Why Am I Not "Recovered" Yet?

Hello!  I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with lust, overeating, and am recovering from divorce.  My name is Bryant.

 

I came across these words of encouragement from the Celebrate Recovery Texas State Rep, Paul Schnee and wanted to share them with you. 
If you are new to CR and wondering why some people have been in the program for so long, you need to read this.  If you are a CR veteran and have felt discouraged about continuing to "be in recovery", you need to read this.  If you have never attended CR yourself, but you have a friend or family member who has been in CR for a while, you need to read this.  If you have clicked the link and are on this webpage, then you're on it for a reason -- you need to read this.

 

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Not long ago someone asked me why I wasn't recovered yet. They were judging me as weak because I continue in Celebrate Recovery. CR happens to be one of the greatest spiritual growth and discipleship ministries available to the modern church. But it is a process.

And I am weak. Seriously, can I earn my way into God's favor? Can I use my own strength to recover? Will I stop learning and growing this side of God's kingdom?

 

I'm a work in progress on the road to sanctification (recovery). Only Christ can finish what he has started:)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance... (Proverbs 1:5)

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)

 
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Dedication = Celebrate Recovery

Hello my name is Travis, I am a grateful believer in Jesus, and I struggle with gambling and control.  Have you ever trained for anything?  Maybe it is training for a long run, dieting, or just training your body how to move in a better way because of injury.  During that training, I am sure you did not wake up one day and say to yourself, “I am going to lose 20 pounds today” – because we all know that is not possible.  But, maybe you have thought that and let me be the first to tell you - that will not happen. 

I have been training for a half marathon and it takes a lot of time, dedication, and mental toughness to do that.  Sure, do I want to sleep in some mornings when I know I should be up running, working out, or just being active to build that endurance?  The answer to that is yes; however, I know that I have to get up because on race day I will not be in shape to complete the race.  My body will not have the endurance to reach the finish line if I do not train. 

I need to think of Celebrate Recovery in that same context.  What are the goals I am trying to achieve in my recovery journey?  Is it to wake up one day and say “ I am going to be free of all my hurts, habits, and hang-ups?”  NO!  Again, that is impossible.  I have to train my mind, body, and spirit to look to God to heal me.  I have to rely on others to help me through the journey. 

So the real question here is, “When will I know that race day is here for Celebrate Recovery?”.  Is the race ever over?  That is a question I have been asked so many times.  “Travis you have been coming to Celebrate Recovery for almost 6 years - when are you going to be done?”  Well, I have to answer that with, “Never!”  Every day I still must get up and choose to commit my life and will to God.  It would be very easy to sleep in or do what I wanted that day; however, I know that would not be the best training I could do in my walk with the Almighty Father. 

Grateful Believer,

Travis

The 2/3/7 Method

I hear people all the time say how thankful they are that God used Celebrate Recovery to help them step out of denial with their hurt, habit, or hang-up and ultimately change their life.  I agree with that statement 100%.  But, it wasn’t until this past month that I realized how powerful Celebrate Recovery is for me outside of “my recovery.”  I have learned tools at CR that have changed my life.  Tools to deal with sadness, hurt, pain – tools that I didn’t have before!

My dad died 24 days ago.  I’m sad.  I miss him terribly.  I breakdown at times.  (I know you’re starting to wonder where the hope is here…I’m getting there, hold on.)  I want to get the point across of how close I was to my dad and how much my heart breaks that he’s not on this earth with me, to hug me, to love me, to see my girls grow up…all of that hurts my heart. 

At this low time in my life, when I’m hurting most, I MUST remember – The 2/3/7 method!  (You won’t find this in CR materials folks, I made it up.)    Principles 2, 3, and 7 are getting me through my day-to-day life right now.  

2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
7. Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His work for my life and gain the power to follow His will.

And when I meld them into my 2/3/7 method I get “I earnestly believe that God exists, He loves me, and I have committed all my life and will to His care and control. I have to reserve a daily time with God for self examination, Bible reading and prayer in order to know God and His work for my life and gain the power to follow His will.”  

My hope is reminding myself of these things…

·         that I believe in God, and all He has to offer me,

·         that He has a wonderful plan for me if I follow Him,

·         and that He loves me!

With that hope I should be rejoicing daily that my dad made it - what a blessing for him not to be suffering on this earth anymore in sickness and pain.  God is good.   

So if you see & hear me mumbling over and over, 2/3/7, 2/3/7, 2/3/7, 2/3/7, 2/3/7 – that’s why.   I’m using the tools I’ve learned at Celebrate Recovery not just for “recovery” but for life.   

Grateful Believer,

Karyn