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Breaking Free from the Opinions of Others

December 31

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

(Ephesians 2:10)

“If you treat me normal, I feel less than; if you treat me special, I feel normal.” Many of us felt this way as we journeyed through life struggling with our addictions. We never seemed to measure up to anyone or anything. We sought our worth in what others thought of us. The sad reality is that we never truly knew what people thought.

Instead of looking to others for our self-worth, we are reminded that our worth is in Christ alone. We are His workmanship, each created with unique abilities and talents, even if we don’t always recognize them. As the psalmist says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:14). God designed us and created us with intention. His intention is that we would have purpose, and that purpose lies in doing good works through Him, the giver of life that he may be glorified in us. With this new understanding, we are no longer enslaved to others and their opinions of us.

Can you think of a time when you needed to be treated special to feel normal? How has that changed as you trust more in Christ?

God of the universe, thank you for all you have done for me. Most of all, I thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, my Lord. Continue to work in me to do Your will, that through good works, You may be glorified in all my deeds. Transform me into Your image as I wait for the day to rest in You. Amen.

Redemptive Recovery

Redemptive Recovery (RR) is a Christian recovery group and program that is modeled on biblical truths. We believe that Jesus Christ has the power to transform our lives and that the bible is our roadmap. RR meets weekly and is for anyone currently navigating the challenges of addiction and also those that are further along in their recovery.

Visit www.redemptiverecovery.org for more information.

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Living in Genuine Love

November 5

"Love must be sincere...” (Romans 12:9)

For those of us who have struggled with addiction, this verse can be both challenging and deeply encouraging. Addiction often brings with it a weight of shame and brokenness, making it difficult to truly love ourselves and others. Yet today’s verse reminds us that love must be sincere—free from hypocrisy. This kind of love is neither superficial nor conditional; it’s genuine and honest.

A perfect example of sincere love is the love God has for his children. His love doesn’t depend on our past failures or successes but is rooted in his desire for us to know him deeply and fully, knowing that in him, we will find true joy and satisfaction. We are able to love others—and ourselves—because he first loved us. Through his love, God empowers us to love as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

"Love is patient, love is kind; it is not jealous, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Reflect on this today. Are there times in your life when you’ve struggled to love sincerely? How might this have impacted those around you? And today, how can you practice a love that is sincere and without pretense?

God, thank you for your unending goodness and grace. Thank you for loving me first and offering your Son as a sacrifice for my sins. Help me to love as you love, and guide my heart to share in the burdens that matter to you. In Christ's name, Amen.

Redemptive Recovery

Visit www.redemptiverecovery.org for more information.

Redemptive Recovery

Seeking to Understand

October 7

"A fool does not delight in understanding, but in revealing his own mind.” (Proverbs 18:2)

Our verse says that a fool does not delight in understanding but instead is trying to “reveal his own mind.” This proverb describes a person who is always trying to be understood rather than trying to understand. It may manifest as someone who rarely listens, dominates conversation, or appears to be a “know-it-all.” While it's easy to notice these traits in others, if we're honest, we must admit that we have all acted this way at times. How can Christ transform these tendencies in us and those around us?

You may have heard of the well-known Prayer of St. Francis. This prayer focuses on selfless reflection, emphasizing what a person can bring to every situation in life, rather than what they can take from it. It says:

Lord, make me a channel of Your peace:

Where there is hatred, I may bring love;

Where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

Where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

Where there is error, I may bring truth;

Where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

Where there is despair, I may bring hope.

Lord, I pray to comfort rather than to be comforted, to understand rather than to be understood, to give rather than to receive, and to love rather than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds, it is by forgiving that one is forgiven, and it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life. Amen.

How can I practice active listening and seek to understand more fully? How does seeking to understand others first reflect Christ’s love?

Lord, help me to seek understanding over being understood. Give me a humble heart that listens, and help me to always speak with wisdom and grace. May I reflect your love in every conversation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Redemptive Recovery

Visit www.redemptiverecovery.org for more information.