January

JANUARY 1

All Things New

“I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

ISAIAH 43:19 ESV

There is nothing quite like the fresh start that comes with turning the calendar to a brand-new year. But for someone struggling with addiction, each morning is simply a repeat of the one before—shame, dread, withdrawal, and lies. Fudging the truth, cheating, and hiding are their tired, old companions greeting them each new day. The voice of the Enemy and self-delusion deceive them into believing things will be different, but things will never change as long as they refuse to accept the truth. It’s time to face reality: our behaviors, compulsions, and refusal to repent are slowly killing us. Jesus offers us an abundant life, but it will remain out of reach until we surrender and repent. Today is the day to renounce the idolatry of addiction and to take the first step toward freedom.

Surrender

Today I decide to stop addictive behaviors. I will list new, healthy habits to implement.

JANUARY 2

Control the Mind

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 NLT

When I was compulsively drinking, I let the chips fall wherever they may. Something, usually fear or worry, would suddenly creep up on me, and I was powerless to stop the troublesome thought or feeling from becoming the catalyst for a flood of other bleak thoughts and ideas. Intense feelings can result in irrational, extreme behaviors, and the wreckage can extend far beyond mere mental distractions. Left unchecked, upsetting emotions can bring disruptions that lead to actions—more commonly, reactions. Knee-jerk responses birthed from intense emotional states are rarely helpful or productive. A new mindset is crucial to staying ahead of the temptation to succumb to addictive drives. We must control the mind before it takes over control of the body to prevent regrettable decisions and undesirable consequences. Taking each thought captive is critical prevention against sin and remorse.

Surrender

Today I will identify negative thoughts and beliefs that have led to upsetting emotions or actions I later regretted.

JANUARY 3

Sober Minded

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 PETER 5:8 NKJV

Let me introduce you to your prime adversary: the devil. Oh, and don’t forget his legion of demons. He is an often-present foe who requires just enough attention—but not too much. He would love for us to ignore him, let our defenses down, and fall blindly into one of his plentiful traps. Most people are blissfully clueless to the supernatural kingdom of darkness and its very real and destructive agenda. Start each day with a prayer of protection against dark forces and ask God to illuminate spiritual darkness with his holy light. Now for the good news: Jesus outranks the devil, so put your faith in his power to fight every battle alongside you. When you walk in obedience, Jesus faithfully guides every step and helps you steer clear of the devil’s landmines.

Surrender

Today I will make a list of how I have given the devil a foothold, and I will repent.

JANUARY 4

Temptation Awaits

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 NIV

Over ten years ago, I made a decision that I didn’t realize would carry devastating consequences. Though I felt trepidation and conviction all the way, I went ahead and acted on a desire to settle the score with someone else. Stone-cold sober at the time, I had no one to blame but myself. To say “the devil made me do it” would not even be accurate because he was not my deceiver that time. Literally minutes before I made this life-changing decision, my phone rang. It was a dear friend of mine, a pastor, a man of God. His name flashed on my phone’s display, and in a fraction of a second, I dismissed God’s lifeline. He would later say he felt led to reach out to me at that moment. God usually won’t override our free will but promises to provide a way out when we are tempted. I rejected the escape hatch and had to pay the consequences.

Surrender

Today when I feel uncertainty or shame, I will ask Jesus for strength to resist temptation.

JANUARY 5

Mental Recalibration

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

ROMANS 12:2 NIV

It may seem like quitting addictive behaviors and walking with Jesus is the perfect prescription for a pain-free life, but that’s not how it works. Though I was instantly freed of the urge to drink after a sincere prayer of repentance, I remained broken in other ways. Leaving alcohol behind was just the beginning of my journey to wholeness. The moment we completely surrender to the will of God, the messy road to sanctification begins. To repent means to turn away from the old, sinful life and toward the way of Jesus, and that means everything—including our thoughts. When I wake up saddled with a depressing outlook or negative thoughts, I battle the desire to stay in bed through a deliberate pursuit of praise and worship. The Lord inhabits the praises of his people, so start with a grateful attitude, and God will meet you there.

Surrender

Today I will remain aware of my mood, and if I feel unwanted emotions, I will ask God for help and motivation.

JANUARY 6

Place God First

“You must not have any other god but me.”

EXODUS 20:3 NLT

Old Testament practices of idol worship and bowing down before gods may seem ancient and irrelevant, but are they truly so far from reality today? Addiction is the ultimate form of idolatry, as active addicts give their drug of choice priority over everything. Americans today submit to many gods: money, self, pleasure, drugs, work, even their spouses. When I married in 2004, I’d been sober for over a year and felt stable, but soon my husband became my new addiction. As a young newlywed, I was so enamored with him that God shifted to second place. I’d later learn the hard way that elevating a person to the status of a deity is extremely dangerous indeed. To become dependent upon a relationship, job, possession, or experience to gain security, purpose, or fulfillment is a recipe for disaster. Even the most rock-solid and devout human being is fallible. Learn to trust and have faith in God alone. He deserves nothing less than first place.

Surrender

Today I will focus on seeking God first in all areas of my life.

JANUARY 7

Seek His Guidance

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.”

JEREMIAH 17:5 ESV

My first attempt at sobriety was all backward. Desperate for answers, I frantically sought the world’s offerings: outpatient treatment, AA groups, self-help books, and medications. Nothing I investigated was inherently bad but putting them before God was. Because I refused to acknowledge my Lord and Savior first, everything ultimately failed, and after brief stints of sobriety, another relapse always lurked around the corner. The first time I read today’s verse, it blew my mind. The prophet Jeremiah wrote that we are cursed when we seek answers from people instead of from God. This does not mean that we don’t need or benefit from the wise counsel of other Christians or professionals. But we should pursue God first. We honor him when we seek his guidance, and in turn, he will bless our obedience and faithfully open the right doors.

Surrender

Today I will remain fully aware of my tendency to seek earthly things before seeking God.

JANUARY 8

Fully Submit

“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

GENESIS 50:20 NKJV

Partying in true Prince fashion, my 1999 kicked off with a drunk driving arrest instead of a bright harbinger of fun. But my run-in with law enforcement failed to serve as an enduring wake-up call. Just months later, I became a repeat offender after rear-ending a lady while I was in a drunken stupor. God didn’t waste my mistake though. Instead, he used it to press pause on my recklessness, forcing me to seriously evaluate the trajectory of my life. The woman I had crashed into later breathed fresh hope into my situation by offering grace and forgiveness. Suddenly I grasped the possibility that...