“If God would do _____, I would do ______.”
I hear that a lot. We barter with God. “If he would bring me blessings, I would trust him more.” “If he would reduce my urges to act out, I’d stay sober.”
That’s all backwards. The fact is, if you will stay sober, you will find that your urges slowly fade. Faith is a muscle; it grows, the more you use it.
Remember the day when the children of Israel left Egypt? They wanted God to dry up the water so they could cross over to safety. But this is what happened instead: “As soon as the priests stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing” (Joshua 3:15).
If you want to see God move in your life – really move – step into the water.
Recovery Step: Take one step of obedience today and you will reap the benefits tomorrow.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
