Who do you give thanks to when something greatly changes for the better in your life?
So, today I seen a couple of posts on FB from two different people and they were about how they changed their lives for the better and it got me to thinking...."Who do you give thanks to when something greatly changes in your life for the better?"
First of all, we all need to thank ourselves when we change something in our lives that lead us to a better life. It's very hard to break family curses, habits and inherited addictions from our ancestors before us.
I thanked myself for changing when I finally went to get the professional help that I truly needed. And I can stay proud of myself every day that I stay clean from alcohol and from the old friends who kept tying me down to those addictions. BUT I give my thanks every day to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I'm not ashamed to tell anyone that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and it's thanks to him that I have the daily strength to stay sober and to take care of my mental health. Without GOD in my life, I wasn't taking care of myself and falling backwards further and further right where Satan wanted me to be.
But there is one thing that I'd really like to focus on with this blog tonight. "Who do you give thanks to?"
I completely understand that everyone doesn't believe in GOD. And it does seem that those same people always have to make sure to tell everyone that they did things on their own, without "Finding Jesus". Why is this? So, if you don't believe in GOD, then keep him out of your comments completely. If you did everything good in your life on your own, then why do you have to mention that you did it without GOD's help?
I mean that's great that you changed your life and I'm so proud of anyone who turns their life around! But if you hate GOD so much, don't talk about him at all. People are going to be prouder of you that you did it rather than you did it without GOD's help. (So, you think GOD didn't help you anyway)
There are FOUR major things that I've learned from getting sober.
1) People truly don't care that you've changed, and you've gotten sober.
2) People will hate you for not living in sin with them anymore.
3) Some will actually be envious or jealous.
4) People will shun you for being a born-again Christian.
When I got out of rehab and was writing my book, I had a handful of people "friends" who always said, "OH, I can't wait for your book to be published so I can support you or buy your book!" I wonder where those people went. They seemed to always be there while I struggled. But when things got really good for me those people disappeared. And that's perfectly fine! I don't need fake people in my life. The ones who secretly want you to fail. I've done a lot of research over the last months, and a lot of people will be jealous of your success in recovery because they refuse to change their life!
When you change your life for the better, of course the first thing you have to do is change your ways. Change who you're hanging around with on a daily basis. Does everyone you hang around with drink or do drugs, but you're now sober? Well, you can't hang around with them anymore because they will make sure to keep you failing over and over again. YES, it's up to you to say no, but from experience, it's IMPOSSIBLE and they truly don't want you to be better. Not ONE person from my past has ever asked me to do anything with them because they won't be able to drink if they are with me. If you do have that small number of friends who do support you and refuse to drink around you for respect, then you have a true friendship! Keep that one!
I personally don't think anyone is jealous of me. But I have seen cases where people have gotten jealous of others for changing their life for the better. Mostly because they refuse to get the help they need, or they're just that selfish and want to choose sin over being saved. It's so much easier to be a sinner! Especially when no-one is looking. Before you can truly change around others, you need to look in the mirror and really ask GOD for help because the lies catch up and GOD will expose all liars and deceivers. Being jealous is just childish. If you truly are a friend of someone you will lift them up, be happy for them and support them no matter what it takes.
It's so much easier to be a sinner than a Christian! People will shun you for even announcing that you love Jesus. And I don't care. There is a heaven and there is a hell. I personally don't want to go to hell. And people better open your eyes, because you are going to only one of them and YOU don't get to choose which one. "Well Lord, you see I asked for forgiveness, but I'm sorry I didn't really change, only pretended to change around others when I was being watched." DEPART FROM ME FOR I NEVER KNEW YOU!
Matthew 7:21-23 = “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
If that doesn't scare the pants off you, then it should.
It's as simple as this. If you don't want to be a Christian, then don't, but stop making it clear that you did things "WITHOUT GOD'S help". It's silly and pointless. Get right with GOD or keep being a liar and a sinner. But you will answer just like I will in the end.
I am so proud of myself for today being 9 months and 13 days sober! To GOD I give all my thanks!
Thank You Jesus!
Until tomorrow everyone!
xoxoxo, Michelle Neal