HAPPY OUTSIDE . . . STRUGGLING INSIDE : EXPERIMENTATION AND SOCIAL USE

Read:

"Come close to God, and God will come close to you." James 4:8 NLT

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Bible in a year:

Thoughts for the Day


People who become entrapped by life-controlling issues generally progress through four stages: experimentation, social use, daily preoccupation and finally using the substance or practicing the behavior just to feel normal. Not everyone progresses through all these stages, but there is no way to predict which people who begin the pattern will continue to stage four.

During the experimentation stage, we enjoy the feel-good time when we use the substance or practice the behavior, but we still return to normal feelings following isolated indulgences.

Then we may take a step deeper into The TrapÂ-we enter the stage of social use or practice. Now we begin practicing the behavior regularly but set limits for ourselves about when, where or how we do it. The self-imposed rules make us feel safe and appropriate. We refuse to admit that this practice is beginning to have a stronger and stronger influence in our lives.


Consider This . . .

Do you see this pattern emerging somewhere in your life? Is there something that is gaining more and more control over your time, your thoughts and your actions? It is vital that you recognize and admit what is happening. Ask God for his forgiveness and his help. Now is not the time to run from him. It is the time to run to him.

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Living Free Every Day is a ministry of livingfree.org

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