Values were formed, cultivated, and adopted throughout the various phases of childhood development. Some were based on culture, economic status, race, gender, education (or lack thereof), and social status.

But there was one constant in each phase of our development….we all knew what was right from wrong. No matter the environment, there was a common thread which clearly distinguished right from wrong. Therefore, when we continue to experience pain and mask it with our choices, we selfishly look in the face of wrong and call it right. This is ample evidence that our ‘Moral Compasses’ are broken, and our ‘consciences’ have been seared.

Through self-examination we look at our lifestyles and are aware that it is wrong. Yet we continue in our addiction, call it right, not submitting to the truth. Despite the many rock-bottoms in our lives we refuse to change because we tolerate it. Only when we wake up and put away our childish behaviors we can repair our ‘broken moral compasses’.

The Apostle Paul says it clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. I did childish things. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. And again, the Apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:2 "They will be controlled by the pretense of lying, and their own ‘consciences’ will be seared.” How much more explicit can this be? But, in our addiction, we shrug our shoulders and defiantly make a wrong right.

We need to reclaim our lives to what it was before it was hijacked by addiction. It starts with repairing the ‘broken compasses’ through ‘submission’ to God. Some call Him the Highest Power, the God of your understanding, and the God of your construct, which we continuously hear of in the ‘rooms’. God promises to ‘transform’ us if we submit to Him, and let Him do His thing in us. And He is a Promise Keeper.

This promise is in Romans 12:2 where the Apostle Paul states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be ‘transformed’ by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Only through ‘Submission’ and ‘Transformation’ will the ‘Broken' Compasses’ be repaired; and only then we will return to call it as it is…a spade is a spade…right remains right and wrong remains wrong.

Remember ‘Nothing changes if nothing changes’ and ‘The same person will always use.’

Have a Blessed day in the Lord. You deserve it.

From the desk of Andy Ansola