Sid's Recovery

As near as I can tell, there are only two great powers in this world -- The power of Goodness and the power of evil. Depending upon our learning history we may call these powers by different names. But I suspect that, deep down, nearly all recognize these two opposing forces at work in their lives.

Rather than focusing on the naming of these powers, Step 3 is all about which of these great powers we choose to ally ourselves with, to serve, and to obey. Will we continue to serve the god of self-centeredness who has led us into our destructive patterns of dysfunction? Or, will we choose to serve the God of goodness, mercy, and love -- who longs to deliver us from those behaviors that bring us so much pain -- the God that we declared in Step 2.

This is the God that will never leave us, nor forsake us, but rather will be with us and help us till the end... This is the God who would never lead us down paths that we would not choose for ourselves, if we could see the end from the beginning -- as He can.

And so, I invite you this day to choose you, whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the God of goodness, love, and deliverance -- the God of my understanding (Joshua 24:15).

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

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

I came to believe that my higher power, God the Father through Jesus Christ, not only could restore me to sanity, but longs to do that good work in me. Here are some reasons why:

• I came to realize that I could NOT restore myself (Step 1), that I needed a higher power than myself.
• The angel said that Jesus "shall save his people from their sins". (Mt 1:21)
• Paul said that we are NOT "sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor 3:5).
• And that we can be "strengthened with might by his Spirit" (Eph 3:16).
• Jesus "is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him " (Heb 7:25).
• Jesus is "not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter 3:9) and is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Eph 3:20)
• But, my biggest reason for believing is because Jesus does all these things for me, as I put my trust more and more fully in Him and choose to follow Him (Step 3). This is why I can say with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4).

"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." (Step 2)