Sid's Recovery

Once we've learned to admit our powerlessness (John 5:19,30) and assent to God's all-powerfulness (Zephaniah 3:16-17), then we need to take action. But the action I took kept me bound in my addictions for 25 years.

I would continually try to try harder to resist the devil. I was in charge, trying to do hand-to-hand battle with the devil and I was the loser. Trying harder is a dialog between us and satan. How foolish is that?!

It wasn't until I began to surrender myself to God, in each moment of temptation, that I began to experience real victory. What's the difference? Rather than dialoging with satan, when I surrender my will to God, the dialog is between me and God. As a result, God has a dialog with satan. When that happens, satan loses and I win. But I only win because I admit my powerlessness, assent to God's all-powerfulness and take the action of submitting my will to God's. Then, God fights the battle for me -- and wins!

Deliverance does not come in my strength, but rather in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9). That's faith. That's why it was said of the people of faith in Hebrews 11 that, "out of weakness [they] were mad strong [and] waxed valiant in fight" (Hebrews 11:34).

He understands my weaknesses, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:15-16). All I ever have to ask, in times of temptation, is "Lord, what would you have me to do? (Acts 9:6). Whenever I do this -- with a surrendered spirit -- He gives me the victory. The victory is the Lord's, but it only happens with my cooperation. I can do nothing without Him (John 15:5), but "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13).

One of my favorite authors has made numerous statements supporting this step of surrender. Here are just a couple. "When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven… The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God." (DA 173). "As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All His biddings are enablings." (COL 333).

And so, I must frequently ask the question, "Who’s in charge?" Is it me, or am I choosing God as, not only my Savior, but my Lord as well? This is my prayer: "Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all." (1 Chronicles 29:11) -- Especially me.

"Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." (Step 3)