THE DARK ROOM

If we are not mindful, hard times may tend to propel us into the arms of the spirit of Despair.

It's Despair that embraces us with the warmth of its heaviness.

It is Despair that leads us to the pity party taking place in the "Dark Room" of our souls.

Despair assures us that the Dark Room is our safe place.

Despair convinces us that this is the "only" place where we're understood, and where our feelings, and our agenda is most appreciated.

As we enter the Dark Room, we're seduced by the toxic and addictive tones of our self-pity. The Holy Spirit is not welcome in here, the Word of God is barred from entry. 

We are instantly greeted with flowers, balloons and cards of sympathy for our mourning. The slow methodical music of the pity party, drips with lyrics of the exaggerated stories of our sorrow and misfortune.

A close brother in the Lord made a statement that is so emphatically true,  "NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES OUT OF THAT ROOM!"

Isaiah 61:3 NIV
..and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.

Ephesians 4:22-24 New Living Translation (NLT)
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

ADDICTION - THE SMOKE & THE FIRE

The SMOKE represents the behaviors of the addicted. These are the antics that family, friends, and the rest of the community have to deal with, whether associated with them directly or indirectly, we become ensared in their madness in some way.
The following is a sample of a few of the behaviors that I consider to be the "heavy hitters":

Manipulation
Mental and/or Physical Abuse
Criminal Acts
Lying
Blame Shifting
Self Harm (Depending on the addiction)

The FIRE represents potential root causes of the addiction itself. The inability to cope with:

Stress
Broken Relationships
Trauma/Abuse
Illness and/or Physical Pain
Guilt
Grief
Self Rejection
Mental Illness

The SMOKE is the most visible, and the most apparent aspect of the addict (except when there are obvious signs in physical appearance). Its difficult to ignore, or to forget how they behave. 

The FIRE, on the other hand, is the least visible, least known, and least remembered.
In most cases, the SMOKE conceals the FIRE, making it difficult to see, or to hear.

"It's the SMOKE that gets the most attention!"  

In order for the addict to experience deliverance, the FIRE must first be extinguished. Consequently, the SMOKE will disappear.

At the same time, we must be conscious of the fact that,

"it is usually the SMOKE that eventually kills, not the heat of the FIRE."

Proverbs 4:20-23  NLT
My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

A word to those of you in the struggle for your lives to break free from the bondage of addiction. We love you, and we stand with you in the fight for your deliverance.
In the name of Jesus, we declare your breakthrough!

In His love and power.

WHEN FEELING LONELY

I am only overcome with loneliness when I lose touch with Father.

These feelings, which are usually triggered by the circumstances of the day, are so powerfully deceptive!

Too often they succeed in seperating me from the reality that the Lord is in me, around me  and for me 24/7. And this, brothers and sisters, doesn't make a lick of sense!

Isn't it true that the deceptoin is so complete, we end up either in disbelief, or with a bad case of the "forgets"?

My awareness of when loneliness begins its infamous attack has improved substantially.

You see, when it comes, I've learned to acknowledge it for what it is:

"My need to climb up onto Father's lap, and lay my head in His chest."

That's when I remember, "it is well with my soul"

Psalm 25  ESV
14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

Father reminds me,
"I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!"
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WITH YOU!"

TRAINING EXERCISE - HUMILITY

Stop Defending Yourself?

The Lord showed me a good way to develop humility.

He told me to stop defending myself when wrongly, or rightly accused, and when I was offended by someone, (especially by someone who is close to me)

This is our opportunity to increase our strenght by becoming weak and gentle. We get elevated by getting lowly.

I found myself eventually no longer feeling hurt or being overwhelmed by the compulsion to counterattack.

It didn't happen overnight,  but it did happen.

By practicing this, we choke out the flesh and its pathetic ego, rendering them powerless.

1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Not for the faint of heart I know, but if you dare to assault your flesh in this manner, you will never be the same.
That's a promise!

In myself nothing, in Christ everything!

Grace & Peace

THE CHRISTIAN MATURITY CYCLE

THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

Training
The Holy Spirit reveals a Truth to our understanding. 

Testing
The revelation of the Truth that the Holy Spirit revealed is then tested by; suffering,  temptation, and/or hardships. 

Application
We then have the opportunity to minister that truth to someone else. This builds the Body of Christ.

ABOUT RECOVERY2MATURITY

This blog was developed to be one of the several ways I am called to contrbute to the maturity of the Body of Christ. 

 This will serve as a platform to share what the Lord puts in my heart to give, but to do it in short manageable portions that are; plain,  practical and to the point of the matter:

• This keeps me within the boundaries of my anointing for the day.

• I leave room for the Holy Spirit to give revelation to the reader without any interference from me. This promotes the spiritual maturity of the reader. I do not intend to  produce anymore "spoon-fed" disciples, who require me to "chew and digest" the Word of God for them, instead of seeking the truth for themselves.

• It gives us more to learn, with less to read (can I get an Amen!)

Grace and Peace

MAKE SURE I'M USING THE RIGHT MIRROR

I CAN'T AFFORD USING THE WRONG MIRROR

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (Revelation 3:14-17)

I have to make certain that I'm using the right mirror today. 

Recognizing my needs and deficiencies, bringing before the Lord, "my Help."