You're probably thinking, "Wow, Ang! Took you that long to figure it out?" Yep, it did. I think it took me that long because sometimes, we don't want to let go of something yet. Whether it's a thought process or a bad habit...sometimes we just hang onto it, taking comfort in the fact that it's ours and maybe feeling a little sorry for ourselves. That's me. I've been feeling sorry for myself a lot lately and thoughts like that, coupled with the dreams that I've been having, have put me in a not so great spot. I know where this thought process leads. And had I known where to find drugs in this town, I may have been VERY tempted to use again. What a humbling thought. I have been clean and sober for 5 1/2 years, but I'm just a suseptible today as I was back then. I once said that I would never use again...And I won't as long as I keep my eyes on Jesus and remember that I can't do anything on my own strength, but God is the giver of strength when ours runs out. He loves me and He cares about what's going on in my life. He knows my every thought and He loves me anyways! I'm making mistakes every day but I'm making progress too. Sometimes, it feels like I take one step forward and two steps back, other days it's the other way around. I'm saying this for a couple reasons. 1. Don't think that your thoughts aren't important. The way we think leads us down different paths. If we think positively, we feel positive. If we think negatively...well, you get my point. 2. Never believe that you won't do a certain sin, ie, "I'll never have an affair or cheat on my spouse" Or "I'll never use drugs or drink again" These thoughts are dangerous in that we don't keep our guard up against these things since we believe we are infallible to them. Satan is waiting for you to let down your guard, then he pounces! Never believe you won't do something! Recognize that you are human and therefore, you are subject to any and every sin out there. 3. When you're struggling, don't lose your focus! God wants us to push in when we are struggling or having a rough time. Whether life is giving us a run for our money or our thoughts are spriraling out of control, God longs to be the One we run to for comfort and help. He understands our struggles. Loves us in spite of them and wants us to know that while humans are just that, human, He is God, Who loves us and cherishes us like no person ever could! He doesn't have human inadequecies and therefore won't hurt us the way other people tend to do. He' won't lie, cheat on us, be spiteful or seek revenge...He's everything good and pure that we search out here on Earth but never find because we don't seek out Him! We look everywhere, trying to be loved and accepted just as we are and all along He's whispering "I'm here. I love you. I cherish you. Come seek Me. Find the peace that only I can give you. You won't be satisfied in Earthly things, but I'll quench that hunger and thirst that you have for love and acceptance and I'll give you a passion like you've never had before!" He's waiting for us to run into His arms and give over our thoughts that bring us down, our sins that we haven't overcome yet, our daily struggles and our hurts. Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not receive it?" Receive all the good things that He's offering!!!
