Key Idea # 3 to Help Your Recovery

I have been teaching you 3 basic ideas that are important for us in our recovery.  The first was SLOW DOWN, the second was BE STILL and today’s is the last one … GET SMALL.

I know most of you won’t get this but in 1977 Steve Martin came out with a comedy album (a big black vinyl shiny thing the size of a large frying pan, like a CD on steroids) called “Let’s Get Small”.  It went platinum.  Getting small was a phrase he used to talk about getting stoned … uhhh that’s not what I am talking about.

The third sign that I have seen along the journey of my life is the sign that says GET SMALL.  Getting small is all about adjusting appetites and expectations.  In America, we are indoctrinated to believe that bigger is better.

Stop and consider our “bigger” nation.  Bigger deficits caused by bigger consumption trying to meet the bigger desires by everyone.  When times are good and there is a good balance between producers and consumers we roll merrily along, and the government receives a growing stream of income from taxes.  Too many people and advertisers think the good times will continue to roll so they market more, produce more, sell more, possess more, become indebted more and then when a crisis strikes and people strike, our overheated economy has to cool off and all hell breaks loose.

Too many have been trying to Supersize their lives and simply becoming obese in both body weight and debt.  Some Supersize their schedules and work too much in order to buy more stuff.  However, this is at the expense of ignoring their health and relationships.  Not enough time with their spouse leads to divorce.  Not enough time with their children – leaving them alone, feeling rejected and growing up in a daycare facility being barely cared for by strangers.  Anger burns deep in their wounded souls

It is time to stop chasing “More” and start following “Less”.  I understand that growth is a sign of health but when growth becomes excess bad things happen, life becomes out of balance and valuable and essential things are lost.  What a wonderful thing it can be to get small and become free from the demands of excess and out of control appetites.

One thing I noticed in my sexual brokenness is that there was a growing appetite for more.  Once a week is enough for a while, but it leads to wanting it every day.  Then we want it multiple times a day.  The obvious lesson is that getting more is not helping.  It is only leading to wanting more.  The appetite of our sinful nature is insatiable. Getting more leads to wanting more

Getting small is about having and doing less.  It is the developing of discipline, thanksgiving, and contentment.  It is seeing what we have and thanking God for it and remaining content in His blessings.  Expressing thanks for what you already have is the antidote for feeling like you must have more.

Here is how Paul said it in Philippians 4:12-13

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Or in John the Baptist’s words …

 “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

May Jesus be your strength today.  May His Spirit strengthen you in your inner man to love and desire Him and be thankful for everything He has done in your life.

SLOW DOWN

BE STILL

GET SMALL

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