Step/Week 8, Day 6 – Amends: Start Living the Promises of Recovery
May 6, 2020 1030
“And I will give you back the crops the locusts ate!” (Jl. 2:25, TLB).
Just take a moment and think about how far you’ve come down the road of recovery. Think about all God has done within you to bring you to this point in recovery. It’s amazing, right? Can you see how far you’ve come? How different you’re from the person who started out with a slight hope to recover from the addictions that have blighted your life for so long. Take another moment and thank God! Give Him all the praise!
I’m going to be blunt with you. Your addictions have caused havoc in your life! For some of you, you were nearly destroyed by them! But praise God, for He set you on the path to recovery.
The context for today’s verse is that the Israelites were disobedient to God, so as part of His righteous judgement, He sent an army of locust that literally destroyed all the crops in the land. God (in the verse) is now saying that He is going to make that right for them by restoring those crops and the damage caused. This is a real act of mercy and love on God’s part.
This account in Joel can be related to your story of addiction. Your addictions being the “locusts” that have tried to destroy your life. God has seen this and as you’ve already realised, He has been helping you ever since you decided to set out on the path that leads to recover from your addictions. So, start living out those promises that God has shown you. He is not going to fail you! Always be grateful for your relationship with Him.
– Graham Hood
Personal Reflection: Can you see how merciful and loving God has been to you? Do you realise that His mercy and love can be experienced afresh, each day? How can you intentionally start living the promises God has shown you? Spend some time in worshipping God for all He has done and all that He is continuing to do for you in your life!
Branch I Allen
Apr 3, 2024
I do not see the 'promises' talked about in book 3 page 42. What are those promises?