Author: Scott

If my people humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 A friend recently asked me if God changes our appetites. As we follow God, do our destructive desires go away? Or…
Read more

If they repent with all their heart and with all their soul . . . 2 Chronicles 6:38 I have desired to change something about myself – and prayed about it – a thousand times. I’ve actually succeeded at changing habitual, destructive behavior only a handful of times. If I want to be successful in future…
Read more

If you seek him, he will be found by you . . .1 Chronicles 28:9 The simple story of my life, is that I usually find whatever I pursue. When I chase the twisted desires of my own nature, I find its destructive consequences. Indulging in my appetite for drugs led to addiction, loss, and…
Read more

It is I who have sinned and done great evil.” 1 Chronicles 21:17 Whenever I have been confronted with my destructive behavior, I have always attempted to minimize, justify and deflect, in an effort to avoid responsibility. When my first chemical dependency counselor told me then, that my addiction was a disease, just like brain cancer,…
Read more

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1 There I was again the other night, in the kitchen, with a handful of M&Ms. You’re going to exercise in the morning. You deserve this. You know you want it. Just one handful. Eat it. Though it’s funny with M&Ms, that same…
Read more

Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!  1 Chronicles 16:23,24 In the throes of my addiction, if you had tried to help me, I would likely have pointed out your flaws. Why don’t you…
Read more

Go and tell my servant David, “Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.” 1 Chronicles 17:4 Suffering from nostalgia, I experience some grief when almost anything ends. I love to visit childhood haunts and I tell my poor family the same stories over and over. I…
Read more

Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you. 1 Chronicles 17:2 Does God want us to be happy? I’ve encountered two answers to this in church. I’ve heard some well-meaning Christians insist that we should pursue our desires because ultimately, God just wants us to be happy. Contrarily, I’ve heard others…
Read more

David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. 1 Chronicles 13:11 I have many destructive appetites and flaws. Some are genetic and some are environmental but either way, I didn’t pick them. I didn’t choose to like donuts or drugs. I am of course, responsible for my actions, which has caused me to…
Read more

They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.  2 Kings 25:7 Remorse is a predictable response for most of us when we have caused some misery. If only I had known what would happen. If only I…
Read more