Step/Week 2, Day 5 – Hope and Sanity: Don’t Hold on to Any Resentments
May 6, 2020 1366
“But when you expose them, the light shines in upon their sin and shows it up, and when they see how wrong they really are, some of them may even become children of light! . . . and Christ shall give you light” (Eph. 5:13-14, TLB).
The opposite of seeing ourselves as powerless is to see ourselves as all-powerful or full of power. If this is true about us, then why are our problems not dissolving before our very eyes, if we are so powerful?
Nothings fuels anxiety more than harbouring resentments against others, God, or even yourself. As you journey through recovery you will soon realise that by finding forgiveness for those who have harmed you not only frees them to a better potential, but it restores your energy and the purpose to effect real and lasting change in your own life. You can redress the imbalance in your lives by offering forgiveness to others and forgiving yourself.
You need to let God’s light shine in your life and to illuminate your sins, so that you realise what a precarious, spiritual condition you’re in and to make a decision to put that right. Remember, if you have repented of your sins, then God has forgiven you and He remembers your sins no more. So why are you beating yourself up about something God has forgiven and forgotten? You have become a person of light, as Christ the Light shines brightly in your life.
Living in fear is a costly business. Fear is false evidence appearing real. When you live outside of reality you are wasting your energy in a futile attempt to convince yourself that you have some power to control your addiction. When in reality, you’re powerless, without the power God can give you.
Holding resentments is unhealthy for mind, body, and spirit. You know: “What other people think about us is none of our business”. We can’t control their thoughts, actions, or words, but we can, to some extent, control our response to them, especially with God’s help. Today, you might just need to let go of something you’ve been holding on for some time, even by offering forgiveness to someone who has done you wrong, but in the long run, it will be one of the best decisions you will make on your journey towards recovery.
– Graham Hood
Personal Reflection: Write a list of people you resent. Do they know that you feel this way and is your resentment affecting you more than them? If it is, you need to take decisive action, but before doing that, spend time with God in prayer and ask for His guidance and help. Let God’s light shine bright in your life!
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