ADDICTIONS
DEAR ADDICT
By Synthia Esther
Dear Addict,
What you have been through, seen, and dealt with in your life time must have been hard to cope with and endure as a child. Abuse is never justified. God knows your pain and sees your heartache. Feeling abandoned, alone, and uncertain has left wounds within your heart, mind, and soul. In the absence of any semblance of love, you have built a wall around your heart, keeping at a distance all those who attempt to open the gate, or climb the wall to get to your inner court of feelings, emotions, intimate needs and desires.
You continue to give what little is left within your hearts core to feeding and fueling your addiction. Your drug of choice is a friend on whom you have always depended on. When not "high" you feel like an outcast on a desert island, your pain haunting and plaguing you with self doubt. Lost, alone, and uncertain you have given up on true intimacy with another, as you are fearful to ever trust again. You have allowed your past to dictate your future, preferring to suffer in silence, solitude, and self preservation provided by your addiction's false gratification. You are in constant fear of rejection. Your thought processes and actions shout, "how could anyone possibly love me, when I don't love myself".
In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells the parables of others who have likewise felt rejected by society. Within the crowd of sinners gathering to hear Jesus teach, there were tax collectors (called publicans), which was a profession filled with corruption. The tax collectors were considered the low life's of society, despised and ranked alongside prostitutes, fornicators and drunkards. The Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Jesus relates, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
"Or suppose a women has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was last and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father want out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!"
"My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Jesus Christ the good shepherd, came to save the lost, provide them with His grace, mercy, and love, welcoming them home. He can change your sorrow and self loathing, into a life filled with peace, joy, and happiness.
Like a long lost sheep, Christ puts your pain on His shoulders, replacing your past with a future of hope (Jeremiah 29:11). God loves you with an everlasting love that extends far beyond any crime or sin you have committed. For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to die on Calvary's cross as sins sacrificial lamb (John 3:16). Because of His shed blood, we are forgiven and promised eternal life for evermore. God is ready to embrace your heart with His merciful forgiveness and ever abundant grace (reference article, "A Free Gift").
Your sacred journey home begins as you rid your self of fear, and simply accept His love (reference story, "Your Sacred Journey Home"). Lean on His word, which is tested, tried, and true. And allow Him to guide, protect, lead and direct, your heart, mind, and soul, changing what Satan meant for harm into your purposeful good (Genesis 50:20). Like a long lost child, your redemptive spiritual homecoming is celebrated with joy and rejoicing by the angels in Heaven.
If you have been looking for a sign from God..."This Is Your Sign Guiding You To The Land Of Eternal Serenity". If you would like to change your life direction, and walk a new path as a child of the King of kings, and Lord of lords your journey begins by repeating this simple prayer:
God, I need you. Please forgive me of past sins and come into my heart as I surrender my life to your purpose and plan. I thank-you for sin's redemption plan provided by your shed blood on the cross of Calvary. I believe you are the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, son of the living God. In humble gratitude I thank-you for your grace, mercy and love. Amen.
Please reference our salvation resource page, "A Free Gift", for additional information , Biblical insight and encouragement.
Additional related articles:
"My Sacred Journey Home" and "Divine Destiny And The Path Of Forgiveness".
God Bless You,
SYNTHIA ESTHER
