Celebrate Recovery - Hope - Lesson 3

HOPE - Lesson 3  Celebrate Recovery - Post #6 - Hope

Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

In the first principle, we admitted we were powerless.  Now in the second principle, we come to believe God exists, that we are important to Him, and that we are able to receive God's power to help us recover.  It's in the second step we find HOPE!

Principle 2:  Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.  "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted"  (Matthew 5:4)

Step 2:  We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose"  (Philippians 2:13)

How do we find hope?  By faith in our our Higher Power, Jesus Christ.  (Hebrews 11:1)

Now is the time to journal and discuss the following:

1. Before taking this step, where were you trying to find hope?
2. What do you believe about God?  What are some of His characteristics?
3. How are your feelings for your heavenly Father and your earthly father alike?  How do they differ?
4. How can your relationship with your Higher Power, Jesus Christ, help you step out of your denial and face reality?
5. In what areas of your life are you now ready to let God help you?
6. What things are you ready to change in your life?  Where can you get the power to change them?

1. Before taking this step, where were you trying to find hope? In anything and everything. Thinking I could do everything on my own and trying and trying and kept failing.
2. What do you believe about God? He sent his son to die for our sins so that we could be saved. God is the creator of everything and the ruler of the world. He loves each and every person unconditionally. 
3. What are some of His characteristics? Loving, kind, gentle, patient...I could go on all day.
4. How are your feelings for your heavenly Father and your earthly father alike?  I love them both. I look to both for guidance and comfort when I need it.
5. How do they differ? No matter what I do my heavenly father is always there when I call on him. My earthly father cant always be available when I need him.
6. How can your relationship with your Higher Power, Jesus Christ, help you step out of your denial and face reality? Through prayer God is revealing to me things that I need to deal with. He is helping me every step of the way. Even when I dont want to face it God is showing me that I have to overcome all the hurts I have to be a better servant for him.
7. In what areas of your life are you now ready to let God help you? There are so many ways. He is helping me understand what caused so much hurt from my childhood. Why I overate and still do to hide the pain. God is showing me how I need to deal with the pain.
8. What things are you ready to change in your life?  I am working on one thing at a time from my childhood. God is helping me in seeing why I would choose food to cover my pain.
9. Where can you get the power to change them? God is the only one that has the power to help me change. I have to be obiendent to him and open to what God needs me to do in order to change.

1. Before taking this step, where were you trying to find hope? My husband used to call me a "control freak" and I hated it.  I didn't see it that way at all - but now that I am learning to relax and "TRUST" the Lord, I can see how uptight I used to be (it still comes out at times, but I recognize it pretty quickly and repent and LET IT GO!) So, in my attempt to control my own life and my surroundings, I didn't have much hope, it crumbled quickly because of my own weaknesses - I turned to food and trying very hard to make things happen - it worked for a while, and when I finally came to the end of my rope - I had nothing left but to look to the Lord and Trust Him (I'm very hard headed and don't give up easily) But eveytime the Lord brings me to the point that "I give up" - He can take over and do what I couldn't do on my own. So, today my hope is in the Lord and His might, His power and His love - and also His future for me.
2. What do you believe about God?  That he created the universe and created me - that out of his great love for us, sent his son to earth so that he could be sacrificed for my sins so that I could be reconciled with him (and the he rose from the dead and lives today - and is coming back!)  What are some of His characteristics? All knowing, all powerful, merciful, longsuffering, loving and just.  I can rest in his care and provisions for me and Trust in his judgments. He is my heavenly father that has my best interest in mind, but also loves to have my love in return.
3. How are your feelings for your heavenly Father and your earthly father alike? I came to consider the Lord when I saw my dad go through a divorce when I was 13. There were many years of fighting before that and it made a lasting impression on me how he turned to God's word to get him through (he didn't want the divorce). I saw him be long suffering with my mom. I openly defied him once and boy did I get it - and later realized how much that must have hurt him.  When I was going through a rough time in my marriage years ago and had seperated - a check for $35 or so would show up at just the right times to provide groceries and gas - even when I didn't ask for it.  Also, he continued to build a life for himself even though things didn't go how he expected and I've always admired that and how well he plans for the future.  How do they differ?  He's human and has his faults.  But at 70 (this month), he continues to grow and make changes to be a better father and is continuing to grow in the Lord.  I had a great relationship with my dad and the Lord sent a man in my life that is much like my dad. My husband is also very Christlike in that he is longsuffering with me, patient, kind, but also very just.  I'm learning!
4. How can your relationship with your Higher Power, Jesus Christ, help you step out of your denial and face reality? learning to trust and know that He will catch me if I fall (or fail) I used to hate failing, but am learning to embrace it as a learning experience. I'm also learning that it's ok to not be perfect, and believe me I tried very hard to be and was religious at best.  It wasn't until I accepted my faults and realized that Jesus died for them, that I could learn to relax with myself and enjoy others (warts and all)
5. In what areas of your life are you now ready to let God help you? I'm ready to let him help me with my relationship with food.  To learn that He will be there with the false hunger pains, the emotional pains that make want to turn to the food, and to accept the people He brings into my life to let the healing begin.  I'm also so grateful that God has chosen this time in my life to work on this, while my daughter is still at home, so that we can work on it together. I had not taught her how to deal with life's issues except with turning to food, so to have this chance to help her learn to Trust the Lord with everything is a real honor - I have a lot of missed time to make up for - but I'm confident that the Lord will give us enough time!
6. What things are you ready to change in your life?  To learn to put food in its proper perspective. To eat to live and not live to eat. To learn that exercise is good - if I want to enjoy life to the fullest and to be able to serve the Lord with my body. Where can you get the power to change them? I know the answer to that should be from the Lord or Holy Spirit who lives in me - and it is - but - I see now that there is something I can do, and that power lives within me and I have to learn to tap into that power source.  I no longer can say that I trust the Lord and eat a half gallon of ice cream (that would knock me out and prevent me doing the things God has for me to do).  So, there is some personal responsibility on my part in showing the Lord that I Trust Him!  Not eating the ice cream and doing the things that I know he's asked me to do, is where I can put my faith and trust in action, knowing that he will help me through the situation, without the aid of excess or sugar or caffiene or whatever else I might think I need to get through the moment, or whatever it is that seems too hard without it.

1. Before taking this step, where were you trying to find hope?

 I was trusting in other possessions, hoping that everything would be OK, lots of money and things that will not stand up to God’s desires in my life.that do you believe about God? 

2. What are some of His characteristics?

God created us to live for his pleasure and to serve him whenever possible.God is Loving, Patient, forgiving and cares for us.

3. How are your feelings for your heavenly Father and your earthly father alike?  How do they differ?

Our Heavenly father is always their for us, whether we want to admit it or not. Our earthly father has many of the same characteristics but will not always be available for us to rely on and does not have the power of the Holy Spirit.

4. How can your relationship with your Higher Power, Jesus Christ, help you step out of your denial and face reality?

Christ gives power through the Holy Spirit who is with us to help and guide us every step we take (if we will let him).

5. In what areas of your life are you now ready to let God help you?

I pray that God and the Holy Spirit will help me become more like the character that Jesus demonstrated while on earth. Always willing to help others, setting the good examples that shows his character.

6. What things are you ready to change in your life?  Where can you get the power to change them?

My attitude towards others.

Not always thinking of myself.

More time to help others

Live the life that others can see Christ in my actions and deeds.

Better ability to share God’s love and the free gift of salvation to others.

This can all be done with the help of the Holy Spirit working in and through me (if I will let it happen).

1. Before taking this step, where were you trying to find hope?  In people and assets,  I thought I could do it all on my own; I tried and failed.  
2. What do you believe about God?  God sent His only-begotten Son to die for our sins so that we could be saved. God is the Creator of everything, Ruler of the world, Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.  He loves every person unconditionally.  He created the universe and produced me because of His enormous love for us.  He sent His Son to earth to be sacrificed for my sins so that I could be reconciled with Him.  His Son, Jesus Christ, rose from the dead, lives today, and shall return someday.  What are some of His characteristics?  God is loving, kind, gentle, patient, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful, long-suffering, and just.  I can cradle in His care and trust in His judgments.  God is my Heavenly Father, who has my best interests in mind and desires to enjoy my love in return.
3. How are your feelings for your heavenly Father and your earthly father alike?  I love them both. I look to both for guidance and comfort when in need. I saw my father suffer in his marriage with mom. I openly defied, was punished, and later realized how that hurt him.  When going through a rough time during my single days, Dad always slipped me $20 and never asks for payback.  How do they differ?  My Heavenly Father is always there when I call on Him. My earthly father passed away 16 years ago.  Human, Dad had his faults and I dearly miss him.  However, he left this earth to be with our Heavenly Father. I enjoyed a great relationship with my Dad. The Lord sent into my life a man who is much like my Dad. My husband of 22+ years tries to be Christ-like in his long-suffering, patience, kindness, and justice. I'm learning!
4. How can your relationship with Jesus Christ help you step out of your denial and face reality?  Through people and "quiet times", God is revealing things I need to face. He helps my every step even when I don’t want to challenge myself.  God shows me that I can overcome all hurts to be a better servant for His usefulness.  Like everyone, who hates to fail?  But  I am learning to embrace disappointment as a learning experience.  I'm also learning that it's OK to not be perfect (something I have struggled with ever since I can remember).  I have aimed for flawlessness and excellence, but there is only one person who was - my Lord Jesus.  Until I accept my faults and realize Jesus died for them, will I learn to calm down and enjoy life accepting my imperfections.
5. In what areas of your life are you now ready to let God help you?  God has helped me understand my childhood hurts.  I started overeating in my late twenties and still do to hide my pain. God is showing me how to deal with the heartache and heartbreak.  I need His help with food.  He will be there during the times I think I am hungry, the emotional anguish in turning to food, and where He brings people (like here on CC) into my life to help the healing process.  I'm grateful God has chosen this time, while I am temporarily disabled, bed-ridden and house-bound.  I could not deal with life's issues without turning to food.  I have a lot of missed time to make up for, but I'm confident that the Lord is not finished with me yet.
6. What things are you ready to change in your life?  Putting food in its proper perspective.  I like the way Lorraine has said:  "To eat to live and not live to eat."  Exercise will benefit my overall health by being able to move.  I want to enjoy life and serve the Lord.  Where can you get the power to change them?  Only God has the power to help me change.  I have to be obedient and open to what God needs me to do.  All answers come from the Lord or the Holy Spirit who dwells within me.  Power exists within me and I have to tap into that source.  I no longer can say that I trust the Lord and devour a whole pizza.  There must be my personal responsibility to show the Lord that I trust Him.  Not eating pizza when stressed and doing what He’s asked is when and where I can put my faith and trust into action.  I know He will help me through the situation without the aid of excess fats, sugar, or whatever I think I need to get through the moment.

I ditto the following, my dear friend Lorraine shared in a post:  One thing I do know is that I have power over my flesh, and even my thinking through the Holy Spirit living inside of me. (I just realized too, that I didn't consult Him before making this decision)  So, Lord, I give my body and my mind to you as a living sacrifice, Lord, I thank for showing me what has worked for others in this weight loss game, and ask you to show me what you want for me to do.  Lead me and guide me moment by moment, teach how to look at food and exercise in order that through my actions I can bring Glory and Honor to You! Lord, my flesh doesn't want me to "live-it" it would rather leave me here to a slow death, but I truly believe that you can help me with this, Lord remove the temptations, forgive me when I fail and help me to learn from it, and Lord, you've said in your word that you will give me the desires of my heart, and my desire right now Lord is to live and eat in a healthy lifestyle, so that I can give more focus to serving you! - In Jesus name I pray - amen.