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Michael J Heil Quotes

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Famous Michael J Heil Quotes

“In the same way that my truck had been impounded by the police, my life had been impounded by drugs. Something else had seized control of what should’ve belonged to me. The worst part was that I’d bought into the lies by believing that drugs were ultimate. My deluded beliefs not only convinced me to accept the fact that drugs were robbing me of my life, but also to believe that was a good thing. So, I stood there with a smile on my stoned face, defending them vigorously as they pillaged me.”

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Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“I needed to stop blaming others for my emptiness and shortcomings; I needed to stop hoping the emptiness would change without me changing. If drugs, partying, and relationships kept me continually feeling insecure while at the center of my being, then they needed to be surmounted and something else positioned in their place. I could not expect change to occur without changing what was at the center of my life or the purpose for which I was living.”

ChangeEmptinessDrugsStop Blaming
Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“I was not enjoying this any longer but I kept turning towards it, and I could not explain why. Was it just because my friends did drugs? Was it because of social pressure or loneliness? Was it because of dependency and habit? For some reason, any alternative seemed better than sobriety. I kept telling myself that I chose this path because it was more fun, more interesting, and more eventful. I told myself that the people who failed to choose it were just afraid to let go and live. Then I would go and have the craziest adventures, and each one would propel me deeper into this lifestyle. Somewhere deep down, I knew that I was lying to myself, and yet each escapade pulled me deeper into my own little biosphere of lies and delusions.”

LonelinessHabitDrugsSocial Pressure
Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“If He saw me at my very worst, when drugs, sex, and other fleeting pleasures ruled every portion of my heart, mind, and life, and still chose to die for me, He must still love me now. If He was patient with me when I was living solely for rebellion, He must also be willing to be patient with me now that my heart was softening and I was actually trying. I was still failing, but at least my heart wanted to honor Him now.”

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Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“My problem wasn’t my parents, it wasn’t my friends, it wasn’t my education, it wasn’t even the weird environment I grew up in. I chose to do drugs, I weighed the reasons for and against them, and I chose them because I thought they would provide meaning and pleasure to my life. I chose them because I believed life was a cosmic mishap and all we could do was make ourselves feel good before we die and slip away into nothingness. I chose them because they helped numb the pain of my hopeless worldview. I chose them because I didn’t know there was an alternative that could meet these needs in a better, more permanent, more fulfilling way.”

HopelessDrugsChoseProvide
Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“Each time I failed, it may have surprised me, but it didn’t surprise God, who sees and knows all things, even before they happen. That’s when it struck me. God knew I was going to stab Him in the back. God knew that if He saved my life, I was going to abuse these drugs. He knew that I was going to turn away from Him toward all the other things I loved more than Him. He knew I would relapse, yet He still chose to save my life.”

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Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“It was easy for me to start good habits like taking advanced classes and doing more sports, but weeding out the bad habits was not as simple. I still went to class high sometimes, but at least I wasn’t doing it every day. Before, I could not function without drugs, could not live a single day. Now, very gradually, I was changing the purpose for which I lived. Before, I was a druggie. Now I was a super studious, highly advanced student who was only on drugs sometimes.”

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Book:Pursued: God’s relentless pursuit and a drug addict’s journey to finding purpose
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“I was finding that sweet spot of balance and moderation. Maybe, at some point, the drugs and partying would be gone, and I’d just be a successful student, employee, and citizen. It seemed to me that the two most common paths for finding meaning in life were partying or prosperity, and I was excelling at both.”

DrugsModerationPartyingSweet Spot
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