Taking the First step.

In order to begin the long adventure of transmogrification and following God's perfect plan for obedience, the first step must be to go back and make right the hurts and hang-ups that caused you to fall into sin in the first place and also, now that it is exposed, to apologize and correct the wrongs that are caused by such a hurtful thing. But first and foremost we must humble ourselves before God and lean on His unfailing love and Grace to cover us. It is difficult not to approach God seeking "hand-out" forgiveness, treating it as something that is expected or deserved... This is simply unacceptable, God's forgiveness is not a deserved hand-out. It is an undeserved gift, a grace unimaginable. Seek His forgiveness with a broken heart, humbled by your sin and then rely on His perfect plan to come into play. "But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love." Nehemiah 9:17

After taking the first step toward Holiness, you must face the individuals that you hurt by your actions. In my case, I had to spend some time reflecting on the things I've done, the people I've hurt, and then sit down and accept full responsibility for my actions. This is no easy task, nor is it one that you can simply open a book, formulate a game-plan, and then attack head on. Instead we are left with no choice but to rely on God for strength, and to humbly seek forgiveness and ask for the understanding of those you've hurt. The hardest part is hearing their side of the story. A first-hand account of the transgressions you have committed against them, as well as the hurt and feelings that individual both felt then and is feeling now toward you and your actions. It is comforting in times like this that God has promised us that our sins have been erased by His Son's sacrifice for us all. "LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." Psalm 130:3-5

I am blessed to have someone in my life who loves me where I am and supports me in where I'm going. Someone who understands the concept of recovery and knows that it doesn't happen overnight, but is willing to love me just the same and who is holding me accountable. Which brings me to my final point of Step One.

If you have something in your life that you know is keeping you from growing closer to God, you need to get up from where you are at, turn 180 degrees, and run as fast and as far as you possibly can from that sin! If it is alcohol, throw it away, if it is a sexual relationship you shouldn't be in, cut it off, if it is an addiction to pornography, eliminate the temptation by removing your main source. If sitting alone in a quiet place with a computer is where you stumble, then you need to go find somewhere and someone to be with. Create boundaries around you to protect yourself. You are less likely to fall into sin if you never allow yourself to be alone with your computer then you are if you are sitting in front of your computer alone, in a struggle to stay away from those sites.

Take for instance one of my favorite Bible characters of all time, Joseph. In Genesis 39 we find our friend Joseph in a bit of a conundrum. He has been placed over his Master's entire household and is charged with it's care. Enter Potiphar's wife. A woman who is clearly unfaithful to her husband, and who's main object of lust is our boy joseph. We all know the story of how she puts the moves on him. He gets up and runs away from her as fast as he can, so fast he leaves his belongings behind. Joseph knew that Sin is a powerful thing, and that once it has it's hold on you, there is no going back down an easy escape route.

The road to recovery is one that is trying and hard. But it is comforting to know that through it all, God is faithful to us. He loves us and lavishes His gifts of Grace upon us. If only we could open our eyes, flee from Sin, and Run toward His open arms... Food for thought.