NACR Daily Meditation for Friday, Mar 21, 2003

21 Mar 2003 08:00:05 -0000

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NACR Daily Meditation for Friday, Mar 21, 2003

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He who ignores discipline despises himself, 
but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Proverbs 15:32

None of us enjoy it when people point out that we need to change. We
don't like being told that we have switched from one addiction to another.
Or, that we are allowing someone's addiction to control our lives. Or that
we are running from intimacy. Or that we are behaving in ways that are destructive
to ourselves or to others. We don't like hearing these things.

But we need this kind of honesty. We are not 'wired' for honest self-assesment.
At the first sight of a problem we experience shame. And our defenses go
up. We put our hands over our ears and stop listening.

We need other people to keep us honest and to help us see what we cannot
see about ourselves. Honest feedback is one of our best hopes for initiating
change. As this text puts it, if we 'heed correction', we can gain a lot
of understanding. So, it is good to pay attention to the 'correction' and
'discipline' we get from others. We are not helped, of course, by judgmentalism
and shame - we have enough of that to last us a lifetime. But we need to
cultivate relationships with people who will - with love and kindness -
tell us the truth about ourselves. This information can be the starting
point for change in our lives.

Lord, help me to build relationships that sustain honesty.
Give me friends who will love me enouth to tell me the truth.
Help me to pay attention to correction.
Give me the courage to see myself clearly.
Keep me from shame and self-loathing.
Give me the openness to correction that makes change possible.
Amen.

Copyright 1991 Dale and Juanita Ryan 

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ROOTED IN GOD'S LOVE (the book from which these meditations are taken, is back in print! To order call our office at 714-529-6227 ext 111 or order online at

http://www.nacronline.com/dox/store/dox/nacrbooks.htm

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Meditations from previous days can be viewed at:  

http://two.pairlist.net/pipermail/nacrmed/

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Plan now to join us at STEPS 2003, a national conference for Christians in recovery jointly sponsored by the NACR and Overcomers Outreach. It will be held June 26-28, 2003 in Southern California. Plenary speakers are Steve Arterburn, David Stoop, Rich Buhler, Sandra Wilson, Mark Laaser and Ann Kiemel Anderson. Over 45 workshops. Support groups. Specialized gatherings. And lots of fellowship and support for your recovery. Details as they become available and online registration will be at:

 http://www.nacronline.com/dox/steps2003.htm

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