Hey ladies! As always, I am excited to share with you this month! There is a word that has been coming up in my vocabulary lately in different conversations and that word is sober. Of course, we have always known that definition as being clean, or not intoxicated by a substance such as drugs and alcohol. Sober also means to be self-controlled, restrained, clear-headed, and temperate. Have you ever considered how sobriety can be applied in our daily lives? Follow me, sweet face!

Let me tell you a funny story that was brought to my memory. I have never been a real drinker, so my tolerance is low. I may have a cute drink and I’m done because to me, I would kinda rather go shopping as a habit. Well, a few years ago for my birthday I decided that I was going to have a small kick back at my house and I was gonna partake in some libations! Yes, your girl got intoxicated! I knew when I stumbled on an ottoman that had been in my living room for years that I was just a tad bit lit! The alcohol impaired my thoughts and I figured”Oh yea, this glass is not that big, I can drink ALL of this.” I also thought that I could shake it like a red-nose because I looked it up on YouTube! 🤦🏾‍♀️So my sober friend had to tell me about my shenanigans the next day and I was like “I did that!??!” That was my first and last incident! My judgement was clouded, and had I been sober honey, NONE of that would have happened. My character was compromised, because what I didn’t say is that my crush was there as well! Don’t judge me, ya’ll!

Ladies, sobriety is not just what I needed that night, we need sobriety for life! We have to be sober to make good decisions, to choose relationships wisely, respond to opportunities that arise, and monitor the thoughts we entertain. Lack of sobriety impairs judgement. When we are intoxicated by our thoughts, feelings, and emotions, there is no room for us to hear God with clarity. What we feel can completely override God’s plans and thoughts for our lives. Lately, I have been having thoughts that tell me that I should just quit or not even pursue things that I know God has asked me to do. I just feel like someone else can do it just as well, it doesn’t seem to be working like I imagined, or that I am not adding value. Those thoughts come when I am drunk off of fear, inadequacy, and comparison. Sobriety would tell me that If God asked me to do it, then there is something that only I can bring to that group, event, or organization. If I quit, I am denying myself and others of an opportunity to see God in my life. If I quit, I am satisfying my flesh and the desires of the enemy.

We can also be intoxicated by things that are blessings or that appear to be a blessing. The enemy gives gifts as well, so we have to be sober. I have never been in a relationship, however I had a “situationship”, and I thought that was God. He loved God, he was a cute face, and it seemed like it would work. In my “knower”, I knew this wasn’t it, but because I just wanted that companionship I was drunk. I did not set boundaries or ask the right questions from the beginning. I chose to stay drunk because I didn’t want to be rejected again. All I got out of that was an emotional soul tie. There was nothing sexual, but I allowed access for him to toy with my emotions because I thought this was a gift. The lesson in this is that I have to be sober, set boundaries, and ask questions from the beginning, no matter how much I want it and without fear of rejection. To be honest, I am going to need someone else to keep me accountable because it is something I have desired so long. The excitement of it all may have me wasted. We can make long term decisions on temporary feelings when we are drunk. At this point in life, I am not in search of someone that makes me feel good, I need someone that has pure motives. Those are just a few of my examples, so what keeps you drunk, sis?

I’ve heard that when one is partaking in the turn up, it is wise to drink water. The water helps to dilute the alcohol so you won’t get too wasted by what you are ingesting. I guess you get the buzz, but you are still coherent. Let’s apply that to the place in our lives where we are intoxicated. We have to flush it out with the water of the word. We have to recite the word when those thoughts come to deceive us. God’s word is our weapon to fight against those thoughts. Usually if something has your mind, it has you. We have been given the living water to be sober. The word says in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

This verse let’s us know that the fight is spiritual. The enemy wants us to stay in an intoxicated state so that we can’t pursue God fully. This tells us that we have to cast down those thoughts and that we bring them captive, which means to lock them up. Taking the authority that God has given us over those thoughts. When a thought, feeling, or emotion comes, we can recite this scripture, among others. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 says “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” This tells us to be alert of the intoxicating thoughts, feelings, and emotions by being awake and sober; It also tells us to gird ourselves with faith and love, and cover our head (which is where those thoughts reside) with hope and salvation.

I pray that we will continue to be alert and sober against the attacks against our mind, will, and emotions. I pray that we will continue to allow God to wash us with the water of His word and equip us with the proper tools to do our part in the fight. I pray that we will invite God into those places and allow His word to be performed in our lives. That we will be victorious over those feelings, thoughts, and emotions and step outside of ourselves to pursue Him and His plan for our lives with our whole hearts. That we cast down any strongholds that try to captivate our minds, and declare God’s word over every thought that is contrary to who He says we are. Stay sober, my friends!