Tag: Bible Study Devotional

Facing Both Ways: When Christian Recovery Loses Its Direction and the Soul Begins to Drift

Timothy R. BermanLeave a comment

I have found moments in my own recovery journey, faith, and life when I realized I have been living divided. One part of my heart longs for God, healing, peace, and truth. Yet, another part wanted to reach back toward toxic patterns, unhealthy attachments, worldly validation, and spiritual compromise. And I found that I am not alone – many people today are exhausted, not because they do not love Christ, because they are attempting to face two different directions at once. This is the spiritual condition A.W. Tozer exposed quite powerfully within Chapter Seven of his work The Set of the Sail. The chapter is titled, Facing Both Ways. Tozer observed a Christianity that spoke Christian lingo while slowly adopting worldly values. He warned of a divided orientation – a soul that attempted to follow God while remaining emotionally attached to the systems that once kept the person in bondage.

For many of us fellow travelers, walking through recovery from addiction, codependency, family dysfunction, spiritual abuse, or faith crisis, this tension feels painfully familiar. Each of us desires freedom, yet sometimes we mourn the chains left behind. We seek Christ, yet fear surrendering our life and will over to His care. We pray for healing yet continue to entertain voices that have wounded us.

However, the Gospel never calls us to a divided direction. Christ invites us into His rest with a wholehearted orientation.

Anchor Verse – Psalm 16:8 (NRSVUE): “I have set the Lord before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

A divided heart creates instability. Scripture teaches that “the double-minded are unstable in every way” (James 1:8, NRSVUE). Recovery becomes quite fragile when our own direction is unclear. Faith becomes shallow when we attempt to seek both the approval of God and the acceptance of unhealthy systems that tend to distract and lead us away from Him.

Today, let’s take a moment to reflect on how Tozer diagnosed modern Christianity with what he called dual orientation. Theology that faces God, yet desires continue facing the world. The result is spiritual confusion, emotional exhaustion, compromised conviction, and diluted discipleship.

Let’s face it: many Christians on a path of recovery understand this quite deeply and personally. Addiction itself is often rooted in divided affection – wanting peace while feeding into the chaos. Desiring intimacy while hiding in the darkness of dysfunction. Wanting God yet remaining emotionally tethered to destructive patterns.

Christ does not merely improve our attitude and behavior – He reorients the entire person. Are you ready for a spiritual reorientation of the heart, mind, and spirit today?

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CFM Feb 9-15: Genesis 6-11; Moses 8 – “Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord”

Timothy R. BermanLeave a comment

Every generation eventually reaches a moment when it looks around and whispers, “Something is wrong with the world.” In these times, violence feels all too normal, permeating the fabric of society and influencing our daily lives. The mockery of faith becomes a fashionable trend, with belief systems ridiculed and disregarded as obsolete or irrelevant. Covenant identity, once held as sacred and unbreakable, is now treated as merely optional, leading many to question their values and commitments.

Amidst this unsettling atmosphere, the quiet, steady voice of God seems drowned out by the cacophony of a culture sprinting toward self-destruction. The distractions and temptations of the modern world are many, each vying for our attention and allegiance, leaving little room for genuine reflection on our spiritual existence.

Genesis 6–11 is not ancient history. It’s a mirror reflecting our current realities. Within these verses, we can find resonating truths about the human condition and the inherent struggles we face in a world rife with chaos. The narratives captured in these chapters hold profound relevance today, illustrating the timeless nature of our challenges and the critical need for divine intervention amidst suffering and despair.

Moses 8 is not merely a prelude to the Flood; it functions as a prophetic commentary on what true discipleship can look like when the world is collapsing around you. This text invites readers to consider their own paths and the steadfastness required to remain faithful in the face of overwhelming adversity. The examples set forth serve as reminders that unwavering dedication to one’s beliefs can be both a source of strength and a beacon of hope in dark times.

Noah’s story is not merely a story about a simple boat; it is an embodiment of a God who passionately refuses to give up on His children. The narrative illustrates the depths of divine love and commitment, showing that even when humanity falters, God’s covenant remains steadfast. It’s about a covenant that refuses to die despite the floods of life that threaten to engulf us. It’s about grace that finds us, even when the world is drowning in despair, offering a lifeline steeped in hope, redemption, and the promise of a new beginning. This grace reminds us that no matter how far we stray, we are never beyond the reach of divine mercy and love.

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