THE REALITY CHOICE
Life’s Healing Choices: The Beatitudes - Part 1

       
I don’t understand what I do. For what I want to do I don’t do, but
what I hate to do, I do! …I know that nothing good lives in my sinful
nature. I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
Romans 7:15+18b (NIV)

Stress                           Diet                          Finances
Fears                           Worry                       Relationships
My overwork               Bad habits                Painful memories
Attractions                   Anger                       Perfectionism                    
Addiction                    Dishonesty               Resentment
Regrets                        Need to control         Compulsive thoughts

                        THE CAUSE:                                                 
In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god…’ But you are just a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.  Ezekiel 28:2 (NIV)

                              1st CHOICE:                                                  
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

         I ADMIT I need help; that I’m powerless to control my tendency
to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.

HOW DO I CULTIVATE A ‘POOR IN SPIRIT’ ATTITUDE?

1.                                                            
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 (NIV)
Four Facts We All Need to Admit:

                                         
Creation is confused.                                                Romans 8:20 (CEV)

                                                                                                     
When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I  groaned all day long…My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and I stopped trying to hide them and you forgave me. All my guilt is gone!                       Psalm 32:3-5 (NLT)

You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.”              Proverbs 28:13 (TEV)

                                                                 
Adam: “I was afraid because I was naked so I hid.”  Genesis 3:10 (NCV)
I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent.             Matthew 25:25 (ESV)

My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own broken cisterns that can’t hold water!      
Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV)

2.                                                       
We saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead.            2 Corinthians 1:9 (LB)
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.         Matthew 5:3 (Mes)

3.                                                        
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!                                 Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)
A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.                        Job 6:14 (NIV)
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.                                                             James 5:16 (LB)

                                              GROUND RULES  

When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need, Christ died for us…”                                                     Romans 5:6 (NCV)