There was something special about the recovery retreats I attended over the years. For one weekend, I could step away from the noise of everyday life. The endless to-do lists. The responsibilities. The distractions. Instead of just trying to squeeze recovery into my busy schedule, recovery became the priority. I had time to pray, reflect, learn, listen, and reconnect with God. I could honestly look at where I was struggling, recommit to the process, and return home encouraged with practical...

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) God calls us to be generous, both financially and with our time, encouragement and caring for others. When we do this, we will see time and again that we are blessed. It is easy to be focused on our own struggles, but we do well when we serve others. It is a blessing to others as well as ourselves. Dear Lord, help me to be generous with what You have given me. Show me someone I can encourage or...

When I got to Step 4 while working the 12 Steps of recovery from overeating, I felt overwhelmed. This is the step where you take an honest look at your past so you can understand why you do what you do. I didn't think I really had any resentments. Someone in the program suggested I start by making a list of people who had hurt me. That felt different. I could think of plenty of people who had hurt me over the years—family, friends, and others. As I began writing their names down, they came to...