Welcome to Life Recovery
We believe everyone can benefit from a Life Recovery experience. We all have struggles in life; struggles with addictions, food, depression, anxiety, and relationships to name a few. But we approach recovery from different angles. Some want a formal recovery meeting with a traditional recovery experience. Others want a recovery experience in a small informal group, or in an existing group they are already comfortable with at their church. And some may prefer learning about recovery at their own pace before jumping into a group or meeting experience. This is the beauty of Life Recovery. Unlike other Christian recovery approaches that mandate how and where their recovery ministry can be employed, Life Recovery brings Christian recovery to you – right where you’re at.
Two are better than one...
Has life been painful? Want to make a change but don’t know where to begin? If so, consider going to a Life Recovery Group. No one should go through life alone, so everyone will benefit from having others walk alongside them on their journey.
The Bible says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed…Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12, NLT).
8 Benefits of Life Recovery:
YOU'LL HAVE A PLAN TO HEAL
Life Recovery Groups offer a path to not only recover from addictions, heartaches, and unhealthy patterns, but to live a new life as well. The 12 Steps of Life Recovery are taught in each group; everyone who attends will have the opportunity to go through these 12 Steps. This is a good place to learn biblical and practical steps to heal for those who are hurting but don't know where to begin.
IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Even though the idea of attending a Life Recovery Group and connecting with others may seem intimidating, the benefits to mental health are worth it. The simple act of sharing can be extremely cathartic. Some of the mental health benefits may include feeling less isolated, developing better ways to cope, and talking openly about your feelings.
HAVE HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIPS
As a result of addiction, a person’s closest relationships —with friends, family, and others—deteriorate. The focus of a Life Recovery Group is on building healthy relationships since unhealthy relationships lead to relapse. The key to recovery is to avoid bad influences, make amends, and find accountability.
REDISCOVER
HOPE
What a powerful experience it is to see someone in recovery further than you are, making strides toward a healthier and happier future! Life Recovery Group leaders, sponsors, and supportive peers can serve as excellent role models. Having the opportunity to hear testimonies will make recovery more possible-which in turn, will lead to a more optimistic future.
LEARN HOW TO FACE PROBLEMS
It is a radical commitment to escape problems that drive addiction. Recovery involves facing one’s problems, learning how to cope with and overcome them. A Life Recovery Group is a good place to learn effective ways to cope with and handle difficult situations.
SHARED EXPERIENCES
One of the best benefits of attending a Life Recovery Group is the opportunity to share recovery experiences. What is the best person to go through recovery with? The person in recovery or who has already undergone the process. As group members work toward their goals, checking in with them in between weekly meetings and praying for them can help them out.
GAIN NEW TOOLS TO HELP
Recovery is not just about stopping the old life but also about starting a new one. Life Recovery Groups are excellent for transforming negative thinking, unhealthy coping mechanisms, toxic relationships, and coping with triggers. Just by going to a group, relationships will be forged that would not otherwise be made. When temptations and triggers come (and they will), having a couple of people to call from your Life Recovery Group is one of the most effective ways to overcome them.
LOVING COMMUNITY
Life Recovery Groups bring people together. No matter how much emotional pain someone is going through, the most effective medicine is often the voice of the people who’ve walked in their shoes. The emotional and relational support is non-judgmental and accepting. So, it’s no wonder that the atmosphere of a Life Recovery Group is one of safety and encouragement. This makes it the perfect place to feel heard, accepted, and loved.
RECOVERY is all about CONNECTION.
Each month we offer an evening event separate from our normal meeting time that is just about fun, fellowship and connection. Jesus spent a lot of time gathering with people around a table …fellowshipping, teaching, pouring into…we must be encouraged to learn from His example.
NOVEMBER 10
7PM / THE COMMUNITY CENTER @ AFC
2301 Meridian St, Anderson 46016
Valuable Resources:
Articles and tips available for your use
On the Other Side of the Father Wound
Much has been said about the “Father Wound.” That is, the effect a poor relationship with Dad can have on a person’s future. On the one hand, I can say without hesitation it’s all true. If there is one single element, I’ve found in common among those I’ve counseled, it’s the “Father Wound.” And yet, now that I’m facing the challenges inherent in fathering a son, I’m painfully aware of the other side of the story.
It was so easy to talk about what fathers should or shouldn’t be. I was new to the game, the proud stepfather of a lovably energetic five-year-old boy. Huge mistakes, mostly mine, hadn’t yet been made. His adolescence was years off, so our days were playful, and I was his hero. No wonder it was so easy for me to look critically at older fathers. I was determined never to become one.
Since then, the boy I loved has become the man who’s forgiven me. (more…)
8 Tips When Your Adult Child Struggles With Addiction
Does your adult son or daughter struggle with addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, or something else? Then, no doubt, you’re concerned for their physical and emotional well-being. You’ve tried everything, but nothing seems to work. Unfortunately, your relationship with them is getting worse. Is there any hope? Yes! Here are some tips:
1. Stop Living in Denial. Often, as parents, it’s easier to stay in denial rather than face reality. Pretending it’s not happening will hurt you, your child, and your entire family. Jeremiah 6:14 (TLB) reminds us, “You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there!” (more…)
Helping Your Millennial Learn to Adult
Helping Your Millennial Learn to Adult
Let’s face it. More and more adult children are moving back home.
In fact, 1 in 3 adult children, ages 25- to 34-years-old, live at home according to the Census Bureau. Out of the millennials who live at home, 1 in 4 don’t work or go to school. In other words, 2.2 million millennials live at their parents’ home without making any progress to become an adult.
But millennials aren’t the only ones with problems.
Instead of letting their kids take responsibility for their lives, some parents try to rescue them. But the more times they rescue their adult child, the harder it will be for their adult child to grow up. (more…)
How to Keep Your Kids from the Entitlement Trap
- Be clear on the desired outcome
The truth is, you—as the parent—teach your child how they can and can’t treat you and others, and what is acceptable behavior. Although you can’t control them like a puppet, your goal is to train and help them grow into a mature, responsible adult with strong character traits.
- Be kind
Being kind to your child will model for them how to treat others in a way that is loving, not demanding or demeaning. There will be plenty of frustrating and trying times as you are raising your child. When you feel like you are at your wits end, give yourself a time out. Ask for help in the struggle.
The ABC’s of Navigating Child Custody During the Holidays
Have you gone through a divorce and have kids? Are you a single parent who struggles with getting along with your ex? If so, then your kids may feel torn in two different directions. On top of that, the stress of the holidays often brings out the worst in these situations.
You don’t want your kids to feel like pawns in a chess game. So, what can you do? Here are the ABC’s to avoiding fighting over who gets the kids at Christmas.
Always Follow the Parenting Plan
The first step is to use a legal parenting plan. What if you don’t have one? Get one—start by contacting an attorney. Take the necessary steps to creating a legal child custody agreement. If your children aren’t safe with the other parent, take legal steps to keep them safe. (more…)
How to Help Your Teen Resist the Lure of Porn
Research shows the average age of exposure to porn is now as young as 8.
As a parent, you have two options: Bury your head in the sand or prepare your son or daughter to resist.
Your child needs a good dose of attention, love, and affection from you. But when those basic needs aren’t met, they’ll look for love in the wrong places. Since you’re their primary role model, modeling biblical principles yourself will give them a good example to follow.
A good place to start is by creating an ongoing dialogue with your children about sex and spirituality. (more…)
One in 8 children live in households with at least one parent who has a substance abuse disorder, according to the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. A child who grows up with a parent who has an addiction must deal with it as best they can—even if it means developing unhealthy ways of coping that lead into adulthood and are hard to let go of.
But where there seems to be no way, God can make a way! Isaiah 43:19b (NLT) says, “I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Here are some common struggles adult children of addicts face, and how to overcome them. (more…)
8 Benefits to Going to a Life Recovery Group
Has life been painful? Want to make a change but don’t know where to begin? If so, consider going to a Life Recovery Group. No one should go through life alone, so everyone will benefit from having others walk alongside them on their journey. The Bible says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed…Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12, NLT). Check out these 8 benefits of joining a Life Recovery Group.
1. You’ll have a plan to heal.
Life Recovery Groups offer a path to not only recover from addictions, heartaches, and unhealthy patterns, but to live a new life as well. The 12 Steps of Life Recovery are taught in each group; everyone who attends will have the opportunity to go through these 12 Steps. (more…)
Want to Lead Well? Be Prepared to Tell Your Story
Leading others is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in their lives. As a sponsor, mentor, accountability partner, Life Recovery Group leader, or in any other capacity, a leader must ensure everyone feels connected and accepted. One of the best ways a leader can prepare to lead well is by being ready to tell their story.
Everyone has a story to tell. Every person has gone through stages in their faith and struggled with relationships and life. Even leaders have struggles. There might be a leader who has recovered from addiction. They may have struggled with their emotions and achieved freedom with the help of God and others. After navigating difficult relationships, perhaps a leader has grown in confidence rather than become codependent. A leader—no matter their past—can offer inspiration and assistance to others who are struggling. (more…)
Understanding and Utilizing a Sponsor in Your Recovery
“We must be transparent to heal because God created us to be in community and relationships—not only with Him, but with one another.”—Steve Arterburn
Sponsors play a very important role in recovery. To understand and utilize a sponsor, examine the history of sponsorship and consider what to look for in a sponsor.
History of Sponsorship
The idea of being accountable to others is nothing new. The Bible is clear that accountability is a prerequisite for healing. James 5:16a (NLT) says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
Since the recovery movement began, a critical healing component has been finding a sponsor. Alcoholics Anonymous started when the founders, Bill W., a stockbroker, and Dr. Bob S, a surgeon, met in 1935 and formed support groups and the Twelve Steps based on biblical principles. (more…)
Life Recovery Step Twelve: Carry the Message to Others
After embarking on the journey of Life Recovery and completing Steps One through Eleven, the last step is Step Twelve. Step Twelve of Life Recovery says, “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we have tried to carry this message to others, and to follow these principles in everything we do.”
To “carry this message to others” and to help them get off the wrong path and onto the right one, there are four important qualities one must have.
First, it takes courage. Whether at a meeting or in everyday life, God will provide many opportunities to share the message of Life Recovery. Find a Life Recovery Group, participate in the weekly meetings, invite others to attend, mentor someone, or even lead a Life Recovery Group. Learn how to start a Life Recovery Group.
Secondly, it takes gentleness. (more…)
9 Tips for Staying Sober During the Holiday Season
Between parties and family get-togethers, staying sober during the holidays can be a challenge. Interacting with old friends and family members may stir up hard feelings, bad memories, difficult conversations, and tempting situations. But by following these tips, it’s possible to thrive—not just survive—this holiday season.
1. Have a plan in place.
Before going to a party or spending time with family, think about what will happen. Have a team of friends and accountability partners to provide support. Here are some questions to ask:
- “Who is going to be there?”
- “What feelings will this bring up?”
- “Am I even ready to go?”
How to Honor your Parents—Even if You Don’t Think They Deserve It
Understanding how to heal from childhood pain may be one of the biggest challenges an addict faces in recovery because it is often the pain inflicted by their parents that is the most difficult to move on from.
It’s difficult to heal from the wounds of one or both parents. Even worse, if one was abused during their childhood, they may have been taught that failing to honor their abusive parents is a sin. This raises some disturbing questions: How can one honor someone whose actions are anything but honorable? Does this mean that they must stay under their control and yield to their manipulations to please God? The answer, though, to these questions is in the Bible itself. The Bible says, “Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16, NLT).
The word honor comes from a root word meaning heavy; it implies placing a weighty value on the relationship. (more…)
Recover from Emotional Numbness with the Comfort Circle
It is God’s design for each person to be able to feel emotions and express them. Many people, however, never learned how to express their feelings on a deep level.
Why do some people numb their emotions rather than feel them? In their home growing up, children were probably seen rather than heard. Their parents did not help them process their feelings. Anger was met with rage, fear went unacknowledged, and there was plenty of shame to go around. So, they numbed their difficult emotions by turning to something like eating, shopping, watching pornography, or other things.
Does this sound familiar? Instead of numbing feelings, take out a journal and try the Comfort Circle exercise. (more…)
7 Tell-Tale Signs of Relationship Addiction
Love is something everyone longs for. It’s normal for one to want — even crave — a close, loving relationship. However, some people with an insecure attachment style are prone to wanting to be in a dating relationship, even if it is unhealthy, abusive, or toxic. Although relationship addiction isn’t recognized as an official diagnosis, mental health experts and researchers generally agree on a few key signs that suggest cause for concern in a dating relationship.
Here are some signs of relationship addiction to be watching out for. (more…)
6 Steps to Leaving Your Baggage in the Past
Is the baggage from the past getting heavy? Put it down! Baggage from past relationships, trauma, and childhood gets carried into the present until it is dealt with. This emotional weight strains a person’s mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health. Can God make a way to leave the heavy baggage behind? Yes. Here are six steps to take to lighten the load.
- Agree with God that there’s a problem from the past, and confess it.
No one can overcome an issue until they acknowledge it. There’s a reason for every feeling—anger, joy, or bitterness. God’s word for “agree” is the word “confess.” To confess something means to agree that it is true. When it comes to baggage that is bothering an individual, they must recognize that things have gone wrong – either done to them or done by them – and agree with God or “confess,” that they have happened and affected them deeply. (more…)
The Love Killer of Being Self-Centered
Can anyone ever completely figure out love? No, because the mysteries of love and how to make it work baffle even the most well-intentioned individual. From parenting to marriage, friendship to business relationships, most find their best efforts often fail, and disappointment finds its way into their most valued sphere of life.
Why is this? It all comes down to a basic orientation in how one views themselves and others. In other words, since Adam, people have been looking out for number one, which is the surest way to destroy a relationship. People tend to think of themselves first instead of the relationship itself. They are trying to get what they want instead of seeing the needs of others. And because of this self-orientation, they destroy all chances of getting what they want and need, which is love. (more…)
‘Tis The Season to Be With Toxic Family
The holidays are supposed to be the season to be jolly. But for anyone who comes from a toxic family, it can be painful. Is it possible to prevent the emotional pain of spending time with family members? Yes. Instead of fear or fighting, it can be a time of comfort and joy.
Begin by letting go of any unrealistic expectations. For example, it is unrealistic to think, “It would be wonderful to spend two weeks with my ex-spouse, kids, grandkids, and our pets all in one house. What could possibly go wrong?”
Everything!
It is more realistic to set boundaries by limiting time spent together, learning to say no when necessary, and discussing plans beforehand. Communicate boundaries in a way that is firm but respectful. (more…)
Character Doesn’t Change Overnight—And Here’s Why
Ever wonder why God forgives a person who puts their faith in Him and wipes their slate clean but doesn’t instantly change their character?
God doesn’t automatically transform a person’s character because He expects them to do the demanding work it takes to follow Christ.
The life of a follower of Christ is often depicted in the Bible as a field to cultivate:
Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you. — Hosea 10:12, NLT
Likewise, a follower of Christ must work hard to grow spiritually and become fruitful. (more…)
Self-Control is a Muscle You Must Exercise
Self-control is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “restraint exercised over one’s impulses, emotions, or desires.”
But self-control doesn’t come naturally for most people. It can be difficult not to give in to triggers and temptations. Old habits die hard; healthy habits take work. It’s easy to get through the end of a hard day and feel entitled to spend the evenings escaping by turning to overeating, watching porn, or on the couch binge-watching television or playing video games.
Where does self-control come from? The Bible teaches that self-control comes from two things.
First, it’s a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (more…)
Our Failures Reveal Our Powerlessness and Need for God
Life Recovery Step One says, “We admitted that we were powerless over our dependencies and that our lives had become unmanageable.”
In Step One, one must realize they cannot meet God’s standards. Many addicts who are starting recovery think they can do everything in their own strength, but trying to do it all without any help is not the solution. Why? Because no one can do it all. Everyone falls short—no one is perfect. So, God gave the law as a measuring stick to reveal that no one can meet God’s holy and perfect standards.
The apostle Paul wrote: (more…)
How to Use The Life Recovery Bible
As Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (NLT), The Life Recovery Bible has been used as a path for countless individuals seeking recovery. In 1991, Tyndale House Publishers partnered with Steve Arterburn and Dr. Dave Stoop to create a study Bible that would encourage fellow strugglers to connect with the Bible. As a result, The Life Recovery Bible was born; since then, it has become the number one selling recovery Bible. And millions of those who’ve used this Bible have seen their lives transformed.
Want to start reading The Life Recovery Bible? If so, here are some helpful tips. (more…)
What Does It Look Like to Be Crucified with Christ?
When the light of God’s truth shines on one’s weakness and failure, one sees the futility of self-righteousness and realizes that the only sensible response is to stop pretending things aren’t so bad. They are! Spiritual renewal and transformation require that one repents, which means to acknowledge and turn from their sins. But one cannot truly repent until one sees themselves as flawed, unholy, and needing redemption and complete reformation.
To recover from addiction or an unhealthy habit, one must turn their will and life over to God. This means they must also turn their shortcomings, losses, failures, fears, and needs over to Him. Life Recovery Step Three says, “We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.”
Truth is, however, rarely does someone surrender their will and life over to God when their life is problem free. (more…)
Here’s Why Love is a Choice—Not a Feeling
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has on one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:12-13
What is love?
Theologians, musicians, writers, and even Hollywood directors, have attempted to define, explain, and quantify love throughout history. But there has yet to be a consensus reached so far.
When it comes down to it, however, love is a choice.
A person can choose to act lovingly toward others or selfishly toward them. There is no mistaking that the foundation of genuine love is not feelings that change from day to day, from week to week, and sometimes even from moment to moment. There is no doubt that true love requires effort because it is a decision—one must be willing to do their part to build a lasting relationship. (more…)
How to Stop Self-Sabotaging Your Sobriety in the New Year
Every new year brings a fresh start. But if problems and patterns from the past keep repeating, if addiction is a constant battle, if it’s hard to maintain sobriety, then self-sabotage may be the sneaky culprit.
What is self-sabotage?
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “sabotage” as: “destruction of property or the hindering of manufacturing by discontented workers; destructive or obstructive action; an act or process tending to hamper or hurt; deliberate subversion.” Addiction itself is a form of self-sabotage. Rather than dealing with painful emotions and events in healthy ways, it is often easier to turn to (more…)
5 Tips to Avoid Compassion Fatigue
Whether leading, helping those who are hurting, or serving in some other capacity, the strain of exposure to those suffering can lead to compassion fatigue. Here are some easy ways to recognize compassion fatigue when it starts and take steps to avoid—or eliminate—it all together.
- Know your limitations.
Recognize that everyone has a different emotional capacity to hold others’ pain and trauma. Each person must be aware of their unique threshold and know how it fluctuates depending on what is going on in their personal life. (more…)
6 Ways to Make Peace With Your Past
Some of life’s biggest roadblocks are not the ones seen through the windshield. They are, instead, the roadblocks that fill the rearview mirror. It’s easy to get stuck in the past. But someone who keeps looking in the rearview mirror experiences their pain over and over. However, it is possible to make peace with the past and have hope for the future.
1. Accept the past.
Because every person is an imperfect human being who lacks perfect control over their thoughts, they may allow themselves to become stuck in the past—even though they know better. But the sooner they face reality, the sooner they will be able to move on. (more…)
Change How You Think About Anxiety
Struggling with anxiety? If a person feels worried and stressed, they will often reach for food, alcohol, porn, drugs, shopping, or something else to help soothe and calm them. If left unchecked, anxiety can make someone turn to addiction to cope.
But there is a tool called a thought record that can reduce anxiety. A thought record can help people identify automatic negative thoughts and check to see if their thinking falls into one of the many distortions that increase stress, such as catastrophizing. How it works is that a person will write down an alternative balanced thought which states the truth.
For example, let’s say a person thinks that if they try to go to a Life Recovery Group to connect with others, it will be terrible. This would be an example of catastrophizing because they’ve already determined how something will be a disaster beforehand. (more…)
New Year’s Tips—Lose Weight and Live Free
Many people excitedly set New Year’s resolutions every year, and losing weight is at the top of their list. But by the time February rolls around, most give up on their goals of getting healthier. Anyone can change their mindset and habits—when they do, they are much more likely to lose weight and finally live free.
- Develop a new way of eating.
Stuck in yo-yo dieting? Decide to stop dieting. Instead, eat real foods in moderation. And put an end to eating processed foods. There’s nothing wrong with indulging occasionally. But if an individual can’t stop eating unhealthy foods or consistently overeats, they’re in bondage. Make it a goal not to be mastered by anything this year. - Develop a new way of moving.
One of the best ways a person can honor their Creator is by taking care of their body. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” (more…)
Justifiable Resentment: The Vulture That Lurks
What is justifiable resentment? And more importantly, how can someone get rid of it in their life?
Real resentment over real damage by a real person produces is what is known as justifiable resentment. It becomes such a massive part of a person’s life that it feels like a vulture sitting on top of them—a dark and dangerous presence that affects everything they do.
If the resentment were not justifiable, another person could talk them out of it. A friend could tell them things like:
- “Stop being so negative.”
- “Look at the bright side of things.”
- “Be more positive.”
But none of those things apply to someone with justifiable resentment because they have a reason to be resentful. They were a victim; it was not their fault. Anyone who knows of their terrible ordeal supports their feelings of resentment. Yet, that is the problem because no one questions their feelings. (more…)
12 Steps to Sexual Integrity
You want to have sexual integrity. But it’s not easy, is it? After all, if you struggle with compulsions and unhealthy habits, they will sabotage you and undermine your relationships. Healing is possible, however, if you examine your life and make some changes. God will help you move beyond sexual addiction to sexual integrity. Here are twelve steps you can take that will help you find freedom.
- Open our hearts to God’s power to free us from the grip of unhealthy sexual behaviors.
Acknowledge you are powerless—realize God can accomplish what you can’t. “What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). - Allow God to restore our sexual sanity.
Recognize how your sexual behaviors have been out-of-control, and look to God to restore control to your sexuality. “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Pet. 1:3) (more…)
- Open our hearts to God’s power to free us from the grip of unhealthy sexual behaviors.
A Daughter’s Letter to Her Dad
Dear Dad,
I want to let you know first of all that I love you and forgive you for what this has done in my life. I also wanted to let you know exactly what your porn use has done to me. You may think that this affects only your and mom’s relationship. But it has had a profound impact on me and my siblings.
I found your porn on the computer around the age of 12 or so, just when I was starting to become a young woman. First of all, it seemed very hypocritical to me that you were trying to teach me the value of what to let into my mind in terms of movies, yet here you were entertaining your mind with this. (more…)
Will She Ever Trust Me Again?
A question I often hear from married men is: ‘I’ve admitted my sin, apologized to my wife, and tried to make it right. She says she forgives me, but can’t trust me. Will she ever trust me again? ‘
Rebuilding trust is like rebuilding credit. It can be done, but only through a combination of time and consistency. So if broken trust is a challenge to your marriage, let me offer you three ideas on how to rebuild it.
First, get a solid structure put in place. A solid structure is a combination of accountability, daily prayer, Bible reading, and regular consultation with a pastor, mentor or Christian counselor. Find yourself a good men’s accountability group, or a good Christian therapist. (more…)
Pain and Pleasure
David Sper writes in his book Designed for Desire, “The root of all sexual perversions and immorality begins with the desire to relieve one’s pain with pleasure.” It’s natural for us to be seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. So when pain doesn’t go away when we try to satisfy our cravings, we seek bigger and bigger pleasures to satisfy them, to override and erase our pain.
Every sin is the result of an appetite going astray and seeking fulfillment in something other than what God intended. First, we experience that something is missing inside. Then, we begin seeking ways to compensate for the void. This becomes especially destructive when we try filling an emotional or spiritual void with something physical.
Connect with God. Celebrate the Change. Champion Relationships.
Wednesdays / 7:15pm / Classroom #1
