As the Fourth of July approaches, I consider what kind of country I desire. At that time I take stock of what freedoms we enjoy, the price paid for them and what freedoms I desire.
Desire itself is neither good nor bad. When desire leads to problems is when it’s driven by hardcore selfishness.
It’s when I entertain those selfish desires that I find myself getting into one type of trouble or another. When those selfish desires take over, what I want becomes more important than what’s good for my wife or family.
At that point, I know that the desire has turned into a problem. Keeping my desires on healthy things is the challenge.
From time to time, you need to consider a desire inventory. You need to consider whether your desires have taken over your thinking.
When desires dominate your thinking, are they desires for healthy things or has your desire pushed aside others and God along the way?
Discussing desires with your spouse is a good thing to consider. Identify what the signals are that a desires has turned unhealthy.
It also helps knowing the signs of your desires building up inside. This is especially important during those conversations about relapse prevention.
The build-up of desires leaves tell-tale signs. Missing those signs is what leads to you being broadsided and caught off guard.
It could be that the signs were there and you missed them. You may not have known what to look for.
One way of learning what to look for is by discussing your situation with others in a similar situation. That way you can know what the signals are along with ways of dealing with them.
This is where membership in the support community at Restored Lifestyle can help you with your questions. Knowing what to look for can save you from some heavy duty heartaches and disappointments.
Best Regards,
Jeff
