Monday, November 02, 2009
“We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
When I read this step from Alcoholics Anonymous, initially I feel a bit uncomfortable. In the first step, we admitted we were powerless over our addiction or compulsive behavior and that our lives had become unmanageable. Makes sense. We can’t stop on our own = it’s out of control. In this second step, the goal of “sanity” enters the picture. Hey, wait a minute! I never said I was lacking in sanity!
Let’s take a look at insanity by asking ourselves some questions*. What things did we do in our addiction that we can hardly believe when we look back at them? Did we put ourselves or others in dangerous situations? How did we behave in ways of which we’re now ashamed? Did we quit jobs, avoid family, leave friendships or church because those things interfered with our addictions?
When I think of the risks that I took behind the wheel and under the influence, literally seeing double, I shudder. That was crazy, senseless behavior, but typical of an addicted person. I could have killed someone. How about the choice to smoke or take illegal drugs while my young children were at home with a babysitter? Was that sane? I thought it was. After all, the responsibility for child care was checked off in my mind. In fact, my actions could have resulted in me going to jail and my children being put in foster care. That just seemed too far-fetched, so I ignored it. Disregarding the truth is not smart or sane. Now that my children are young adults and hindsight is so clear, my thinking that they would not be affected by Mommy having her “night out” was whacked out too. Oh, so much restoring to sanity needed to take place in my life.
Do you have any trouble with the goal of being restored to sanity? You’ve admitted you are powerless over your addiction or behavior; are you ready to admit your need to be restored to sanity? What will sanity look like for you?
What could restore us all to sanity? The second step says, “A Power greater than ourselves.” No power other than Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord can restore us to sanity. There is no greater power. There is no other God. He is so capable and so willing!
However, not everyone believes in Christ. It can be a scary thing to believe in a God that we cannot see. What fears might you have about believing in Christ? Has your belief in God and hope for recovery grown since you started trying to change? What things have you done that you feel are an indication that you are trusting God for your recovery?
For me, it was and still is reading the Bible, praying, and believing that God is able and willing to work this out of my life, as well as, being truthful with myself, God and others.
Belief is the key. If I believe a chair will hold me up, then I can sit in that chair. If I believe that God will help me get free from my addiction, then I can seek Him and keep seeking Him. This is a process for most of us. That’s why we call them “steps.” Believing God loves you and is bigger than your addiction is a great step. Are you taking this step? What can you tell others about your personal story in taking the step to believe that God is greater than you and can restore you to sanity?
*Used with permission from materials provided at
Recovery for the City .
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Maybe there's someone else who's been convicted in their heart of a need to seek God's help in getting rid of a behavior through the twelve steps just like people with addictions. I can testify that there are many, many people who have found that God can use these basic steps to cleanse more than addictions from our lives. There are people in our group working through steps to get rid of anger, codependency, pornography, pride, and overeating (to name a few). What does God want you to get rid of
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Dr. Paul's profile of a porn addict: He is 12-years-old and began experimenting with looking through search engines. Sex and sexual terms are most searched for in the internet! By the time he is 30, he has years of uncontrollable lust. He may have never acted out illegally, but the pressure is on. The family has discovered the secret and it’s time to change!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
For those who are trying to quit and have a loved one pulling for you, what have you found to be helpful? What have you found to be annoying? If we all want the same result, freedom for the one in bondage, how can we best go about this in our relationships?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
When we gave our lives over to Jesus Christ, the beer didn’t disappear. He met us and saved us just like we were, drunks and all the other stuff. He walked with us as we learned His truths about many things, but never demanded that we give something up right then or he’d leave us. In fact, He promised to never leave us or forsake us.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
A person usually begins taking a narcotic during the treatment of a legitimate medical problem that needs more than an aspirin to kill the pain. And if you have a chronic pain condition, the heavy duty pain killers that work (namely narcotics like Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Demerol) become your sole source of life without pain. And since they’re prescribed by a doctor, covered by health insurance, effective for pain relief and available at the pharmacy – why not take them?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
My life was still steeped in the addiction, so the Lord laid it on my heart to voluntarily step down from the ministry before any damage was done to the young hearts He was building up for His Kingdom by my secret life being exposed. This was one of the toughest things I ever did. My heart broke over leaving a ministry that I loved and broke even more when I realized that something had such a hold on me that I would give up leading these beautiful young children because of it.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I never understood why we had to say we were alcoholics just because we drank a lot. I didn’t think I was addicted. In fact, I really thought I could quit any of those things anytime I wanted. I just chose to do them. But, when the time came that I did try to quit, I had trouble with each of them. Have you ever been there? Where you thought you could give something up when you chose to and then found out you couldn’t? Are you still there?