Bowing Hearts, Transforming Lives
Lord, thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. Help those battling addiction to find hope, healing, and strength in You. In Jesus’ name, AmenI don’t want new blogs.
The document has been updated to reflect all blogs concerning marijuana.
Date: August 16, 2021
Bible Verse:
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7, NIV)
Message (Part 2):
Michael’s story didn’t change overnight. In fact, it hasn’t really changed at all. Despite his friends’ and pastors’ efforts to help him, Michael remains in the same cycle. He continues to stay high 24/7, using legal and illegal marijuana along with THC gummies. And while he claims it’s not his “conviction” to quit, the impact is undeniable.
Michael still works, but the lines between his work life and his habit have blurred. He’s surrounded by others who normalize the same behaviors, making it even harder for him to see how far he’s drifted. His memory issues have grown worse… he’ll start a conversation and forget what he wanted to say halfway through. When it comes to anything important, he avoids the discussion altogether, brushing it off with a joke or a quick change of subject.
His anxiety, which he says marijuana helps him manage, seems to have grown worse instead of better. He constantly feels on edge, worried about things that never used to bother him. He struggles to plan for the future because the present feels overwhelming enough.
Michael’s health continues to decline, though he refuses to acknowledge it. Low blood pressure, low heart rate, and chronic fatigue have become his normal, but instead of seeking help, he blames it on stress or other factors. Prescriptions that might offer real relief are turned down in favor of his routine.
Spiritually, Michael is stuck in a difficult place. He loves God and serves faithfully in his church, volunteering and contributing in ways that inspire others. But no one realizes he’s high when he does it. For the past eight years, this has been his norm. To those around him, Michael is dependable and kind, but they don’t see the internal struggles, the anxiety, the compromise, the quiet ache of knowing there’s more to life than this cycle.
What’s hardest to watch is the disconnect. Michael’s potential is enormous, he’s talented, charismatic, and capable of so much more than he’s allowing himself to pursue. But he’s hiding behind the high, letting it numb him instead of facing the deeper issues.
I often think of Galatians 5:7: “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” Michael was running a good race, but somewhere along the way, he allowed something to pull him off course. And now, he’s stuck, unable, or unwilling, to take the first step back.
There’s still hope for Michael, as there is for all of us. God’s grace is bigger than any habit, any failure, any setback. But the first step has to come from him. Acknowledging that the high he’s holding onto is keeping him low and trusting God to show him a better way.
If you’re in a similar place, let me remind you: God isn’t angry with you. He loves you deeply and longs to set you free. But freedom starts with surrender. Letting go of the things that keep us stuck and trusting Him to guide us forward.
Bible Promise:
God offers strength to let go and find freedom.
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NIV)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and patience. For those of us who feel stuck, help us to see the chains holding us back and give us the courage to surrender them to You. Teach us to trust You for freedom and healing. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and patience. For those of us who feel stuck, help us to see the chains holding us back and give us the courage to surrender them to You. Teach us to trust You for freedom and healing. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see the most heartfelt and vulnerable prayer of Jesus. Faced with the weight of the cross, He prayed, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” This moment teaches us the power of surrender in prayer.
Honest Prayer: Jesus didn’t hide His emotions. He brought His anguish to the Father, showing us that we can be honest with God about our struggles.
Surrendered Prayer: Even in His distress, Jesus submitted to God’s will. True prayer aligns our desires with God’s purposes, trusting that His plan is best.
Empowered Prayer: Jesus rose from that prayer strengthened to fulfill His mission. Prayer equips us to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
The Garden of Gethsemane reminds us that prayer is not about changing God’s mind, it’s about transforming our hearts to trust Him fully.
Lord, thank You for the example of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. Teach me to come to You with honesty, to trust in Your will, and to be strengthened through prayer. Help Kneel Ministries guide others to pray with surrender and faith. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.
Father, thank You for forgiving me through Christ. Teach me to extend that same grace to others, letting go of bitterness and trusting You for healing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture:
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is just show up.
Not perfectly. Not loudly. Just faithfully.
There have been Sundays I’ve walked into church feeling drained. Days I’ve opened my Bible without fireworks or feelings. Moments I’ve served, I’ve smiles, I’ve checked so many people in, yet no one clapped or even noticed. But those were some of the most important moments in my walk because I kept showing up.
Consistency is underrated in our world, but it’s priceless in the Kingdom.
God isn’t asking for performance. He’s looking for obedience. You may not see results right away. You may not even feel different in the moment. But when you keep showing up, you’re building spiritual muscle. You’re proving trustworthy with the little.
So today, wherever God has placed you, your home, your ministry, your job… just show up. Be faithful in it. Keep walking, even when it feels small. Faithfulness in the small is often the road to something greater.
Bible Promise:
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.
Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
Reflection Questions:
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for trusting me with what You’ve placed in my hands. Help me not to overlook the small or chase the flashy. Help me to be faithful. I want to show up consistently and walk with You daily, even when it’s quiet, even when it’s hard. I give You all honor, all the glory, and all the praise. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen & Amen.