Mark Liebel

Submission and Rest 
BIBLE READING: Matthew 11:27-30 
We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. 
When our burdens become heavy and we find that our way of life is leading us toward death, we may finally be willing to let someone else do the driving. We may have worked hard at getting our lives on the right track but still feel as if we always end up on dead-end streets. Proverbs tells us, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). 
When we began our addictive behavior, we were probably seeking pleasure or looking for a way to overcome our pain. The way seemed right at first, but it wasn’t long before it became clear that we were on the wrong track. By then we were unable to turn around on our own. 
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). 
Taking on a yoke implies being united to another in order to work together. Those who are yoked together must go in the same direction; by doing so, their work is made considerably easier. When we finally decide to submit our lives and our wills to God’s direction, our burdens will become manageable. 
When we let him do the driving, we will “find rest” for our souls. He knows the way and has the strength to turn us around and get us on the road toward recovery. 
From Life Recovery Bible Devotional

Submission and Rest
BIBLE READING: Matthew 11:27-30 
We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. 
When our burdens become heavy and we find that our way of life is leading us toward death, we may finally be willing to let someone else do the driving. We may have worked hard at getting our lives on the right track but still feel as if we always end up on dead-end streets. Proverbs tells us, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12). 
When we began our addictive behavior, we were probably seeking pleasure or looking for a way to overcome our pain. The way seemed right at first, but it wasn’t long before it became clear that we were on the wrong track. By then we were unable to turn around on our own. 
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest fo

3-28, Submission and Rest, Matthew 11:27

BIBLE READING: Psalm 61:1-8 
We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. 
Psalms 61 1 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help 
when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, 
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! 5 For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. 6 Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations! 7 May he reign under God’s protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him. 8 Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day. 
The thought of turning our wills and our lives over can be attractive. When we give in to our dependencies and compulsions, aren’t we giving control over to another power? Aren’t we in some way giving up personal responsibility for our lives? When we are overwhelmed and want to escape, our addictions can make us feel strong, safe, attractive, powerful, happy. So, in a sense, we are very comfortable with the thought of giving up control of our wills and our lives. 
We can take steps to change our focus and turn our lives over to God instead of reverting to the hiding places of the past. The apostle Paul touched on this contrast when he said, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). When we are overwhelmed and in need of some kind of escape, we have a new place to turn. King David declared, “The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you” (Psalm 9:9-10). David also wrote, “From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me” (Psalm 61:2-3).

BIBLE READING: Psalm 61:1-8 
We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.
Psalms 61 1   O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer!  2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.  4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!  5 For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.  6 Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations! 7 May he reign under God’s protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.  8   Then I will sing praises to your name forever as I fulfill my vows each day. 
The thought of turning our wills and our lives over can be attractive. When we give in to our dependencies and compulsions, aren’t we giving control over to another power? Aren’t we in

3-21, Giving Up Control, Psalm 61:1-8

BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 
Step 3-We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. 
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 
17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. 
19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (NLT) 
Everyone has a life-or-death decision to make. We have all been created with the supreme privilege of free will—the ability to choose. Even when we are in the bondage of our addictions, we still have choices confronting us. When we are in recovery, we face the nagging lure of falling back into our addictions. The freedom to choose brings with it the burden of the consequences of our choices. These choices affect our lives and the lives of our children. Free will is our blessing and our responsibility! 
God spoke through Moses, saying, “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live . . . and the LORD your God will bless you. . . . But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, . . . then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. . . . Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Although we may feel out of control with respect to our addictions, we can choose to set our heart in the direction of life. We can choose to love God and begin to follow his program. 
Step 3-We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. 
From the Life Recovery Bible step devotionals

BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 
Step 3-We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. 
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. 
17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. 
19   “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants migh

3-14, Free to choose, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Restoration 
Verse of the day: 
Jeremiah 29:11-14 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes… 
Gods plans for us far exceeds ours. He is the greatest King and leader of all times, so we can find peace in knowing we can trust His plans for our lives. God gives us His word in this passage that His plans for us are good! 
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 
He contrasts his words by saying His plan for us are for good NOT a disaster. His prophet Jeremiah is talking to the Jewish people who have been experiencing disaster during there captivity in Babylon. God his calling the people out and telling them to turn back to Him and repent because He desires good for their lives not disaster! This is a plea from God to you and I to come back to Him. To turn from anything that maybe contrary to God and come back to Him with a heart of repentance and love towards Him and He promises good! 
God tells us restoration is available as we adjust our direction and align our will with his! The rewards are plans that are laid us for our lives by God Himself! And those plans, my friends included goodness, restoration, a future and a hope! 
We turned to drugs and alcohol, turn back to Him. We turned to despair, turn back to Him. We lost our way, turn towards Him. Search Him our with your whole heart. Search Him our with intention and purpose and YOU will be found by Him and He will break the chains on captivity and bring restoration! 
Jeremiah 29:12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes… 
Your time is now. God has big, grand, wonderful plans for you and I, Your responsibility, repent, turn around , pray and seek God and He will bring about restoration!

Restoration
Verse of the day:
Jeremiah 29:11-14 11   For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12   In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13   If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes…
Gods plans for us far exceeds ours. He is the greatest King and leader of all times, so we can find peace in knowing we can trust His plans for our lives. God gives us His word in this passage that His plans for us are good!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
He contrasts his words by saying His plan for us are for good NOT a disaster. His prophet Jeremiah is talking to the Jewish people who have been experiencing disaster during there captivity in Babylon. God his calling the people out and 

3-5, His plans are good! Jeremiah 29:11-14

Verse of the day: 
 Joel 2:25-26 25 The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, 
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. 
26 Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. 
 
The Lord says I will give you back what you lost…Restoration is restoring what was lost. 
God gives us a promise that he will restore, and He will give back and we will not go without! Theses are some wonderful promises, but the story starts out by saying it was I (God) who set the great destroying army. What is going on here? God sends the locusts, not just one type but multiply types to be sure the destruction of crops and supplies are bad and then He turns around to say I will restore. 
I’m thinking, yo, what’s up God, why destroy and restore why not just leave well enough alone?

Verse of the day: 
 Joel 2:25-26 25 The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,
the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
26   Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. 

The Lord says I will give you back what you lost…Restoration is restoring what was lost.
God gives us a promise that he will restore, and He will give back and we will not go without! Theses are some wonderful promises, but the story starts out by saying it was I (God) who set the great destroying army. What is going on here? God sends the locusts, not just one type but multiply types to be sure the destruction of crops and supplies are bad and then He turns around to say I will restore. 
I’m thinking, yo, what’s up God, why destroy and restore why not just leave well enough alone?

3-3, God levels up! Joel 2:25-26

2-10, Answers in seeking, Lamentations 3:24 
Verse of the day: 
Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 
 
This week we are looking at the topic of seeking answers. I have shared on a few occasions I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer back in April of 2020 and since then have been spent countless hours in treatment, poked, stuck and with needles, chemo, radiation treatments. It’s a season of so many highs and lows. During this season I questioned God a few times, why? Why me? I have been faithful to do for many years. I try to do what is right. Lord, I’m a Pastor and CEO of a Recovery church and ministry. I preach your message every week and, in many formats, and ways. I have gone down this type of questioning, several times and end up with the same answer…

2-10, Answers in seeking, Lamentations 3:24
Verse of the day: 
Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

This week we are looking at the topic of seeking answers. I have shared on a few occasions I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer back in April of 2020 and since then have been spent countless hours in treatment, poked, stuck and with needles, chemo, radiation treatments. It’s a season of so many highs and lows. During this season I questioned God a few times, why? Why me? I have been faithful to do for many years. I try to do what is right. Lord, I’m a Pastor and CEO of a Recovery church and ministry. I preach your message every week and, in many formats, and ways. I have gone down this type of questioning, several times and end up with the same answer…

Mark Liebel Videos

3-28, Submission and Rest, Matthew 11:27

3-21, Giving Up Control, Psalm 61:1-8

3-14, Free to choose, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

3-5, His plans are good! Jeremiah 29:11-14

3-3, God levels up! Joel 2:25-26

2-10, Answers in seeking, Lam. 3:24-25

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Mark Liebel Videos

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3-28, Submission and Rest, Matthew 11:27

3-21, Giving Up Control, Psalm 61:1-8

3-14, Free to choose, Deuteronomy 30:15-20

3-5, His plans are good! Jeremiah 29:11-14

3-3, God levels up! Joel 2:25-26

2-10, Answers in seeking, Lam. 3:24-25

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