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Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Galatians 6:1 I’ve written previously of the necessity of appropriate boundaries when interacting with a friend or family member who is struggling with addiction. To prevent being caught up in the destruction ourselves, it’s often…
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If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:25-26 In recovery circles, we use the term Cross Addiction to refer to the one who finds sobriety from one thing, only to develop an addiction to something…
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And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24 I love looking through old photos of my family and I enjoy reminiscing about my kid’s childhoods. They’re both in college now, and so, looking at old photos always brings a smile to my face . .…
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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22 In addiction medicine, we often employ motivational interviewing to guide the patient to consider making significant life changes. Often, I’ll ask the patient to describe what his life is like…
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I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:21 Way back when the low-carbohydrate diet swept the country, I was enthralled. The promise of eating as much meat as I wanted appealed to me – and it worked. After a while…
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Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. Galatians 5:19 Occasionally, someone who knows my story, tells me that they’re a little jealous of my story. I wish I had an addiction. They…
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For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17 In conversation with a friend, I recently had cause to look back on some of…
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But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 When I want a new job, it isn’t good enough to simply decide that I’m working somewhere else. If I want to change, I must resign from the old job and I must go find a…
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But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.  Galatians 5:15 Two years ago, before 2020, I’d say that in medicine (at least in my circles) we were unified by a common purpose – serving the patient. Sure, we had religious, political, and personal differences, but…
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For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 Even in my own drug use, I still looked down on the addicted. Working in the ER, I often met those who came in, not looking for help, but rather seeking pain medications. They were difficult patients,…
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