I spent yesterday in a training for addictive behavior, it was insightful and rewarding. As I listened, and took notes many things came to mind about my own life, the groups I lead, the family I grew up in. We all have problems, we all have addictions of some sort, we are not all aware of them! The speaker was talking about the pre-lapse brain, what happens in the brain just before someone goes into relapse. This is what he said:
"As arousal and stress goes up our ability to see and solve problems and consider the consequences goes down."
The addiction, whatever it may be, dulls the brain from consequences. It reminded me of a TV show called The Walking Dead. It's about a group of people trying to survive in a world where a disease has become an epidemic and infected the brains of millions. The problem is, as the brain became infected, the person's brain died, but they are still walking around. So, it's a world of zombie's. The zombie's are completely unaware of the consequences. They are unaware of life, they are just walking around.
It reminded me of the Sarah Young devotional for that day. Here's what she had to say:
"Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well worn paths or routine."
How often do I just go through the day lacking the awareness I need and just responding out of habit. How often do I just give in to an addiction of distraction, IPhone , or whatever, allowing these things to dull my life? Do I have days that I too am like the Walking Dead?
Sarah Young did not leave me with thoughts of despair, but reminded me of this:
"I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative being. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know."
God brings life to all areas, and see's clearly where to breathe life into me. My pain, my addictions, my grief. He is Walking Life, the Living Water, the Healer! Today, I am thanking Him for the clarity He brings to me, the love, the hope that sometimes wavers, but still exists. Today, I am thanking Him that I am walking in Life, eternal life.
Say That Again, Jesus, You are life, and You have promised to bring me and others out of all things that are death to us.
"As arousal and stress goes up our ability to see and solve problems and consider the consequences goes down."
The addiction, whatever it may be, dulls the brain from consequences. It reminded me of a TV show called The Walking Dead. It's about a group of people trying to survive in a world where a disease has become an epidemic and infected the brains of millions. The problem is, as the brain became infected, the person's brain died, but they are still walking around. So, it's a world of zombie's. The zombie's are completely unaware of the consequences. They are unaware of life, they are just walking around.
It reminded me of the Sarah Young devotional for that day. Here's what she had to say:
"Many people are so preoccupied with future plans and decisions that they fail to see choices they need to make today. Without any conscious awareness, they make habitual responses. People who live this way find a dullness creeping into their lives. They sleepwalk through their days, following well worn paths or routine."
How often do I just go through the day lacking the awareness I need and just responding out of habit. How often do I just give in to an addiction of distraction, IPhone , or whatever, allowing these things to dull my life? Do I have days that I too am like the Walking Dead?
Sarah Young did not leave me with thoughts of despair, but reminded me of this:
"I, the Creator of the universe, am the most creative being. I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths. Instead, I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure, revealing to you things you did not know."
God brings life to all areas, and see's clearly where to breathe life into me. My pain, my addictions, my grief. He is Walking Life, the Living Water, the Healer! Today, I am thanking Him for the clarity He brings to me, the love, the hope that sometimes wavers, but still exists. Today, I am thanking Him that I am walking in Life, eternal life.
Say That Again, Jesus, You are life, and You have promised to bring me and others out of all things that are death to us.
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