"Let My love seep into the inner recesses of your being. Secret sins... can split off and develop lives of their own, controlling you without your realizing it. Open yourself fully to My transforming Presence." (219)
This reminded me of the Roman 7 & 8 passage where Paul so powerfully describes the conflict between his heart's commitment to Christ and his own propensity to sin. Although he desires to do what is right he says, "I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do... in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law, but I see a different law... waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin... What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me...?" (Rom. 7:19 - 24)
I've watched people who've become so fractured that it's like observing several personalities in one person. One part loves God yet another part refuses to obey God's Word, one part will be loving, another part will be hateful, one part is gracious while another part acts disgraceful... often the result of secret sins splitting the soul, setting up a mini-kingdom where the enemy continues to mess with them. My heart aches for them as they continue in their pain and pride, resisting His Transforming Power.
Praise God for His "Transforming Presence" that renews our minds! (Rom. 12:2)
Thoroughly Soaking in His Presence...dmc
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As I read today’s devo, I immediately thought about Celebrate Recovery (CR). The “hidden secret sins” that “split off” can develop into bad habits, compulsions, addictions, etc. that do “develop lives of their own” controlling their victim. Many times friends and family do not even “know” their loved one any longer, they are “fractured” (Dawn Marie’s comments). They have become their addiction.
ReplyDeleteIn working the 12 steps through CR, at Step 3 we have to be willing to totally surrender our lives and our wills over to the care of God. When we do that we “open ourselves fully to God’s transforming Presence” (219). I am blessed to be able to work in the CR ministry and witness firsthand the beautiful transformation God makes in so many lives; those who are willing to surrender to God and allow Him to “purify them from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God’s Transforming Power can free us from a life of bondage to our bad habits, compulsions, addictions, etc. and His Perfect Love will expel every trace of fear (1 John 4:18).
CR meets every Thursday night in the Fellowship Hall below the Sanctuary at 7:00 pm. God patiently awaits.
Oh, Thank You, Carolynn!
ReplyDeleteYes... I am so grateful for the transforming work that happens in Celebrate Recovery. It is exactly that... a Celebration of God's power to Recover, redeem and renew!!! Praise Jesus!