Denial – Excerpt from Stepping Out Of Denial Into God’s Grace by John Baker

Principle 1: Realize I’m not God.  I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong ting and that my life is unmanageable. 

Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor. (Matthew 5:3)

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For Ihave the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18)

God tells us, “You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there!”

Dissables our feelings – this freezes our emotions

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to destructive habits – for we are slaves to anything that has conquered us. (2 Peter 2:19)

Energy lost – creates anxiety – worry stops our ability to go forward

He frees the prisoners…He lifts the burdens from those who are bent down beneath their loads. (Psalm 146:7-8)

Negates growth – We are as sick as our sickness.  We don’t grow when we are sick

They cried out to the Lord in their troubles, and he rescued them!  He led them from their darkness and shadow of death and snapped their chains. (Psalm 107:13-14)

Isolates us from God- God’s light shines on truth – Denial keeps us in the dark and away from God

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (I John 1:5-7)

Alienates us from our relationships – Denial tells us we are getting away with it.  We think no one sees us but they do. What shall we do?

Stop lying to each other: tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves. (Ephesians 4:25)

Lengthen the pain – We think denial keeps us from pain when in fact it fuels it and prolongs it.

God’s promise: I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds. (Jeremiah 30:17)

Accept the first principle in recovery.  I’m learning to step out of my denial. Step into the unconditional love of Jesus!