R.C. Sproul wrote, “If Jesus has one complaint, it would be, ‘My bride never talks to me.’”
Notice something Jesus said three times, just before offering us the Model Prayer.
- “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:5).
- “When you pray, go into your room” (6:6).
- “When you pray, do not babble like pagans” (6:7).
Did you catch it? Three times, Jesus said, “When you pray.”
Jesus didn’t say, “If you pray.” It was assumed that his followers would pray. And the necessity of prayer is especially pronounced for those in recovery.
Recovery Step: The Faith and Recovery Center has identified several benefits of prayer to recovery: hope; mental health; self-reflection; routine; physical health; self-control. What matters most is not how you pray, but that you pray.
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.
