Do you too struggle with “Adam’s Disease”?
King David developed a case of Adam’s Disease after giving in to his lust for his neighbor’s wife. He tried to cover it up. He did not want to confess. Look at what he said about that period of time in Psalm 32: "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer... I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my sin to the Lord"; and You forgave the guilt of my sin" (vv. 4-5).
Proverbs 28:13 makes it clear that if we want to prosper in God, we must be honest about our sins:
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Ultimately pride is the root cause of Adam’s Disease. And confession is the needed prescription.
It takes a humble and contrite heart to say, “I was wrong,” or “I am sorry,” or “Lord, I have sinned.” When we have a humble view of our sin and our need for grace, we have a clearer view of God and his Gift. It creates a grateful rather than a prideful heart. So maybe you’d like to pray with me today:
Lord God, I recognize that I sin. So often my good intentions do not come to fruition. I don’t do what I wish I would do. Other times I do exactly what You and I both wish I would not do. It is hard to face up to the wrong that is in my life. And it’s hard to admit to You and to others. Lord, create in me a clean heart – help me to recognize my tendencies to sin and turn from them. I need to feel that I have forgiveness from You. Your Word promises forgiveness for those who are in Christ Jesus. When I feel Your forgiveness, I feel clean and good inside – I feel free to be who You want me to be. So forgive me and help me forgive others who wrong me. Cleanse me and make me radiate Your grace today.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray.
__________________________________________________ 
Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my new book It’s No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know. I’ll announce the winner here on Sunday evening. Blessings ~ Rachel
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I was a sufferer of Adams disease I would always put the lame on my husband for what I was doing bc he was on drugs so I allow my sin to have dominion over me until oone day God allow me to see myself for who I really was and he show me how top be heal from the Adams disease through his woed I was prescribe Psalm 19;13 twice a day.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Rachel what a beautiful prayer. Thanks for your insightful, heart-moving devotion. Oh how I/we suffer from Adam's disease (love the reference) and I so often wonder why is it so hard to confess our sins? Other than the obvious - pride, I know that I struggle with the feeling of total inadequacy and I am so disappointed in myself that I struggle. Intellectually I know that Our Great Physician is right beside me and will forgive my "goofs" but it is humbling and it hurts knowing I've sinned. Thank you for your wonderful encouragement Walkin' with ya sister, blessings! karen g.
ReplyDeleteBlaming others for my bad behavior and believing that it will make me feel better - yep, I've done it. And your comment about blame-shifting really hit home - I needed to hear that. God bless you for writing this blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful prayer. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLeigh F.
Thank you Rachel for this devotional. I wrote down some pointer sentences. 'Without conviction there is no repentence, without repentance there is no grace to change, without change, there is no growth.'
ReplyDeleteJust what I needed today. Very powerful! Thanks so much..
ReplyDeleteLoved your devo today... I still struggle with Adams disease, but thankfully there is a cure. Rachel I really loved your prayer... it was right on.
ReplyDeleteWow, Rachel, that was some powerful writing today! Adam's Disease makes us totally blind to the truth, whether is it us suffering from the disease, or a person we are in a relationship with. Your devotional will help us all keep our eyes wide open and our hearts wise to Adam's Disease in ourselves, or in others who effect us! Bless you.
ReplyDeleteWonderful article! I have seen this in my own life...that when we confess our sins one to another God can then finally heal us (James 5:16). Thanks for sharing these truths!!! It can be hard to do and scary, but the reward that results is usually far greater than the consequences.
ReplyDeleteI've been working very hard to 'cure' Adams disease in my own life as well as trying to work at it with my children. Blame-shifting, denial, self-justification are all things we talk about. What a relief that we can be forgiven!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! So true! Thank you for the wonderful devotional reading today!
ReplyDeleteDawn
I don't have much problems confessing my sins, I can do that all day long lol. My major problem is accepting the forgiveness for them. I know we don't need to deserve forgiveness to receive it but I have trouble accepting it. I know I can never be perfect but I feel like i mess up way too much. I don't know, if anyone can help me it's God right. Thanks for your post Rachael.
ReplyDeleteI love how you compared sin to Adam's disease. I know I am very infected with Adam's disease and in God's grace ask Him to forgive me .
ReplyDeleteI had an appointment with the Great Physician, he has given me a daily prescription and I take it with ease knowing his healing power. Thanks for this wonderful devotion.
ReplyDeleteRachel C.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart today. Your words helped me see that I've been blame-shifting for so long. I thought I had confessed my sin and couldn't understand why I could still feel the burden. Now I do. I didn't claim my part. I am responsible. It's time to put on my big girl panties and confess Adams disease.
ReplyDeleteAmen! So beautifully said. I do suffer from Adam's Disease...pride will take center stage. I don't want to separate myself from God, but know I do when I don't take responsibility for my actions. Thank you for gently pointing this out. Sin....it is something I constantly struggle with. Thank you Jesus for always loving me and providing your word to keep my paths straight.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Katie
This hit home. I struggle daily and for years. I need to be free. The burden is heavy, too heavy at times. I'm going to read the scripture referenced. Please pray for me.
ReplyDeleteAmen! So beautifully said. I do suffer from Adam's Disease...pride will take center stage. I don't want to separate myself from God, but know I do when I don't take responsibility for my actions. Thank you for gently pointing this out. Sin....it is something I constantly struggle with. Thank you Jesus for always loving me and providing your word to keep my paths straight.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Katie
I must say my difficulty lied not in recognizing I've sinned, but in telling someone else I'm sorry!
ReplyDeleteGreat devotion today! I also am setting up an appointment with the Great Physician today so I can live freely. Nanci D
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteI read both your devotion and last 2 blog posts. I too, at times suffer from "Adam's disease." I find it can give me blurry vision and a very ugly attitude. Thanks for reminding to keep my heart clean before the Lord.
You are a blessing!
Grace
Thank you for the prayers - both on today's devotion and in your blog.
ReplyDelete~ Dorothy
I had my appointment with the great Physician and am taking my medicine. Great devotional.
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteSometimes things, like your message, come and slap you in the face when you aren't expecting it. God knows when its time we hear from Him and He does it through so many ways. I needed to hear your message today, to get back where I need to be.
THANK YOU.
You are right on Rachel. My husband and I tell our kids to not have a victim mentality, blaming others for everything. I like that you pointed to Adam and David as examples and calling it "Adam's disease". Your blog has called me to take an honest look at myself and see that I often do exactly what I tell my kids not to. Thank you for allowing God to use you to convict me.
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel,
ReplyDeleteGod has used your blog today to break my heart. I'm sitting here broken, and I don't know what to do. I know that I have been in sin with regard to my marital relationship, and I have asked God to change my heart and change me over and over again. But what do I do? How can I say I'm sorry to my husband, when he wrongs me and sins against me again and again? He is not a believer, I know he is a lost man, but it still hurts so badly and I am so angry at him. How can I get past that? What am I supposed to do, keep forgiving him over and over and ignore how much he hurts me (and does not seem to care)? Please pray for me. I know what God is telling me, that I need to forgive my husband and love him. But I am only human, and I can't be forgiving and loving when I feel so wronged, angry, and hurt.
Thanks for much for the reminder of the Adams disease. I struggle with that daily but with the help of the Great Physican, I too will be cured.
ReplyDeleteThank you...
I am suffering from Adam's disease and I wish the Lord will guide me out of this in my life and stop making my husband wrong for whatever he did. I pray that my husband will see God in me and I pray that God's love will touch him. Amen!
ReplyDeleteI definately suffer from this! Thanks so much for clearing up this "disease" and bringing it into the light.
ReplyDeleteHolly M
Hi Rachel. I'm visiting your blog today from the Proverbs 31 Devotionals. Great devotional today!
ReplyDeleteConnieH
I love your creativity in coining a new diagnosis for an old problem! Even after accepting Jesus as my Savior, I still suffer from it at times - blaming others or not acknowledging when I sin. So grateful that this is not fatal, though. Another thing I notice is that the disease seems to be more serious in the spiritually immature or children who have not yet reached the age of understanding and admitting their sinful nature. I have worked extensively with young children, and it is a rare child who will admit when they have done wrong.
ReplyDeleteRachel--I so enjoy reading your blog. I love your qwirky sense of humor and how you always manage to hit the nail on the head. God is using you to reach out to many! I've been told that the "old Adam" is a good swimmer....we drown him again and again, but he manages to keep resurfacing. Thank the Good Lord for Jesus who has the power to free us from the "Old Adam" once and for all!
ReplyDeleteWonderful prayer. Love the name of the disease everyone of us suffer from, save and unsaved. As you said, there is only one physician who can completely cure this disease and His name is JESUS. Good encouragement. Thank you, Rachael.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder how much Adam's Disease" is related to the other disease we have and trying to cure with pills. HMMMMNM. Thanks for the post, and today I will especially life up Sandy M in prayer. God loves her and so do I , Sister Sandy.
ReplyDeleteThis devotion is so beautifully written. Thank you for the eye opener. I thank God that for the most part I am being healed from this curable disease. I have lived most of my life with Adam's Disease pulling me down in most relationships that I have had. I didn't understand some of the problems I was having. It seemed all my relationships were tainted one way or another. My family for sure dysfunctional and that led to more dysfunctional relationships. But God! I'm not saying I am cured but I am thankful for being able to confess my sins and accept the Great Physician's precription for healing. I no longer want to blame anyone for my poor choices and so I find I made less and less poor one. Praise the Lord for your opened ears to the Holy Spirt so all who will hear can be be healed.
ReplyDeleteI read your devo this morning and thought "Oh this poor women with Adam's disease...How does she cope?" I read on.... Thanks for the eye opener and diagnosing my disease. Treatment is near. Soon to be on my knees.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the words of wisdom, Rachel. Adam's Disease is rampant, but I'm so thankful that a sure cure is available to anyone who seeks it. God is good!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! I heard something the other day on James Robinson's program--it's from his and his wife's new book Living in Love (I think that is the title).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's this: Repent while it's still a secret.
Pretty strong, huh? It's really made me think about confession--do we do it because we are "caught" or do we confess it before the ax comes down? hmmmm...
Prayers and blessings,
Rebecca
tiggerdaisy@gmail.com
rachel, through you, the Lord is convicting me of how i respond to the sin in my life. thank you for being an instrument in His mighty hand.
ReplyDeleteRachel, this is a great post... praise God. Thank you for allowing the Lord to use you. I thank God for using you. Praise HIM.
ReplyDeleteAgh.. this definitely hit home to me. I received it from Crosswalk.com and I definitely have been feeling Adam's disease. To the anonymous about a Christian wife dealing w/ addiction- I identify w/ you so so much. I wish I could connect with you in some way. May God bring healing, and allow our hearts to change, so he can facilitate a deeper plan in us- and avoid Adam's disease in our own hearts -
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for a very true and thought provoking devotion and prayer. We all got to be REAL!
Deanna
What a great post! I personally have noticed that the most holy people I know go to confession every week. They talk about how much sin they have to let go of. I look at them and think that if there was possible anything they could be doing wrong, it must mean that I'm in really bad shape. It's always a good reminder for me.
ReplyDeleteI love that David said when he kept silent his bondy wasted away. So often we hold things in that take a physical toll on our bodies and make us sick. We need to speak about them like David did if we want to get better. Thank you Rachel for reminding me of this.
ReplyDeleteGood morning! I just read this daily devotional today and I felt as if it were written directly to me, about me and for me! I just gave my life back to God and can really see how I have suffered from Adam's Disease! I truly pray that God perform a work in me and cure me of this. I now see it from the other end and see how wrong I was. Thanks for the insight and inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI really like your reference to "Adams Disease" for our condition as sinners. I struggle with this condition daily. But I have a Father who forgives me and helps me with my struggle.
ReplyDeleteI think myself and a lot of people have suffered from Adam's disease. Your blog helped me realize and pray for my sins. I thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteI am always left in awe and wonder everytime I think about the grace of God. He did everything to save me more than 2000 years ago and He will never hesitate doing it all over again for the sake of His great Love. In the book Jeremiah it says, The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? But today, in my struggle with sin and death... the Lord has reminded me. Who made your heart? Who owns your heart? Isn't it I?Hallelujah! And yes, He can make it clean again! JESUS can! He is going to make it clean! Just like the sinful woman... My Savior says, " Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more!-Maeshelle, 20 y.o Philippines
ReplyDeleteThis is where I am today. Blaming a lot of family issues on others. God has opened my eyes through this dev. Today is a new day for me and God is slowly showing sin that I need to confess.
ReplyDeletejust last night I shifted blame to my husband instead of admitting my own faults...thank you for this today. The more self-righteous I try to become, the more unsettled I feel inside. Thank God He does not let me get away with it! Hopefully my husband will be forgiving of me, again!
ReplyDeleteYou blog today amazes me, because, while I was driving to work today, I was voicing my frustration about being so unhappy because of my husband. Then a thought came to my head that maybe it is not him, but me. God reminded me why. After reading your post, I now realize what steps I need to take in order to get out of my unhappy situation. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this today! I have been grumbling and I have put the blame on the person who created the change that I am grumbling about. My new motto which I haven't yet taken to heart is, "change is inevitable, growth is optional." Thank You again.
ReplyDeleteThe devotion and your post here are great. I'm so glad I got rid of Adams disease when I was a teenager and did not go through what some others did.
ReplyDeleteI will be out of town Friday to Wednesday.
atioI just went through this process with a former co-worker of mine- God did a major work in me so that I would stop focusing on all the sins she had committed and helped me focus instead on how I sinned in my response to her. Asking for her forgiveness was difficult but God helped me feel so free after doing so.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you told the story of Adam in your devotional post today on Encouragement for Today. The writing style captured my attention, making a story I've heard thousands of times seem new. This also opened my eyes to a sneaky condition I have had myself.
ReplyDeleteRachel, as is started to read this devotion today ... my mind started selecting others who i thought this was talking to . I even thought to myself oh how i wish they were reading it... THEN my thought shifted to myself... IM doing it the very thing i am reading about.. I HAVE this Adam's Disease. Man ... how could i .... thank you so much for speaking to me. i am going through a very shaking trail of a life time.. i pray GOD allows me mercy and grace soon...pray for me and my child... and help me to keep on this path of awareness.... of my self . love and GOD bless
ReplyDeleteIris
Hi! Rachel, This is one of my all time favorite devotionals because it goes straight to the point of something we all suffer from, Adam's Disease. Your description of God as the perfect Physican is outstanding. As a retired nurse, anything medical is right up my alley! If you think of the best doctor you've ever been to, and remember how easy it was to talk to him about the things that were bothering you. Well, that's I see my God, and He just waiting for me to start talking(praying)!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing- just what I needed to hear this am!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful devotion on Proverbs 31 today. It was just what I needed to hear.
ReplyDeleteOh my. That's a very good assessment of how our hearts mislead us. Oftentimes, confessing our wrongdoing can be so hard. But ultimately.....healing!
ReplyDeleteWhy does it have to hurt so much to make it right?
I am probably the most prideful person I know, and this is often the source of my valleys. When I lay aside that pride and seek God, I find the peace that is only possibly by His grace. Thank you for your words today - they were exactly what I needed, and I didn't even know it.
ReplyDeleteChristine
Thank you for granting courage to fellow suffers of "Adams disease". I had been contemplating why there are so many suffering in the church and the link with communion (partaking worthily) could it be that we don't confess? It makes us ill in our spirit, soul and body! Praise God he has provided the cure! Feels good to be free Amen? Blessings to you. Elizebeth P.
ReplyDeleteI have been, still somtimes guilty of the Adam disease it is in conviction that my life will change from glory to glory and this is my desire is to desire what God wants, to confess my sin and never to return to it but only in His strength that I can do this!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all this Rachel. I pray for all you Proverbs 31 Ministry ladies, that God will preserve you and keep using you to bless us all. Sometimes revealing simple basic truths is like delivering a blow to our heart!
ReplyDeleteThank for this devotional and the wonderful prayer. It is truly convicting...
ReplyDeleteWow what "such a time as this" moment I had reading your blog from over on "Encouragement for Today" devotional! Just a few minutes before I read it I had confessed to a new friend some past heinous sins of my own. One I had done repeatedly before coming to know Christ. The other was something after becoming a christian and I let my anger get the best of me. I am so ashamed. But I am not living in shame, I know that what I did doesn't define me. I have learned lessons from it, just admitting it though is so hard! Especially when you really care about the person you are admitting it to!! Thank you for your post today!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the devotional, Rachel. What a unique twist on the topic of sin.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great post Rachel! I would love to win a copy of your book!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the reminder that we all carry Adam's Disease. I am reminded every day how prideful I am and how difficult it is to confess sin to the Lord and to others. We always want to see ourselves in a better light. I pray that the Lord will reveal to me the real me; warts and all. I pray that I will submit to Him.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great devotion today!
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to keep on top of my Adam's Disease.
Thanks!
~Jenn
Thanks Rachel what a great devotional. How true we all suffer from this at times cause we don't want to confess our sins and feel that if we can cover it up with something/someone else it will be ok. Only the truth is God already knows. Thanks
ReplyDeleteSarah
Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your message today. It hit home so well. I'm an emotional mess and admitting that it is caused due to my sin of self hate and feelings of inadequacy. Thanks for all your messages.
Carole
Adams Disease - yes I have it and yes I am constantly asking for the Great Physician to heal me. Does he hear my prayers? You bet he does. He gave his life for me and I am blessed. Thank you for this website
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing awareness to this horrible disease that silently affects so many. I for one intend to be proactive and take steps to prevent the onsteps of this disease. I will make sure my spiritual diet includes lots of fruits to help fight it off.
ReplyDeleteWow, very good devotional. Just what I needed. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI teach grade 5 and read Adam's story yesterday. They noticed Adam's disease really quickly - and all grinned when I asked if anyone else had ever suffered from the same thing!
ReplyDeleteLove your devotion today! How very true... Amen a thousand times!
ReplyDeleteI loved this devotion today. I recently confessed my sin of anger to the Lord and have realized the grace that He has given me to overcome it. I had to call it what it was...SIN! What an amazing God we serve. Thank you for sharing from your heart!
ReplyDeleteI felt like your blog today was written specifically with me in mind. I think it's so easy to get caught up in life and personal problems and such, that you forget to thank the one who matters!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a huge encouragement to seek God and leave sin behind.
God bless your ministry.
Léslie
São Paulo, SP
Brazil
Thanks so much. I love how every message speaks to everyone in different ways!!
ReplyDeleteAmy A.
Wow, I just found your blogs and I must say I am a lot like you in so many ways! My great anguish is that scripture that says oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of sin?? In fact, on my FB bio. I have said the things I want to do, I don't do, and the things I don't want to do, I do! So good to hear someone else struggles with the sin nature! Someone, who the body would think has "made it" spiritually (whatever that means). Thanks for the encouraging posts!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rachel! This one really hit home. I now see that I've had Adams disease for a very long time but it really took hold about a year ago and continues to get worse every day. I know I sin and I do ask for forgiveness but I'm not confessing it all. I keep holding some of it back and shift the blame to anyone other than myself. I can see this in others and try to understand and pray for them but it took your message today for me to really see how much this has taken hold of me and how I MUST let Him take it away. Pray for me that I will be stong enought to let Him lead me and to pray your prayer every day until I can truly own the truth! God Bless you and keep doing what you are doing. It really does reach those that need it.
ReplyDeleteGreat devotion today! A reminder we need often because we are so easily blinded to yourselves. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great way of illustration! And a powerful reminder for me get a check up from the Great Physician over this matter (a booster shot if you will). Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the centering prayer. mheard11@frontier.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for that devotion. I loved this point you made in particular: Adam's eyes were "opened to how miserable it feels to disconnect from God." That's the trueness of sin, isn't it? Sin is missing the mark, and therefore being disconnected from God. And that really does feel miserable, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteBut, thankfully, no matter how imperfect we are, we have a God who loves us - every bit of us! Praise Him!
Thank you for this devotional today. It is a reminder I need to be reminded of frequently. We have an awesome God Who really loves us but our human nature can sure get in the way. Again, thank you and God bless you.
ReplyDeleteFannie in Kansas
I have always had trouble saying "I'm sorry" but I'm getting better about it! I have recently had some difficult experiences but ultimately I know it will make me stronger. I have already seen truths revealed to me and have had several "defining moments" that have shed light on my character and forced me to see some of my wrongdoings in a different light. Even though it was difficult to face up to these things, I'm glad I finally did.
ReplyDeleteAnd I only thought Adam's disease affected men. Wow, did this strike a nerve. Your devotional hit right at home. I have been praying for forgiveness for different situations in my life and I never thought that I might be infected. Thank you for opening my eyes and allowing me to see other areas that I am missing the mark. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteI was uplifted by your devotion today. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this devotional.Saying I'm sorry and asking for forgivness is not one of my favorite things to do,But it is my love for the Lord that humbles me because I desire his presence.love conquers all.
Good Morning. This devotion helped me to realize MY wrong. It's so easy to blame others for YOUR reactions. If they wouldn't do or say ABC then I wouldn't respond the way that I do. It's not very obvious but it's holding someone else accountable for your response and it's wrong. Our Great Physician is holding ME accountable. I must confess my wrong and ask for forgiveness. This devotion was so timely. Just last night, I wasn't loving towards my spouse and justified my actions .... time to get that right!
ReplyDelete~ Very true! I love the way you make this stuff make sense. All of the parts I've been able to read from your book make me want to read it all the more. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog--- oh, yes, I'm another with Adam's Disease. I've never thought about it in those terms. Very insightful. Thanks!
ReplyDeletewhat truth! I see it in myself as much as I recognize it in others. The Healer will set us all free when we make an appointment to see him each day and recite those precious words you wrote. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWow! My girlfriend and I were discussing this Friday night. We were justifying the sin. At the same time I was having conviction. I will share this with her. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt is always so refreshing, touching and simply inspirational how the girlfriend devotionals are to the point, relevant and heart touching. God is truly speaking to us through the words you are all so inspired to write. Today's disease is no exception - Adam's Disease. I wanted to know more about this Disease only to find out it is one we all have, but the Great Physician is able to cure even this one. Thank you Lord that we have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. May we keep our daily appointments with this Great Physician and commit to taking his prescription for our best life NOW!!!
ReplyDeleteI still suffer from Adams Disease..
ReplyDeleteit can be soooo hard for me to admit a mistake or admit I'm wrong....you've opened my eyes to the "pride thing". I've never heard of Adams Disease but ummm, I've got it and need the Great Healer to attack it and I know I've got work to do.
Thanks for your wisdom,
Amy V. *****I will check back to see who won and if it's me :) I'll send you my email.