This Week’s Message Notes
June 8, 2025
“Life Hurts, God Heals - pt 7 / How To Avoid A Relapse”
The Maintaining Momentum Step
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:10
Step 7: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for
my life and to gain the power to do it.
"RELAPSE" - falling back into a self-defeating pattern of behavior.
WHAT CAN CAUSE A RELAPSE?
1. Reverting to willpower.
“How can you be so foolish! You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?” Galatians 3:3 (GN)
2. Ignoring one of the steps.
“You were doing so well! Who made you stop obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7a (GN)
3. Trying to recover without support.
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
4. Becoming prideful.
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12
HOW TO PREVENT A RELAPSE
“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38
1. Evaluation
“Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.” Lamentations 3:40
What to Evaluate: Physical, Emotional, Relational, Spiritual
“Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,”
Galatians 6:4 (NIV)
When: Spot checks, Daily review, Annual check-up
2. Meditation "slowing down long enough to hear God."
Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
3. Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
(Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation second edition, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Message adapted from pastors.com