seems to agree with your decision to obey God the best you can, what can you do?

Do what David did: Encourage yourself in the Lord! A band of Amalekites captured the wives, family members, and property of David's entire army when they were away from home. Upon returning, and after crying until they could cry no more, many wanted to stone David. In the midst of this crisis, David encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

When those you have loved and worked with leave you, taking their support with them - encourage yourself.

When your family misunderstands you and your friends betray you - encourage yourself.

When those who have been your comrades in battle decide you are to blame for their problems and pain - encourage yourself.

Some of the ways you can encourage yourself in the Lord:

Speak victory

during the test.

Speak the Word,

no matter how you feel.

Remember your calling,

it'll empower you with purpose and perseverance.

Know that God has His hand on your life.

Where God guides, He provides.

Whom God appoints, He anoints. 

Remember past victories and accomplishments.

Read over the testimonies of what God has done through your life and ministry.

Recall the memories of God's working in your life to see how far you've come.

See things from God's viewpoint,

for until you get God's perspective on your life,

you will always be overwhelmed with the impossibilities.

Get rejuvenated with a fresh outlook from the throne of the Almighty.   

It's time to stop hating yourself and walking around with a long face. It's time to stop letting the enemy walk all over you like you're a doormat ... he should be under your feet, not you under his! Life is a great big canvas, throw all the paint you can on it.

In a dark place? Use it for soul searching and to draw closer to the Lord. The hurt that tries to hinder us can actually launch us into our destinies. Rise above your circumstances.

Sometimes ... you just have to encourage yourself.

Father, I pray that You be the lifter of our heads. Encourage us. Give us hope and the will to go on. Renew the vision You have for our lives to us, for without a vision we'll perish. Help the Holy Spirit to rise up from within us to take a strong stand against the enemies of our soul, including depression and discouragement. Help us not to lose sight of the fact the the victory has already been won. In Jesus' name, amen.


see also --- Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses Psalm 42 
              --- AFTA Blogpost Contemplating Suicide
              --- AFTA Blogpost Prescription for Depression
              --- AFTA Blogpost You're Worth So Much More Than That
              --- AFTA Blogpost Do You Hate Yourself?

Can YOU Just Say No?

They triumphed over him (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb 

and by the word of their testimony.

Revelation 12:11

Saying it's easy to stop drinking alcohol for an alcoholic or to stop doing drugs for a drug addict is like saying it's easy to stop drinking coke and coffee or to put down the donuts forever.

Ungodly addictions are counterproductive. Instead of helping the person adapt to situations or overcome problems, it tends to undermine these abilities.

For example, a gambler might wish he had more money - yet gambling is more likely to drain his financial resources. A heavy drinker might want to cheer herself up - yet alcohol use contributes to the development of her depression. A sex addict may crave intimacy - yet the focus on sexual acts may prevent real closeness from developing. When someone is addicted, they will continue to engage in the addictive behavior, despite it causing them trouble.

I was what they call ‘a functioning drunk and drug addict’. I thought I didn’t have a drinking or drug problem because, despite drinking from the time I got up in the morning till the time I went to bed at night, popping pills, smoking weed laced with other drugs, and smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, I thought I was ok because I otherwise held a ‘normal’ life holding a good job and appearing to be ok. I’d go out every single night and get up and go to work every single morning. I had drank and done drugs for as long as I can remember. It started early in my school years. There used to be a 7-eleven by my old school and I’d go by a bottle of wine or beer or something like that and a can sprite or coke, down what I could of the alcohol and pour the rest in the can and bring it right into the classroom with me and I’d slide it in my desk when I wasn't gulping it away. Chewing a lot of gum helped disguise the smell. Harmless, huh? Nope. It led to a more and more destructive lifestyle as the years went on. Why do it? Probably because I was subconsciously trying to numb the pain of the child inside me that had been hurt over and over and had no one to share or go to (in part cause as a child my parents were a big part of the problem) and from shame and guilt. The traumatic events that have happened to me and around me over the course of the years just seemed to 'cement' my love for alcohol and drugs. I hid things pretty well from those who loved me, didn't let anyone see everything I was doing. I didn't feel safe sharing my secrets with anyone. The addictions were my escape and my crutch, though they failed me miserably.

A lot of people portray addicts as hopeless, unhappy people whose lives are falling apart. Many people with addictions do not believe they are addicted as long as they are enjoying themselves, and they are holding their lives together. I personally LOVED the lifestyle and couldn’t get enough. I couldn't see all the harm it was causing in the beginning, either that or I did and just didn't care. Had it not been for Jesus, I’d still be doing the same thing now, because at the time it was so hard for me to lay those things down and I fought laying them down tooth and nail.

Near death combinations of drugs and alcohol has taken a toll on my health. That's definitely been a factor in stopping the old lifestyle. It's really not all it's cracked up to be. It's really not that glamorous. In an effort to help me stop traveling the road of destruction I was on, the Lord slowly began taking away desires of the lifestyle I had. There'd be times I'd try so hard to get high or a buzz and couldn't. I'd start feeling empty when I would be out, like it was amplified that there was a hole in me that needed to be filled a different way (with Him). I experienced hangovers and migraines from the alcohol. I developed asthma from long term chemical exposure at a state job I had, dumb me would still try to smoke when I couldn't even breath. I'd mix so many drugs and alcohol, and oh yes, the doctors said anti-depressants would fix everything so I was taking them all at the same time. There were times I'd pass out at the wheel, times I wouldn't know the function to eat or go to the bathroom, or I'd be hungry and know I was supposed to eat, but would forget how to eat, how to even hold a fork. All these things that were 'supposed' to help weren't making things better.

My dad’s an alcoholic. Still. After all these years, he thinks he’s ok and not drinking too much. Ok, whatever. They say the genes that can predispose you to things like alcoholism and other addictions can be passed down. I don’t know if that's true or whether I got anything like that from him or not, but I do know that even if I did I still can make a choice to do better, seek help, and say no.

You know, the lure of the things of the world can be so very strong and seducing. It’ll just suck you right up in there if you let it. Before you even know what's happening. We have to get to a point where we make a decision, whether we want to take a stand, do the right thing, and just say no. We have a choice to make, and the one we make affects those around us, not just us. Choose carefully.

Things aren't always as easy as you think they'd be. If you haven't been there, how would you know? It takes lots of Christ's love and grace to say no to some things of this world. People need those who love and support to walk along side of them, judgers DO NOT aid in the healing process.



God wouldn't ask us to do something (like staying sober and being watchful) without empowering us to accomplish it. Each step of obedience that we take is a victory. Pain is nothing compared to what it feels like to quit.

Let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6

When I first got saved, the Lord lead me to read Romans 8 every day for a month. I still read it every chance I get. It touches on so many aspects and the Lord has brought me so much healing through it. It tells us there's no condemnation (no guilt) if we're in Christ, that we are accepted by Him and God is our Father and how much God loves us and that we can NEVER be separated from His love.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us. Romans 8:35-37

Paul said in the Word, I die daily. And that’s what I’ve had to do in my walk to be a better person and please the Lord, say no to the flesh daily, and when I fail (which is all too often) repent and keep stepping (instead of receiving guilt and going back to old ways.). Some days are better than other days. Some days I just plain blow it. Thank God for a loving Father who forgives when I come to Him in repentance, who loves ME not my ACTIONS, and who’s always there for me. I’ll never have to walk this road alone, and neither will you if you ask for help. God’s love has helped win me out. If you stay in God’s presence long enough, you can’t help but change. The more of Him we have in us, the less room for the things of this world. We’re works in progress.

Am I totally fixed, cured? Of course not. But I’m a long ways down the road closer to being whole in Christ than I used to be. I’m a work in progress. I’m on my way.

Things may look bleak, but rest assured that your hope and trust in Jesus as your great escape GUARANTEES you a way out. For whatever you're going thru know that JESUS is aware, HE understands and HE's somehow gonna help you.

Drinking, doing drugs, smoking ARE NOT the way to fit in or make friends. If you have people in your life trying to force you to do those things, get away from them. You don't need those things and you don't need the people. Don't give in to peer pressure.

DO NOT think that being a Christian makes you immune to struggles like those I have described here. What being a Christian DOES DO is give us a helper and teacher, the Holy Spirit.

Submit your life to the Lord. Ask Him for deliverance from what has you bound. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Trust. Relinquish control of your life, your emotions, your actions and feelings to the Lord. Ungodly addictions WILL NOT fix you or your situation. Stop reaching for the wrong things to help you. Don't be discouraged by set backs. Forming new habits to replace old ones takes time.

And just say … no.

Father God, help us to make right choices. Take away the desire for ungodly addictions from us. Fill the voids. Heal our hearts and love on us. Help us to stand strong. Send godly people in our lives who can make the road to wholeness a little easier. In Jesus' name, amen.