Julie Roe

Have you ever had mixed emotions about your spouse? I have.

One day I got out of bed and began my regular devotional time with the Lord, reading the Word, studying a powerful book and praying. When I stood to my feet, I was filled with peace and gratitude. The kitchen was first on my agenda.

One of the instructions given to us in the Bible is to have the mind of Christ. We read in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (NKJV). Have you ever wondered how this is possible?

Certainly, we know how important it is. God created the human mind as a combination of conscious and unconscious processes (thoughts) of the brain that direct our mental and physical behavior. Our thoughts influence our actions. It follows, then, that if we want to act like Christ, we must also think like Him.

Do you say yes when you really want to say no? Do you "walk on eggshells" around certain people, believing you can control their emotions? Do you think you must have solutions for other people's problems?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be codependent.

Codependent literally means "dependent with." People can become "dependent with," or on, a substance, such as alcohol or drugs; a behavior, such as irregular eating or compulsive shopping; or other people, such as a spouse or adult child.

How does codependency develop?