5 Themes 5 Thoughts for the New Year
Last week we walked through 5 themes and 5 thoughts for Christmas. This week we are looking at 5 more themes and thoughts and relating them to the New Year. Each of these themes are taken from the 10 week Free! Recovery course. Navigating these times of year is not easy! The sights, sounds and senses of the season can make navigating triggers and temptations especially challenging.
Circumstances, Choices and Consequences
Many of us have navigated the circumstances of Christmas, made our choices and maybe now are facing some negative consequences. Possibly some of us are thanking God that we managed to make some good choices. This theme is week 6 of the 10 week course. A thought moving forward may be to ask God to help you/me make good choices this year; choices that please God in our lives. Ponder this verse.
Do not be deceived God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:6-7
The Lies we Listen to
As we move forward into the new year, it is important to grow our awareness of the lies and decepton pulling us away from freedom; away from finally finishing with our addictive habits. This theme is found in session 7 of the 10 week course. An important thought for this year is to recognise these lies and deception and counteract them with truth. If you have found yourself relapsing with all the guilt and shame that goes with it; start speaking truth to yourself. I would start saying, “Yes, I have sinned, rebelled and fallen short but God has given me a way through in Jesus. He loves me, I am His child, I have a new identity in Him, I no longer need to act out and use in the way I used to. Help me Lord to walk in this new identity.”
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Children, Not Slaves
This theme is special to me. Would you join me? In this new year, I would like the thought and identity of being God’s child to be more firmly established in me. This deepening of my identity as God’s child, anchors me in God’s love and amazing grace. I would like this to be so much more important to me than any addictive or life-controlling issue. Help me/us Lord!
Freedom
One of the 5 themes is freedom and I love the phrase found in Romans 6:11;
We are dead to sin and alive to God.
This is freedom! This means that when we are tempted we can now say, “I am dead to that!”
A powerful thought for this year is to practice thinking and saying this truth whenever you and I are tempted in any way.
Looking Outward
This theme is session 10 of the 10 week course. It is where we encourage the participants to begin to look outward. Community, learning to serve and be with people is an important step in all of our lives but especially for those, who have been isolated in addictive habits. Giving to others is not always easy because a community is made up of fallible, often messy human beings. A significant thought here is the challenge to look outward in this new year. What small steps can you and I make to give of ourselves to others this new year?
Sally Childress
Child of God, John's wife, Co-founder and resource developer of Free! Recovery