Living Free - Feb. 28, 2012


Living Free Every Day®


Defining Codependency

Today's Scripture

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Romans 1:25 NAS

Thoughts for Today:

Codependent behavior has existed nearly as long as men and women have walked the earth. A codependent person is addicted to another person, creating an imbalanced relationship.

If another person's misbehavior is affecting your sense of well-being and you have become obsessed with controlling that person's behavior, you are in a codependent relationship.

Consider this …

Codependents take ownership of another person's problems, get their sense of well-being from managing the behavior of the dependent person, and end up being controlled by the person they are trying to help. By centering their lives on the person they are trying to help, they exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshipping and serving a created person rather than God the Creator.

Codependency is sinful because the person becomes mastered by a loved one's problem or becomes a loved one's master (playing God).

Think about whether you have seen any of these indications of codependency in your own life or anyone else's. If you see codependent traits in someone else, pray for their eyes to be opened. If you see them in your own life, ask God's forgiveness and his help. Recognize your helplessness and place your trust in him.

Prayer

Father, I recognize some of these codependency symptoms in my own life. I'm beginning to see that I'm not able to help my loved one this way. Please forgive me. I need you and want to place my trust in you and you alone. In Jesus' name . . .

These thoughts were drawn from …

Close—But Not Too Close by Dr. Jimmy Ray Lee. A complement to the Concerned Persons small group study, this booklet is written primarily for those who want to help someone close to them who is enslaved by the stronghold of a life-controlling issue. It is also designed to help someone who is suffering the consequences of a loved one's problem.

We hope these devotions are a blessing to you and to others in your life. We are happy to provide them for you at no cost, but thought you might want to consider a donation to help our ministry with the expense involved. You can safely donate through our website. Thank you!

Would you like to have these devotions appear daily on your church or ministry website? Learn More  

 

 

PO Box 22127 ~ Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421 ~ 423-899-4770
© Living Free 2007. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending e-mail to
[email protected].

SHARE

Christianity / Devotionals / Living Free Every Day / Living Free - Feb. 28, 2012