“What are you free to stop doing and start doing when you know Jesus to be your King?”

That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Notice how the first part of the question gives you an opportunity to make a decision for yourself–inside of being free you have the liberty of choosing to stop doing “something” and begin “doing” another thing. In the latter part of the question it allows a decision to actually “know” that Jesus is King. In there lies the rub.

A lot of people I’ve met in my life claim to know God and Jesus, but He wasn’t King of their lives. Let’s be honest, we humans don’t like being told what to do; this is an area I still struggle with in my own personality. Recognizing this character flaw is why I like Step 3 from Celebrate Recovery: “Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control”. 

What about “free will”?

There is a context in which the position of free will does have biblical support: the grave responsibility of making choices. Because beneath the canopy of God’s sovereignty, man does have free will. In the beginning, God established the principle of choice by giving Adam and Eve an entire garden containing a forbidden tree—this, but not that—a thread that weaves through the tapestry of future generations into the present.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15)

“Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (John 7:17)

Scripture also states clearly that…

• making choices is a crucial part of our lives 
• that we will all be held accountable for the choices that we make 
• and that our choices can grieve the Lord or please Him (source crosswalk.com)

What do you need to surrender? Maybe it’s how you spend your leisure time. Do you get caught up in scrolling social media comparing your life to someone else? Is there a habit that is causing you deep heartache….visiting websites that are harmful? Pornography is an addiction, not a healthy escape. Do you unwind after a hard day from work with a few drinks? In excess, alcohol is addictive. Even stuffing your emotions with excess food–mainly sugar–is addictive. Did you know that most addictions cause the same responses in the human brain? 

Addiction is now understood to be a brain disease. Whether it’s alcohol, prescription pain pills, gambling, nicotine or something else, overcoming an addiction isn’t as simple as just stopping or exercising greater control over impulses. That’s because addiction develops when the pleasure circuits in the brain get overwhelmed, in a way that can become chronic and sometimes even permanent. This is what’s at play when you hear about reward “systems” or “pathways” and the role of dopamine when it comes to addiction. (source yalemedicine.org)

What do you need to surrender?  Maybe now is the time to take a heartfelt inventory of your life, your character flaws, evaluate what you think you know about Jesus and move towards taking a seat in the humility section of life and ask  some hard questions. Find people who have known Jesus for a long time, whose lives you watch and wonder how they are kind, loving, full of peace and joy…no matter their circumstances.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. (Matthew 11:28)

These are the very words of Jesus. He offers an invitation to “all”. Weariness creates feeling burdened, but there is hope!  He acknowledges our struggles and pain and remedies it with “rest”…..the kind of rest that our addictions cannot give!

At Celebrate Recovery I’ve met people who have surrendered their addiction to pornography, gambling, anger, pride, alcohol and drugs, codependency….numerous habits.  As a group of flawed men and women, we are surrendering….adopting healthy habits….leaning into Jesus….and bringing the good news of Jesus to others.

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Celebrate Recovery meets every Tuesday at Fowlerville United Brethren in Christ Church. Meetings begin with a meal at 6 followed by large group at 7. We have several groups for men and women for a variety of recovery struggles: sexual integrity, chemical substance abuse, general issues, codependency, and *mental health (*women only at this time) All adults age 18+ are welcome! Meetings are safe & confidential. For more information please email: celebraterecovery@fowlervilleub.org