1st Step, Surrendering to Jesus

Desiring freedom from an addiction or a binding sin and diligently beginning the recovery and growth process is one of the biggest and most rewarding decisions you will ever make. Learning how to function in life without relying on what we do and what we feel can totally change your outlook. But if you choose to do recovery or seek growth without a new heart, even if you get clean and stay clean, there will always be a part of your life that is still searching and completely empty. This is the same for anything that is keeping us in bondage.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately sick; who can understand it?” We as humans have a sick heart that has a natural inclination toward sin, or wrong doing. No one teaches us how to lie for the first time; it’s a symptom of this fallen world. Sinning is a big deal. God speaks about it all throughout scripture. In Isaiah 59:2 it says, “But your iniquities [sins] have made a separation between you and your God.” Sin keeps us separate from God; so that means we need to find a way to bridge that gap.

The bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We as human beings have all fallen prey to sin, probably far too often than we would like to admit. This doesn’t mean that we are hopeless! There is indeed hope! Romans 5:8 states that, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God, in all of His mercy, saw this fallen world that was held captive by sin. He knew sin was deserving of death, that sin was keeping us separate from Him, and He loved us enough to provide that much needed bridge between our sin and reaching Him.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Jesus is God’s one and only, perfect, sinless Son. He walked on earth in human skin and then died a painful death on the cross so that we would now have a direct link to God. He paid the penalty of death for our sins but He also opened the door for God to offer us a free gift. Romans 6:23 says, “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Once we come to a place where we recognize that we have broken God’s heart because of sin, believe that Jesus came to earth to die for our sin, that we are destined for destruction without God, then it’s time to repent and turn away from our old life, embracing a Savior who will begin to change our sick hearts, which will ultimately lead to an eternity with God. Romans 10:9-10 states, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

            Jesus, who came to earth as God in skin, longs to be the Savior of your life. When He looks at your life, He doesn’t see all of the junk. Psalms 18:28 says that, “the Lord God illumines my darkness.” He doesn’t need you to clean up your mess, He will turn your darkness into light. He wants you just like you are: mess, junk, addiction and all. Ask Him to become Lord of your life and He will also become Lord of your recovery. He will be the one giving you the strength, and He will be healing your heart from the inside out.

Admit you are a sinner, believe that Christ has died for your life of sin, confess your sins to Him, and repent, or turn away from, the life you have been living. Then ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life and start trying your best to learn to follow Him. Make sure to tell another believer about your decision.

And then: go to the heading “The Path to Freedom” on this website and begin reading the articles as you learn to walk in freedom. Start reading your bible everyday. Visit the “Scriptures and Songs” heading and check out some great passages to start your reading process. Finally, find a church and get connected. Feel free to reach out to me through email. I would love to hear about how God has changed your heart.