Sacred Sobriety: A Path for the Soul: Crucified with Christ

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Welcome to Sacred Sobriety: A Path for the Soul. Today's episode, crucified with Christ: Mindful Devotionals for Men in Recovery, is a message crafted for men seeking healing, purpose, and freedom through Jesus Christ and the atonement. Whether you are wrestling with past regrets, carrying the burden of shame and guilt, or struggling with addiction and battling a crisis of faith - or you are yearning to grow spiritually and feel empty and lost - this episode is for you.

Recovery is more than simply abstinence and being sober - it's a sacred covenantal path and relationship where your soul finds its home in Christ. And I love how the Apostle Paul captures this very essence in Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This verse is the foundation: a new identity forged through faith.

Over the next few minutes, I want to walk you through this idea of what it means to be crucified with Christ - to die to our old self and rise anew in Him. I want to walk with you and encourage you to embrace your new identity, healing through His love, walking in wisdom, finding strength in community, and living out practical faith - all tailored for men in recovery.

And ladies - if you find this message helpful for you - that is awesome, and may the Holy Spirit bless you no matter where you are in your walk and spiritual growth.

Here is what you may expect over the next few minutes:

Embrace a New Identity in Christ: Letting go of the old self and stepping into who God says you are.
The Healing Power of Christ's love: Finding restoration through His unshakeable grace.
Walking in Wisdom: Seeking God's guidance for your own personal journey and path.
Community/Fellowship: Discover strength in fellowship with others - specifically, with other men.
Practical Faith: Living out your beliefs in everyday actions.
Conclusion: Putting it all together with a call to keep walking this path and know you do not have to continue suffering in silence.

Along the way, you will receive scriptural insights, reflective questions to encourage you to respond and share your thoughts, and practical ways to live a thriving recovery and sober lifestyle.

Please take a moment to pause and reflect: What brought you here today? What do you hope to discover on this sacred path? Hold onto your thoughts as we take this journey together.

Reflection

What does it mean to be a man in recovery, standing at the crossroads of faith and doubt? As men, we carry the weight of our past - sins, regrets, and failures that seem etched in our very soul. Yet, God speaks a truth that shatters the lie of your unworthiness: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). This is not a fleeting promise. It is a divine reality. Your old self, with all its brokenness, was crucified with Christ; your true life is now concealed in Him, secure in the heart of God. Pause and consider this: The love of Christ does not merely patch your wounds - it redefines your very own existence. Will you dare to believe that you are no longer bound by what you were? Are you willing to embrace the reality that you are made new by who He is?

This truth demands reflection, for it is no small thing to be hidden in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5;17). The old is not lingering, waiting for you to reclaim it - it is gone. Yet, how often do you live as if the past still holds sway over your heart and mind? Your faith crisis, your struggle to trust, is not a sign of defeat. It is a call to surrender more deeply into His love, tender mercy, and grace. Christ's love invites you to step out of the shadows of shame and into the light of His grace. Reflect on this: His love changes everything - not by your own effort or will power, but by His finished work. Will you allow this truth to reshape your heart and mind today?

Recovery Focus

Recovery becomes a spiritual battle of the heart and mind, and a faith crisis may make the path feel like a labyrinth with no end. Doubts assail you, whispering that you are too broken, too far gone for redemption. Yet, each of us need to hear this unyielding truth: "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). While you were yet entangled in your own failures, Christ chose you - not because of your worth, because of His love. This is the foundation of one's recovery: A love that does not flinch at your lowest moments. The Good Shephard seeks you still, calling you to rise from the ashes of your past. Will you place your trust in His love in order for Him to be your strength when you are weak?

Yes, trusting this love is not passive - it requires action. "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). Christ's love is no abstract ideal; it is a healing force that mends what sin has shattered. In recovery, we learn to lean into this love through prayer, through the Word, through the fellowship of those who walk the same road with us. The temptation for us men to isolate, to say to ourselves I've got to figure this out on my own, or the lie that we need to be strong and not show any sign of weakness or vulnerability - to hide our personal battles and struggles - is a lie and trap whereby the enemy is wanting to steal our joy, to kill our spirits, and destroy any hope and assurance of faith.

Christ's love calls you into fellowship and community, into a place of vulnerability, to the courage of confessing your need. His grace is sufficient, not for the perfect, but for the broken who seek Him. Will you allow His love to bind up your wounds and lead you into victory?

Wisdom

To overcome your past and navigate a faith crisis, you need more than willpower and personal resolve - you need divine wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). This is no grudging offer; God pours out His wisdom freely to those who seek after Him, seek after the Kingdom of God, and seek after His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Wisdom is not a formula or a quick fix; it is the daily surrender to God's perspective and will over your own. In recovery, wisdom means choosing to trust Christ's love over the lies of your past. It means seeking Godly counsel to make wise and informed decisions: Immersing yourself in scripture and letting the Holy Spirit guide your steps. Will you consider asking for this wisdom, or will you continue to stumble and falter over your own strength and understanding?

Wisdom calls each of us to see ourselves as Christ sees you - not as a failure, but as His own - redeemed and loved. Colossians 3:3 declares your life is hidden in Him, and this truth reshapes how you face your struggles. The past may tempt you to despair, but wisdom teaches you to fix your eyes on the One who has already overcome. Surround yourself with men who reflect this truth, who will speak life into your doubts. Study the Word, for it si the lamp unto your path (119:105). Wisdom is not about avoiding trials but about walking through them with Christ as your guide. Will you seek His wisdom today, letting His love illuminate the way forward?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I stand before you, a man broken by my past, wrestling with doubt, yet longing for your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your love that changes everything - for the truth of your Word that my life is hidden with Christ in you. Today, I surrender my failures, my fears, my faltering faith, and trusting in your promise that I am a new creation. Thank you for healing my broken heart, as you vow in Psalm 147:3. Thank you for binding up the wounds of my past. Grant me the wisdom you freely give to those who are seeking after you - without doubting, so that I may walk my path of recovery with courage and clarity. Surround me with brothers who point me to you and let your word renew my mind every day. Thank you for your love, shown in Christ's death for me and being my strength, my song for today. In Jesus name, Amen.

Devotional Message

Let's start with the foundation of our journey: Embracing a new identity in Christ.

What does it mean to be a man in recovery, standing at the crossroads of faith and doubt? As men, we often bear the burden of our past - sins, regrets, and failures where we suffer in silence and believing the lies that we are alone, or no one will truly understand - a burdensome weight upon our hearts, minds, and spirit. Society pressures us to suppress these scars, to "man up" and move forward - often times through grit and personal will power. Yet, God offers a different perspective. One that is transformative for each one of us. A truth that dismantles the lies of the enemy and shuts up the devil from speaking deception of unworthiness: "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3, ESV). This is not a momentary reprieve. It is a powerful and profound declaration of divine truth and eternal reality for each one of us. Your old self-marred by brokenness - was crucified with Christ on the cross. Buried with Christ in the tomb. And then risen with Christ in new life. Your life is now safeguarded, enveloped in the divine security of God's presence through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Consider the depth of this scripture: To be "hidden with Christ in God" means your identity is no longer tied to past mistakes, failures, regrets, shame, guilt, and dysfunction. It is anchored in Christ's righteousness. The Apostle Paul unpacks this further in Ephesians 2:10 where he writes that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." You are God's handiwork, purposefully redesigned for a life of meaning through the redemption and atonement that comes through faith in who Christ is. Likewise, Romans 6:4 gives this declaration of truth: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Your past is buried - dead - and you are raised with Christ to have a fresh experience and existence. Yet, how often do you still view yourself through the distorted lens of who you were rather than who you are in Him?

This truth invites us into reflection regarding what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." What is revealed is this: "passed away" signifies a complete departure - the old self is no longer lurking in the shadows, waiting to reclaim you; it's eradicated by Christ's finish work. The phrase, "behold, the new has come" is an open invitation to marvel at your own transformation. However, doubt and faith crisis often cloud this reality - tempting each one of us to live as if the past still reigns in our lives. These struggles are not failures - they're opportunities for us to surrender more fully to His love, tender mercy, and grace. Christ's love does not merely repair; it redefines. It calls you out of the tombs of shame and guilt, out of the darkness of isolation and suffering, and into the radiant light of His grace. And not accomplished by our willpower and grit - by the very costly sacrifice of Christ - God's only begotten son.

Consider a gentleman, let us say his name is John, and he attends an outpatient treatment and attends weekly group therapy sessions, as well as a recovery-based sober support meeting. He'd spent years believing he was just another alcoholic and addict - a label he felt defined him. One day, he was invited to a Christian based recovery meeting and realized that he maintained the chains of his shame and guilt, mistakes, and failings under the constant labeling of being just another alcoholic and addict. He discovered through an accountability of other men, what it means to be a child of God who is called to greater purpose and reality of truth. This shift changed everything for him. He no longer viewed himself as an alcoholic or an addict. He saw himself having victory over his addiction, the shame and guilt he carried, and experienced a sense of freedom he thought was beyond his ability to experience. He not only embraced his identity in Christ, but he also finally felt free because of the cross and the finished work of Christ.

The enemy wants you stuck in the cycle of shame and guilt, replaying all the lowest moments of your life ad nauseam. However, God says this, "That is not who you are anymore." Think about this: If Christ took your sin and gave you His righteousness, why carry the old weight? This is the heart of thriving in recovery and living in sobriety as men of faith. It is letting go of the lies that have weighed us down so that we are able to step into the light and truth of who Christ is and who we are in Him.

Sit with this question for a moment: How does your past shape your present image of self? What lies are you believing about your worth? Take a minute and reflect on that. Maybe respond to this question and the questions that follow. Share your responses in the chat, or the comment section, and perhaps share it with someone who is your mentor, sponsor, or accountability partner.

Remember, you are not defined by what you've done. You are rightly defined by who you are in Christ and who God says you are: Forgiven, chosen, renewed, and this is the first step on the path of recovery and sober living. And no, it is not a feel-good-idea either. This identity, hopefully, shifts you through daily decisions to turn your heart, mind, soul, and will over to the care of God. Specifically, when shame and guilt, or temptation hits - reminding yourself: I'm crucified with Christ, that old me is gone. And no, it is not easy - it is challenging. Yet, Christ says in John 8:32 that truth will set us free. Hold on to that idea and be encouraged.

Reflective Questions:

How does your past still shape your self-image, and what lies might you be believing about your sense of worth?
What would it look like to live daily as a new creation, free from the chains of who you once were?
Are you ready to trust in Christ and that His love has the power that redefines your existence and purpose today?

Take a moment to reflect on these questions - and if you'd like, I invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Recovery Focus - Recovery and Sobriety is a Spiritual Battlefield

Now, let us turn to the healing power of Christ's love. Recovery and sober living that is mindful - one where we are crucified unto Christ - may feel like a lonely road. Doubts whispering that you're too broken, too far gone. However, scripture reminds us, by drowning out the chatter of self-condemnation and criticism, with a louder truth. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). His love didn't wait, nor will it wait for you, to clean up your act - instead, it met you at your lowest, no conditions.

This love does not merely forgive - it heals. Consider Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Jesus becomes our great physician, not a judge, where he gently tends to the scar's addiction and a life of dysfunction left behind.

How many of us have hit rock bottom - experienced significant loss in our lives - and feel utterly shipwrecked and broken? It is in this pit of despair we find Christ's love awaiting us - not condemning but restoring. This is what occurs when we fully surrender our will and life over to the care of God - it is what recovery is all about: finding healing through the tender mercies and grace of God.

For many of us men - our recovery is a personal spiritual battlefield where the heart and mind wrestle against a barrage of doubts and accusations. In a faith crisis, the journey may feel like an endless maze, voices whispering that we are too broken, too lost for redemption, or that no one will truly understand. And so, we choose to isolate ourselves, suffer in silence because of fear that people may see us weak and frail.

Romans 5:8 unveils for us the heart of God. A heart that is proactive, unconditional, and initiated at our lowest point. Before we are able to do anything to deserve it, tangled up in the mess of our sin and dysfunction, Christ chose us.
And Psalm 147:3 gives us a poetic expression of how Christ's love "binds up" where it evokes a physician tenderly dressing our wounds, symbolizing Christ's intimate care for each of our pain.

Recovery means we are leaning into this healing through practical steps: prayer, immersion in scripture, and fellowshipping with others.

Hebrews 4:16 further reminds us of this truth: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." You are invited to approach God boldly, not cower in shame. Similarly, we read in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." A thriving recovery through Christ is when we are willing to let go and release our burdens to Him - holding nothing back.

And for men who are suffering in silence and feel isolated - know that where you are at is an insidious trap - the lie that we must "tough it out" alone or mask our pain and struggles. This is the enemy's scheme, to "steal, kill, and destroy" any assurance, confidence, and hope through Christ (see, John 10:10). Christ's love, however, calls us into community. As James reminds us that "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16).

Healing flows through vulnerability and mutual support. His grace is not for the self-sufficient for it is available to any one of us who are broken and willing to seek Him. Recovery no longer becomes about reaching instant perfection - it is about how we are progressing, thriving, and growing in Faith. It is about trusting in how God's grace is "sufficient for you, for [His] power is made perfect in [our] weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Are you willing, and ready, to let his love mend your wounds and guide you to victory?

How often have you carried the shame and guilt alone?

God is saying to you today, "Bring it to Me, share it with your fellow travelers." Healing flows when we humble ourselves through prayer, meditating upon scriptures, and plug into a strong fellowship and community of believers. However, many of us struggle with doubts that are blocking our ability to trust in God's love. Yet, consider how a fellow brother or sister may help you carry the load of shame and guilt without judgment or condemnation.

Christ's love is our anchor - active, healing, and unshakeable. All we need to do is lean into it and let it carry us forward.

Reflective Questions:

What doubts or fears make it difficult for you to trust God's love in your own recovery, and how are you able to confront them?
How might prayer, scripture study, and fellowship with others help you lean into Christ's healing power today?
What keeps you isolated, and what's one step you are able to take to embrace a fellowship and community of fellow travelers?

Remember, God's grace is sufficient for each of us - we need to choose to embrace it and count the cost in following Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work that needs to be accomplished in transforming us so that we are hidden in Christ.

Walking in Wisdom - Guidance for the Recovery Journey

I'd like to spend some time to talk about what it means to walk in wisdom. Sobriety is not about will power, nor the idea of grin it and bear it. It's a battle that needs Godly wisdom in order for each of us to make wise and informed decisions. Here is the reason scripture is powerful - we recite passages by rote yet never fully understanding their impact and meaning and how it applies in our own lives. James 1:5 reminds us that wisdom is a gift from God. And in Proverbs 9:10 where the "fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding."

There is no judgment - no catch - God's ready to guide you. All you need to do is ask Him, to seek Him, to knock (Matthew 7:7) and He will open up to you. What does this mean?

Ask: Asking signifies our humility in thanking God for his guidance and provision, to share with him the desires of our heart and our willingness to receive that which He is ready to bestow upon us.
Seek: Implies our active searching for God's will, purpose, presence, and truth - with confidence and assurance that we are going to find what it is we are seeking after - and what is it we are seeking after? His Kingdom and Righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Knock: This is our persistent and faithful prayer - knocking symbolizing doors being opened to new opportunities, blessings as God responds to our faith.

All point to a dynamic and fluid relationship with God, encouraging believers to trust in His willingness to answer our prayers and provide what is meaningful for us to accomplish His will here on earth - as it is accomplished in heaven.

Wisdom becomes our willingness to trust God's way, purpose, and will over our own will and desire. This is what Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us. Our willingness to trust in God with all of our heart and not lean to what we think we understand and know. This means, for many of us in recovery, that we are to ditch old habits and mindsets that may feel right yet may lead us further astray from truth and His grace.

Psalm 119:105 adds, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." God's word lights up the next step, even when the road seems foggy.

I have seen this play out in many lives that have become shipwrecked because of continued lapses and relapses. Those who relapse struggle, cave to their cravings and desires, and then feel tremendous guilt - all hope is lost - and they cry out how much of a disappointment and failure they are. Yet, when one starts praying, reading scriptures, meditating on God's word, and getting counsel from wise and Godly men who are mature in their faith (or women for women) - they find clarity.

Thus, wisdom is not automatic - it comes when we seek God, seek godly counsel, and spend quiet time with Him. This is how we grow in our recovery and mature in our spirituality through Christ.

Here's the conundrum: Your own understanding got you into messes before. This is not a statement of condemnation or judgment - it is a reality of fact that all of us have to come to terms with. So that we may recognize how dangerous it is for us to lean unto our own understanding. God's wisdom is key, and hopefully this verse hits you differently. Or instead of getting upset when a mentor or friend calls you out on your blind spot you take a moment to reflect and seek God so that you are guided in the right direction.

Overcoming your past and navigating faith crisis requires more than personal grit - it demands divine wisdom. And no, God does not begrudge your need - and you are not a burden because He is ready and willing to give you the wisdom - all you are asked to do is not doubt Him - and that is what the enemy wants to do. To get you to doubt that God will give you the insight needed. The enemy wants to convince you that you're being a burden, and no one will ever understand.

Hence, wisdom reframes your identity - one that his hidden in with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). And it teaches that your struggles do not define you because Christ already has. Whereas the world's wisdom is rooted in self-reliance and it pales in comparison to Godly wisdom and counsel. 1 Corinthians 1:25 gives us this insight: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." What may seem foolish - surrendering control - is your very strength. Wisdom guides you through trials, not around hem because God lights our very paths we are to traverse. Through prayer and scripture - the Holy Spirit guides us (John 16:13) and our decisions are anchored in His will and purpose.

Reflective Questions:

Where do you rely on your own understanding instead of seeking God's wisdom?
How may scripture or godly counsel reshape your approach to a current struggle?
What's one way you are able to seek divine wisdom today to guide you along your recovery path?

Seek wisdom actively - immerse yourself in God's word, surround yourself with men who reflect His truth, and pray for spiritual discernment. The past may pull you toward despair, however, wisdom fixes your gaze on Christ, the Overcomer (John 16:33). Will you pursue His wisdom to light your path of recovery?

Key Takeaways for Personal and Spiritual Growth

New Identity in Christ: You’re a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), not bound by your past but hidden in Christ. Embrace this truth daily.
Healing Through Community: Recovery flourishes in fellowship (James 5:16). Reject isolation and seek support from brothers in faith.
Wisdom for the Journey: God’s wisdom (James 1:5) equips you to overcome. Trust His guidance over worldly solutions.
Unwavering Love: Christ’s love (Romans 5:8) is your foundation—active, healing, and victorious.

Practical Applications:

Scripture Meditation: Spend 10 minutes daily reflecting on identity verses like Colossians 3:3 or Romans 6:4.
Community Step: Join a recovery group or share your journey with a trusted friend this week.
Wisdom Prayer: Ask God for wisdom each morning, journaling His guidance and your responses.

Final Remarks and Call to Action

Take one tangible step today toward embracing Christ’s love in your recovery. Join a Christ-centered recovery group, confide in a mentor, or dedicate time to prayer and Scripture. Share this devotional with a brother who needs hope, and together, step into the freedom Christ offers.

You’re not alone on this road. Christ’s love isn’t a distant dream—it’s a living reality, powerful enough to redeem your past and shape your future. As you reflect on His truth, trust His healing, and seek His wisdom, know that recovery is about progress, not perfection. Each step is a triumph, guided by the One who declares, “I have begun a good work in you and will complete it” (Philippians 1:6). Press on—your life is hidden in Him, and He is faithful.