Lesson 7: Tracking your progress
Ephesians 2:11-13
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
I hope you have been keeping your journal as I encouraged you to do in Lesson 3. In your journal I encourage you to write some of the worst times you have faced in your addiction. These will help you remember, when you are tempted to believe that it really was not as bad as it was, how much you have suffered with this addiction. As you progress in overcoming your addiction, these reminders will be there to show you how far you have come. They will show you how many bad days you used to have compared with how many good days you have now.
Another reason to keep your journal, even of bad things, is so you can begin to see how and when or where you fall to temptation, what are your trigger points – those points that cause you to seek self medication. And the other side of that is, as you list your victories, you begin to see patterns of how and where and why you are victorious. For each victory, thank Jesus for what He has done for you. For each defeat, ask Jesus to forgive you and give you the wisdom to understand so you will be able to follow Him to victory the next time. And when the time comes that Jesus leads someone else to you who needs Him in the same way you need Him, you will be able to give them specific information and encouragement and how you have learned victory over your addiction.
It took time for you to become addicted, for you to build the bad habits which led to your addiction, and it will take time for you to build new habits and a pattern of victory in your life; patience with yourself through this process is critical. What you are looking for is progress as opposed to perfection. Do not be discouraged that victory is not easily won, because no victory that is easily won will remain long in our hearts. We need this victory to remain important in our lives.
Verses to memorize: Romans 8:1-2
Your prayer: Dear Jesus, I ask You to show me today each victory You have given and how You led me to victory by providing my escape from temptation. I thank You for each victory. I thank You too for each defeat which shows me I cannot be victorious on my own. I want to learn to trust You more each day. Thank You, Jesus.
Lesson 7: Tracking your progress Print
Modified on: Thu, 10 Dec, 2020 at 7:17 PM
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