Daily Renewal and Recovery in Re-entry

What You Will Learn

• Explain renewing the mind with Scripture
• Identify triggers and plan healthy responses
• Respond to relapse with grace and a plan
• Apply recovery principles to the re-entry season, including overdose risk after release

Lesson Notes

Renewing the Mind

Daily Renewal is the stage we live in every day. Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). Change happens as God's truth replaces old thinking: bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

A simple practice: notice the thought, name whether it is true, replace it with Scripture, and respond with a healthy action. Whatsoever things are true... honest... just... pure... lovely... think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

Triggers and a Way of Escape

Triggers are people, places, feelings, or situations that stir old patterns: stress, loneliness, anger, certain neighborhoods, anniversaries, being tired or hungry. God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Healthy responses: pray, breathe slowly, name five things you can see, call a mentor or sponsor, go to a group, leave the situation, eat and rest. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation (Matthew 26:41).

When Someone Falls

Relapse or a return to old patterns is common in recovery, and it is not the end. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again (Proverbs 24:16). When I fall, I shall arise (Micah 7:8). Respond with grace, not shame, and help the person reconnect quickly with support and care.

After any period without use, the body's tolerance drops. Using the same amount as before can cause a fatal overdose. Anyone who returns to opioid or other drug use should not use alone, should have naloxone available, and should seek medical care. If an overdose may be happening, call 911.

Recovery in the Re-entry Season

Release is a season of both hope and risk. Tolerance is lower after incarceration, which makes the weeks after release a time of higher overdose risk. Stress, old neighborhoods, and loneliness can arrive all at once.

A re-entry recovery plan includes: a church or recovery group to attend in the first week; a mentor or sponsor; medical care and any prescribed medication continued without a gap (talk with medical staff before release); naloxone; safe housing; a crisis plan with 911 and 988; and a daily rhythm of Scripture and prayer. State and local resources vary; your plan will include blanks to fill in with your case manager.

Key Terms

In-Class Activities

Notice, Name, Replace, Respond

For each of six common lies (for example, One time won't hurt, Nobody cares about me, I've already blown it), write whether it is true, a Scripture to replace it, and one healthy action.

First Thirty Days Map

On paper, map the first thirty days after release for a composite woman in recovery. Mark likely triggers, supports, appointments, and where she would get naloxone and help in a crisis. Leave blanks for local resources you do not yet know.

Assignment: Principles-to-Practice Plan (Draft)

Draft the third part of your final project (see the Final Project section):

• For each of the seven Restoration Path stages, one practical action you or a composite woman could take in daily life.
• A daily rhythm: morning, midday, and evening practices.
• Three triggers and a healthy response for each.
• A support list by role: church or group, mentor, medical care, case manager.
• A safety section: overdose response, the tolerance warning, and 911 and 988.
• Local resources: ____________________ (fill in with your case manager).

Bring your draft to Module 8 for peer review.

Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.

Reflection Journal

Romans 12:2 speaks of being transformed by the renewing of your mind. What is one thought you are asking God to renew? What truth from Scripture will you put in its place this week?

Prayer focus: Ask God to renew your mind day by day, to make a way of escape in temptation, and to surround you with support as you go home.

One Day at a Time, One Thought at a Time

Old patterns are built over years, and they do not disappear overnight. Daily Renewal is the stage we live in every day: be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). Each day we notice old thoughts, name whether they are true, replace them with Scripture, and respond with a healthy action.

Triggers will come: stress, loneliness, anger, old places, being tired or hungry. God promises a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Healthy responses are simple: pray, breathe slowly, name five things you can see, call your mentor, go to a group, leave the situation, eat and rest.

If someone falls, grace is still there. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again (Proverbs 24:16). But there is an important safety truth: after time without use, the body's tolerance drops. Using the same amount as before can cause a fatal overdose. That is why the weeks after release carry higher overdose risk. Anyone who returns to use should not use alone, should have naloxone available, and should seek medical care. If an overdose may be happening, call 911.

A good re-entry plan surrounds you with support from the first week: a church or recovery group, a mentor, medical care with no gap in prescribed medication, naloxone, safe housing, a crisis plan with 911 and 988, and a daily rhythm of Scripture and prayer. Ask your case manager to help you fill in the local resources.

Think About It

1. What thought is God renewing in you right now? ______________________
2. What are your three biggest triggers, and what will you do instead? ______________________
3. Who will be part of your support in the first week after release? ______________________

Daily Devotions for Week 7

Renewing of Your Mind

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.— Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Transformation happens one renewed thought at a time.

Reflect: Which old thought keeps coming back?

Pray: Lord, renew my mind today.

Do: Replace one old thought with a verse today.

Every Thought Captive

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;— 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

We do not have to obey every thought we have.

Reflect: What thought needs to be brought to Christ?

Pray: Lord, I bring my thoughts to You.

Do: When a lie comes today, say aloud what is true instead.

A Way to Escape

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.— 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

God always provides a way out. Our part is to take it.

Reflect: What is your way of escape when a trigger hits?

Pray: Lord, show me the way of escape and help me take it.

Do: Write your three-step plan for a hard moment.

Rise Up Again

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.— Proverbs 24:16 (KJV)

Falling is not the end of the story. Rising again is.

Reflect: If you have fallen, what would rising again look like today?

Pray: Lord, help me rise again.

Do: Reach out to one person in your support circle today.

New Every Morning

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.— Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)

Every day is a fresh start with God.

Reflect: What fresh mercy do you need today?

Pray: Lord, great is Your faithfulness.

Do: Begin tomorrow by thanking God for one new mercy.