Strike the Match!

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)

Addiction. It’s described as a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity.

It’s definitely not the happiest of topics to talk about during the holidays.

Addiction can have many faces beyond drugs, alcohol or porn. The devil is pretty good at seducing all of our senses.

Sugar. Food. Shopping. Credit cards. Worry. Fear. Gossip. Dread. Anger. Pessimism. Guilt. Shame. The list of things that can imprison us is endless. And many of these addictions can spiral out of control during the holiday season.

Addiction is actually the subject of a new song by the group For King and Country called Burn the Ships. Until I learned the meaning of the song, I was confused about the song’s title.

Luke Smallbone, who is half of the singing brother duo, shared the story of his wife who became dependent on a prescription nausea medication during her second pregnancy. Luke confronted his wife shortly after she began psychiatric care for her addiction:

“I was at home one day and she had a bottle of pills in her hand. I was like, ‘What do you have the bottle of pills for?'” he recalls. “She said, ‘Luke I need to flush these pills because these pills represent so much guilt and shame in my life. I don’t want to be consumed by my past anymore. I want to move into a new day and to what’s before me.'”**

Luke further explained that her words sparked a memory of a story he recalled about a voyager who was set to explore a new land. His crew was reluctant to join in the exploration because they feared the unknown new territory. Even though the conditions on the ship were overcrowded and terrible, the men preferred what was familiar.

The next day, the explorer called the crew out again and when all the sailors were on land, he gave the command to burn the ships because he said, ‘We’re not going to retreat. We’re going to move forward in our lives.’

When Luke’s wife flushed the pills, that was her “burning the ships” so she could step into a new world, a new day.

(**Billboard.com article by: 10/8/2018 by Deborah Evans Price)

In the next few weeks, we’re all facing a new year in a new decade.  I’m asking myself – what destructive habits or addictions do I have that I need to walk away from? My list feels long and completely insurmountable. I know I’ve got a few ships I need to burn; a few addictions I need to retreat from and wave goodbye to. I want to give myself a fighting chance so I can walk into the New Year and become more like Jesus.

How about YOU? As you reflect on the past year and look towards the new one – is there something holding you back from being all that Christ wants you to be? Is it time to move forward, wave goodbye to destructive habits or addictions?  For King and Country offers some advise that is far more wise than what I can offer:

So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don’t you look back (Source: LyricFind)

Blessings in Christ! Offering up prayers for us all to light a match in the New Year!
Kathy K.