When I first began my journey of working daily with Jesus Christ, I had thoughts that weren’t very positive. Questions like, “Will I have to do this every single day for the rest of my life?” What I’ve come to realize over time is that my perspective has completely shifted. Now, I feel grateful and content knowing that I get to do this every day for the rest of my life!
Each morning, I start my day early with a coffee (or two) and spend time in the Word, whether it’s with my ESV Study Bible or another devotional tool. I’ve discovered that when I dedicate this time to Jesus daily, it transforms my mindset, strengthens my faith, and equips me to face whatever challenges the day may bring. The advantage of working with Jesus Christ daily has truly changed my life—and it’s a gift available to anyone who seeks Him.
Evening Meditation
It took me a long time to learn this, in fact one of my biggest mistakes which cost me many failures was that I wasn’t ending my days with the word of God. I would start my day properly, but when it was time to retire at night, I would watch regular shows on television or even spend time scrolling through social media posts and short videos.
Once my morning meditations taught me that it’s even more important to end my days with prayer and meditation, I was able to understand that not only was I getting myself ready to have a successful day tomorrow, but I got to get a good night’s rest with God in my thoughts, as well as in my heart! Psalm 63:6-8
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk, writer, and theologian, is widely known for his contemplative spirituality and deep devotion to Christ. Merton spent much of his life in prayer and meditation, often dedicating his evenings to quiet reflection and communion with God. His writings, such as The Seven Storey Mountain, emphasize the importance of solitude and meditative prayer in deepening one’s relationship with Jesus. Merton’s nightly practice of meditating on Christ’s presence and teachings allowed him to find peace and spiritual clarity, making him a profound example of how evening meditation can transform one’s faith journey.
Overcoming Life’s Turbulence
Life’s challenges may feel too big for us. But with the guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ, Christians can overcome these hurdles. Their faith provides strength during hard times. It helps them trust in God’s promises rather than worrying about their own limits.
Believing in Christ helps people recover from hard times. Reading His Word each day shows them that He has overcome the world just like the Bible mentions in John 16:33. When they trust Him completely, they can face challenges, knowing His grace supports them along the way. This mindset helps turn problems into opportunities for greater faith. God has a plan for us that we do not yet understand but we must trust Him with all our hearts.
Jesus helps Christians deal with criticism and doubts with courage and hope. When life is tough, believers feel peace and joy through the Holy Spirit. They emerge stronger, understanding that their identity and purpose in Christ help them get through life’s challenges, giving glory to God.
Honestly Seeking God
When I think of yesterday and all those horrible relapses, I remember so many days that I wasn’t doing what I now have learned is the correct way of living. I was reading the Bible just to stay clean, and not because I loved Christ or the correct way of living, but I was reading it as a trade-off. I’ll read the Bible and learn about the 12 steps through the Life Recovery Bible just to stay clean and sober, but it wasn’t until I became honest with myself and honestly interested in reading, learning, & living the word of God, that I started to notice that my recovery was getting stronger!
Reading Prayerfully
Reading my 2 bibles prayerfully every single day, meaning I actually prayed to God in the best way I knew how to communicate with him which for me is literature, that while I was reading my Bibles that I was in direct communication with him and that really helped me understand what I was reading / ingesting much better. It gave me the power to absorb the information better and to live it until the evening time came and I can meditate some more.
Liberation from Sin and Guilt
Sin and guilt weigh heavily on the heart, but the love of Jesus Christ brings true freedom to those who believe. Through His sacrifice, He offers grace that washes away all wrongs, allowing us to live in the fullness of His love. Jesus forgives us daily, and as long as we come to Him with genuine repentance, He understands, forgives, and restores.
The Holy Spirit renews the hearts of Christ’s followers, replacing guilt and regret with peace and purpose. This redemption empowers believers to move beyond their past mistakes, no longer defined by them, but inspired to pursue righteousness by trusting in God’s unwavering love rather than the fleeting answers of the world.
This freedom transforms lives in profound ways. Once bound by sin, believers now walk in a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior who conquered death and offers endless forgiveness. With hope and confidence, Christians live each day for His kingdom, trusting in His mercy and grace. Freedom in Christ allows them to embrace their God-given purpose with joy, sharing His love and light in every aspect of their lives. Romans 8:1-2
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt, a well-known actor and public figure, is a modern example of a celebrity who openly shares his Christian faith. Despite his fame, Pratt frequently speaks about the importance of God’s grace and the freedom found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has shared personal stories of how his faith has helped him navigate challenges, overcome guilt, and find purpose in life. Pratt often encourages others to trust in God’s love and forgiveness, emphasizing that no one is beyond redemption. His boldness in sharing his faith in a secular industry has inspired many fans to explore their own spiritual journeys, making him a relatable example of how Christ’s love can transform lives in profound ways.
How much Prayer & Meditation is healthy?
After reading the latter chapter, you might be asking yourself. How much prayer & meditation do I need? Well, that depends on you and how rooted are your problems. I, personally, need more, but this article is about how more can be fun, and can make it so you never have to relapse again! Also, I’d ask myself if 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening with God is worth remaining clean and sober for the rest of your life, worth it! I know for myself, it’s worth it because at the end of my “using” days, like many people reading this, life was very dark and scary!
In Luke 2:37 after the death of her husband, the prophet Anna spent almost all of her time praying & fasting. She almost never left the temple. She show us how much the power of faith can replace loneliness and obviously addiction. And right away in Luke 2:46 the Bible explains how Mary & Joseph found Jesus at the age of 12 years old praying to our Father in Heaven for 3 days straight. This is the approach that must be taken, especially in the beginning of your recovery.
Recovery from addictions is a life-long process which means that we are lucky that we get to spend so much time with God as our lives improve.
Why is the Bible the most important book of all?
The Bible is an incredible source of wisdom and guidance for anyone seeking to overcome challenges, find peace, and live a fulfilling life. For me, working daily with Jesus Christ has been the key to lasting change. While tools like the Life Recovery Bible have been instrumental in my journey, what truly matters is how the Word of God speaks to every area of life—not just recovery. The Bible offers practical steps for living with purpose, breaking free from harmful habits, and experiencing true freedom through Christ.
Both the Life Recovery Bible and the ESV Study Bible have helped me understand Scripture in a deeper way. The notes and insights at the bottom of each page bring clarity to even the most challenging passages, making the Bible feel alive and relevant. Whether it’s learning about God’s grace, understanding human struggles, or finding hope in His promises, these Bibles have shown me that every word of Scripture has meaning. They remind me that no matter what we face—addiction, anxiety, or any other concern—God’s Word provides the answers we need to live healthy, joyful, and purpose-filled lives.
Spending time with Jesus Christ
The more we spend time with God, the more we become like him! This used to be scary for me because that meant I had to drop all of my bad habits, even the small ones that I didn’t think mattered. For example paying all my bills on time and having perfect credit seemed impossible to me but I’d ask myself, if I’m not going to make the effort of living more like Christ, then why would the Holy Trinity help me!? Of course they’re going to forgive me if I repent and pray daily in the amount that I do, but it just felt like I’d have a better chance at a clean & sober life if I tried to live my life as Christ did his. Even Christ Jesus prayed to our heavenly father every day.
Morning, evening, and a lot in-between as well. I can’t emphasize enough how much it matters that we try to give our will over to God on a daily basis. I try to ask myself before almost every action if Christ would do what I’m about to do and I get a very clear answer right away and by doing this repeatedly you get used to living correctly and your immediate rewards as well as your rewards in heaven are feasible.
Daily Interaction with Jesus
Peace is more than just not having conflict. It is a calm feeling in our hearts. Believers feel this peace by spending time with Jesus. The most peace I get during the day is while I’m reading my Bible prayerfully each morning. His presence offers comfort and quietness during hard times. When we connect with Christ every day, we can turn our worries into trust in His promises.
As believers talk to Jesus, the Holy Spirit makes them feel renewed. This helps them trust and face challenges. The Lord’s peace is with them, even when life is busy. It makes each day feel more important. Each day becomes a win!
One last straw
It came to a point in my life where if I didn’t learn this way of living with as much prayer and meditation as possible, then a relapse came quickly & I would lose everything, almost every-time.
Before I lost my soul. I made a decision to realize fully the advantage of working with Christ on a daily basis. Sometimes I strangely enough, thank my addiction because without my addiction I wouldn’t have such understanding of knowledge of God as I do now.
Gaining Inner Serenity
Feeling peace inside helps us all grow spiritually. Jesus Christ is the best source available to achieve this calm and serenity. The Holy Spirit helps believers quiet the noise of the world. This quiet time allows them to build a stronger connection with God. Through prayer, worship, and reflection on the Words in the Bible, Christians can focus on heavenly truths. These are more important than the distractions around us here on Earth.
Conversing with Jesus clears away doubts and brings clarity and hope. A regular spiritual routine is very important and helps believers connect with God’s will. This connection leads to personal growth and success.
This peace is linked to spiritual growth. As Christians follow Christ, their hearts transform. Their hearts transform at a speed depending on their efforts. They develop fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, patience, and kindness. This ongoing presence brings confidence in their spiritual journey. It reminds believers that His peace is deeper than any understanding. This peace helps them to face life with bravery.
Getting to Know Others
If you’re lucky enough to have enough clean time and you’re working with others; even sponsoring others through your 12-step program, then you’re in for a great reward. There’s nothing that makes God happier than when you’re helping others stay clean and that’s why I find it so important to attend 12-step meetings.
Your chances of keeping your sobriety long-term double when you start introducing Jesus Christ and sobriety to others. I attended meetings on a daily basis for 90 days, then I slowed it down a bit and mixed it up with Bible studies, but as long as you take the daily approach more seriously, I think like myself, you’ll find your freedom as I did!
Conclusion
If I can leave you with this important message is that I was never able to get peace & happiness without making my prayers and meditations #1 in my life. People with addictive personalities must live 24 hours at a time and follow the instructions in this article. It took me this way of living to be safe from relapsing and ending this never-ending terror. I also attend 12 step meetings because it’s the only way for me to help others understand that without Christ, there’s no freedom! To live a life free from addictive behaviours, we need The Christ!. The more people you can work with in the name of Jesus Christ, the better your life will be along with your fellows.
