Sid's Recovery

Thankfulness
Early in recovery there came to me a burning desire to share with others what amazing things the Lord had been doing in my life. My thankfulness to God and to those who showed me the way was overwhelming. But, for fear of what people would think or do, I wasn't able to share, as I would have liked. It was several years before I discovered a Christian 12-Step group. I wasn't interested, at first, because I had heard many negative comments about groups like this. But, when I came to realize that 12-Step taught the very same things that I had been learning (by the grace of Christ), I decided to give it a try. It was there that I found the safe, warm place that I needed so that I could share the wonderful victories that God was working in my life.

No sooner does one come to Christ
than there is born in his heart
a desire to make known to others
what a precious friend he has found in Jesus.
(Steps to Christ, p. 78)

Vigilance
When I think of the last part of Step 12, "we tried ... to practice these principles in all our affairs", the one word that comes to mind is "vigilance". One dictionary definition is, "The quality or state of being watchful and alert to danger or trouble". I have spent much of my time, since the beginning of my recovery in 1994, studying, praying about, and contemplating just what it is that causes me to gain the victory over those sins that so easily beset me. The apostle Paul put it this way, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," (Hebrews 12:1).

In a practical way, I've often wondered how can I concisely describe the way this works (when I work it) in my own life. Let me start by saying that I believe that I have been in error on two opposite extremes. The first was when I used vigilance in my personal determination to beat those temptations, expecting God to help me do it my own way. For 25 years, this didn't work for me. The second was when I used vigilance in my devotion to God; well at least I paid Him lip service, expecting that He would remove the temptations from me. But neither of those methods brought lasting victory over my negative behaviors. It is only when I am vigilant in my devotion to God (willing to do things His way), and (at the same time) vigilant in my determination to resist the temptation with all the power that I have (no matter how little that may be), that God gives me the victory.

James said it this way, "He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, 'God opposes the proud but favors the humble.' So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." (James 4:6-8).

"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." (Step 12)

"Be [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

It's tempting for me to be anxious when life gets hard, forgetting that no matter how hard it gets, God is still there for me. I must remind myself that "... God is faithful, who will not suffer you [or me] to be tempted above that [we] are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that [we] may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).

It's easy for me to get anxious about all the things I think I need to do. But am I seeking God's will as to what HE would have me to do? Maybe I'm taking on more than what He has directed me to do.

Whenever I humbly seek God in prayer -- letting my concerns be known to Him, surrendering my anxiousness to Him, and seeking His will for me -- He gives me wisdom. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5). And, He gives me peace. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

The Father's presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at him falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes from Christ. He has no need to resist evil, for Christ is his defense. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord's permission, and "all things" that are permitted "work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8:28). {Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing 71}

For these things, and so much more, especially the infinite sacrifice that Jesus made to save me, I am eternally grateful to God. So, when life gets tough, and when life gets hectic, I must look to the author of my eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9), and focus on the best things...

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." (Step 11)