Are you being mastered? | Crosstraining 1.5.15

Romans 6:12-14 Leading up to my wedding day, dozens of people asked me if I was nervous. I laughed it off, and said absoluntely not because I didn’t think I was nervous. Come wedding day, though, as I was putting on my tux, I couldn’t find my pants. I searched the entire room and accused my friend of stealing my pants as I completely freaked out. I found my pants a few minutes later…already on. I didn’t think I was nervous, but I must have been. Sometimes we think we know how we are doing, but we have no clue. There’s no other area in which this is more true than with addiction. All of us deal with addictions in one way or another. It’s easy to point to those who struggle with alcohol or drugs, but there’s a million other things that can become an addiction. An addiction is anything that masters us. It could even be things like food, technology, drama, pornography and shopping. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to see if you’re struggling with being mastered by something:

• Do your family and friends say you have a problem?
• Do you continue even though you’re hurting yourself or others?
• Do you arrange your schedule around it?
• Can you go one week without it?
• Is it leading you to isolation?
• Are you trying to keep it a secret?

The Bible is clear that God alone should be our master. When we allow addictions to take over our life, we are veering away from the plan that God has for our life. To avoid destruction, you need to get help. What are you being mastered by? // TWO-A-DAYS // GO A LITTLE FARTHER WITH YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS // Go through these questions with your spouse, kids, or friend, or you can even journal about the answers to these questions:

1. What was the best part of your day?
2. What was the toughest part of your day?
3. Where did you mess up today?
4. Where did you see God today?

Reflect: Read over the list of question  from Crosstraining this morning to identify if there’s areas of your life that are mastering you. Discuss or journal about what that addiction is, what you think God thinks about it, and what help you need to get. Pray: As you begin your prayer time today, confess to God the things that are mastering you and ask Him for guidance and strength to overcome them. READ THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2015: Today’s Reading: Mark 1]]>