He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.

(Psalm 40:2 TPT)

I remember one time my girlfriend and I were out running the roads late at night. We were high on meth and looking for a place to do another shot.  We were around a lake, so we found a restroom and went inside.  I had placed a spoon on the edge of the sink and dumped enough dope in it for us to do a shot.  I was so high and shaky that I managed to knock the spoon off onto the floor.  The white powder went everywhere.  It was a public bathroom floor in the middle of the night, and there we were scraping up everything we could find and putting it back into the spoon. Can you even imagine such a thing? I lived it, and I still have trouble comprehending the extent of our bondage.  I remember thinking everything I saw looked white.  I didn’t want to miss a thing and miss out on drawing that dope up into a syringe and shooting it through my veins. I lived for the rush of drugs.   That’s the sickness and bondage of addiction! It makes slaves out of its victims.  We managed to fill the spoon back up with the powder we found, add a syringe full of water, drop in a filter from a cigarette butt and draw up a shot for each of us.  How sad life was and how sick we were, but you know what? I have a story of success and freedom because of Jesus Christ in my life! 



That hasn’t always been the case. No, the drug addict I once was always had excuses and reasons why I could never get ahead or have anything in life.  I, me, and no one else was my own worst enemy, my worst critic, and my strongest opposer.  Had Jesus not reached down into my life and pulled me from the pit of hell, I would have died a drug addict.  Thankfully It didn’t stop there.  Not only did He pull me out of a life of addiction, but he then began to teach me how to live a successful life! He taught me how to love myself and be my biggest encourager rather than my biggest discourager.  He showed me how to stop thinking so negatively about myself and accept that He brought me into this world and planned a better life for me than I had constructed for myself.  

The most significant help He gave me after saving me from the bondage I was in was to help me transform my thinking! This began removing me far from that place of darkness that bound me to self-pity and self-loathing. That stinking thinking kept me from so much in life, and I can never thank Him enough for a renewed mind.  But, He didn’t stop there either!  

I don’t talk much about my material or physical blessings, but I feel like I need to help someone. It’s easy to always point fingers and play the blame game finding reasons why we can never have anything or get ahead. It’s easier to blame than to accept our own shortcomings. These poor excuses and lazy behavior always look for the easy way out, but that mentality and way of constant thinking has to be changed! You will never get ahead until you change that way of stinking thinking and accept responsibility for yourself. Then begin to believe that God has a better plan for your life.

First and foremost, my wife and kids are my richest blessings. I never dreamt I could have such an incredible wife of almost 30 years now, along with 3 extraordinary children. It hasn’t always been easy; we have had to work at it, but God has shown us how and helped us.    Now, think about that pathetic drug addict scraping methamphetamine off of a bathroom floor needing to get high.  If you saw me then or can see it in your mind, you would think – he will never have anything! Right? 

Well, my wife and I not only have a lovely home, but we have two.  One is 10 stories up overlooking the Gulf in Orange Beach, Alabama.  Yup, right on the beach! It’s a beautiful place too! We are blessed with great jobs, good friends, and can do many things I would have never imagined possible! Had the Lord not renewed my thinking, I would have never dreamt big because I didn’t think I deserved anything.  I would never be about to publish a book if He hadn’t challenged me and put His message in my heart! Because God transformed me and showed me how to live an abundant life, I continually experience things that blow my mind.  God wants the same for you and for all of His children!

Stuff is just stuff, and our greatest blessing is salvation. Still, God wants to help us experience and enjoy life to the fullest, our relationships, careers, financial planning, schooling, businesses, etc.   When God blessed Abraham with all that He gave him, He said this to Abraham: After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” ( Genisis 15:1 NIV)

God wants to be your reward! Everything we desire is found in God. Don’t get me wrong.  Things didn’t happen overnight but over time. The journey teaches us so much, and the reward of knowing Jesus is only the beginning of the best – rest of our lives! 

What are you in need of? Come to Him and let Him take control of the direction of your life and become your reward because He makes all things new, and He has a better way and better plan for you than you do! Guaranteed!

Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and he will provide for you what you desire the most. Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way, you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!

(Psalm 37:4-5 TPT)

My wife and I have never gone without, even when we were struggling; God has always made a way!  I went from junkie to blessed! What God has done for me, He can do for you!   Change your way of thinking, and you can change your way of life!  Don’t let your pit define you; let God do that!