Psalm 30:11-12 (MSG) God, my God, I can't thank you enough

Psalm 30 (The Message)
A Psalm of David

^11-12You did it: you changed wild lament
    into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
    and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
    I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
    I can’t thank you enough.

This verse is a fitting way to follow up from the transformation discussion of Psalm 29.  The psalmist here acknowledges the changes in his life.  What was once dark has been replaced with joy and beauty.  What was painful in the past, hurts no more.  No doubt this is similar to the joy and relief of several of the breakthroughs and milestones we experience during the recovery from addiction.

Some of these breakthroughs are small, and maybe noticeable only to the addict, while other are more significant and life changing.  Whether it's the presence of sobriety, which could only be measured in minutes or hours, is now measured in days and months.  Or the absence of a spaghetti mess of lies and cover-ups.  All of these breakthroughs in recovery are miracles regardless of magnitude.  For an addict that has tried so many times and failed.  Tried without the 12 steps, tried without an Addicts Anonymous group, and most of all tried without God, and failed.  For an addict that has tried on their own and failed so many times before these breakthroughs are miracles.  Yes, we are allowed to acknowledge these breakthroughs are miracles.  We are allowed to be grateful for these miracles.  I would even go so far as to say that we are encouraged to celebrate these miracles.

Dear Lord, you have brought so many miracles into my life.  Although I am still a work in progress, in many ways I am a different person than when I started this journey several years ago.  It is nothing short of a miracle.  My life is not devoid of pain, but You have equipped me to better handle burdens and suffering.  As a result I feel more joy and my relationships are more rich.    For all this I am beyond grateful, thank you.  The experience of transformation that you have brought into my life in the past has me excited by transformation that lies ahead.  Especially, as I begin this Lenten season of cleansing, sacrifice, and transformation.  With all this excitement I celebrate.  In this celebration though I also pray for the addicts that still suffer.  I pray that my celebration may bear witness to those addicts that still suffer to Thy power, Thy love & Thy way of life.  That I may be a beggar showing them where to get bread.  That my celebration would be a light to them that guides them and gives them hope for the recovery that awaits them.  All this I pray in Jesus' name - Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 24:1-2(MSG) God claims world and all who live on it

Psalm 24
A David Psalm

^1-2God claims Earth and everything in it,
     God claims World and all who live on it.
He built it on Ocean foundations,
     laid it out on River girders.

The first two verses of Psalm 24 remind me that this is the day that the Lord has made.  This day, this world, this earth - god has made and given to us.  We have a choice, every day, whether we take it for granted  or to actually fulfill something greater.  Today, I am going to make a conscious decision to let God use me, where I am, to spread his message of hope and peace.  As I learned in the 3rd step prayer (see below), I desire to fulfill his claim on my life and world.

Before I go into prayer today I would like to discuss the martial arts concept of Kata, which I was reminded of last week.  One aspect of Kata practice is that it is done in a repetitive manner so that the movements and techniques are internalized with the goal that they be executed and adapted under different circumstances, without hesitation or thought.  This the way a martial arts master's moves appear simple and smooth.  As addicts, I believe we can apply the repetitive practice concepts of Kata to prayers, repeating them daily, until we can use them to master any situation we face.  Many of you may recognize the third step prayer verses in my prayer today - and part of my Kata.

God I offer myself to Thee -
To build with me
and do with me what as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do thy will.
Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power,
Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always...
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy Love,
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee,
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee,
Take my intellect and use every power as Thou choose,
Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall no longer be mine...
All these things I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 23 (KJV): The LORD is my shepherd...He restoreth my soul

Psalm 23
A David Psalm

¹The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
      he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³He restoreth my soul:
      he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
      for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
      thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
      thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
      all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Today I am taking a break from The Message.  With the kind of gaps that I have in my blog it's not like I need any kind of break from psalms.  Nevertheless, Psalm 23, probably the most popular psalm there is only sounds right in its most original form.  Other translations don't seem to do it justice.  And so I meditate on this version of Psalm 23 in the midst of temptation surrounding me.

It is with huge gratitude that I have God's word at this time.  I am unable to sleep.  I am travelling by myself.  Usually for me this is a prime situation when I fall into the traps of my sexual addiction and scan all aspects of the internet for porn and sex.  To think this is my proverbial valley of darkness now, compared to what it once was, or what it could have been, is pretty amazing.  His shepherd's crook is a comfort to me, especially of the possibilities my life now has.  Surely I have gifts of God's giving and my cup runneth over.  I pray that I can continue to dwell in His house forever.

It is often at this time that I pray for the addicts that still suffer.  Today, however, I'd like to recognize that addicts aren't the only victims of addiction and pray for all of the victims of addiction.  Especially the parents, friends, children, and loved ones who are abused by the addict, sometimes physically as well as mentally.  I'd like to pray for their wisdom, love, strength and courage in the face of an addict in their life.  God, I was recently told me that addiction is infinitely patient, waiting for the right instances to strike.  You've taught us that love, however, is the more patient.  And so I pray for this kind love for the victims - that can help them separate the disease of addiction from the person they love.  That they have the courage to stand-up to the addiction while loving the person.  I pray that God, you can give them the wisdom to know the difference.  For this is even a hard distinction for, we, addicts to make.  So I pray these things for all addicts to have as well, the love of oneself, and the courage and endurance to fight the addiction within us.  This is important, because regardless of the success we've had in the past it is a struggle that will always be one we face.  And I pray that we addicts remember that we are not our addiction - and that we remember that You, God, have a bigger and better plan than what our addiction would have of us.  All of these things I pray in Jesus' name - AMEN.

Thanks for letting me share.