Healing
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Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way. Do not be with heavydrinkersof wine,Or with gluttonouseatersof meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.… -Proverbs 23: 19-21
The Bible warns us that woe will follow when we don't follow His commands. Too much booze, too much food –trouble!
Even people who profess to know Jesus get trapped in besetting sins – habitual sins that they have trouble overcoming.
A guy I've known for more than three years has been having a constant bout with the bottle. As a result of his sin of drunkenness, he lost his girlfriend, who even sat in on a local Bible study, whose participants were mainly people who were in the 12 Step program the church offered, to check it out for him. On one occasion, when I offered to go to the 12 Step program with him, he begged off. He said that he was too frantic to go. I told him this is when he needed to go – that it's broken people who need this program – they need God's help. One night at a community meal for the homeless and those in need, however, he told me that he had been going to 12 Step programs at other churches. I encouraged him and related testimonies from the book Narcotics Anonymous, where recovered addicts said they went to as many meetings as possible, sometimes every day for a period.
But, as a dog returns to its vomit, he returned to his sin. He ended up in the hospital, again, as a result of excessive drinking and smoking. He was transferred to a nursing home, from which he walked out. Started drinking and smoking again. Last I heard, he returned to the nursing home.
A friend who's been working with him remarked "Alcohol and cigarettes have become his god."
As a result of these gods, our friend had to sell his house – the family house which his parents bought in the 50s. The new owners were gracious. While he was in the hospital, three other people and I helped salvage valuables such as guitars and put them in storage. God gave us old folks the courage(and strength) to change what we could by doing this. And we are relying on God's grace to accept the things we can't. At one point, the guy's friend ignored his texts and just let him go his way. He explained that the guy just wanted to con him and that if he obliged, he would just enable his bad behavior.
Asa result of gluttony, a couple also suffered loss. They had to leave the husband's father's home after the daddied, and lived in their suburban truck with the pets for a time. They got kicked out by relatives, very likely because they ate them out of house and home and sponged off of them.Last I heard they were living with relatives, and that someone was trying to help them get a place of their own. Because of their gluttony, friends, including myself, have distanced themselves from them. When the wife repeatedly tried to con me, when she asked about my friend with cancer I replied "what do you care; all you care about is feeding your face at other people's expense." Not a gracious response, but it hit the nail on the head.
When our problems become overwhelming, all we can do is surrender to God. The first step in the TwelveStep program, as tailored for Celebrate Recovery, a scriptural based program to help heal hurts, habits and hang ups: "We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable. Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."
Whatever the addiction, problem, there's a common root. The Bible and God are sufficient to help resolve any mental/spiritual problem. This is why programs such as Celebrate Recovery deal with many issues.
The TwelveSteps grew out of Alcoholics Anonymous. Before AA, there was what became to be known as The Oxford Group, a Christian fellowship founded by a Lutheran minister. AA believed that alcoholics were in a state of insanity rather than sin, but The Oxford Group preached that the problem was a result of sin.
Today some Christians reject some versions of the Twelve Steps and parts of AA, believing that to adopt it "as is" they would be integrating worldly views into the church. One program in the Philadelphia area that helps people break the chains of addiction doesn't use the Twelve Steps at all. When I asked someone from that organization on Facebook if they use The Twelve Steps, she said that the group uses the Bible. Celebrate Recovery uses the Twelve Steps but tailors the program in the tradition of The Oxford Group.
Historically, The Twelve Steps program has been very successful.
When we go our own way, trouble follows. But when we walk with the Lord:
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
-Psalm 1: 1-3
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Another well written article.
From experience I can state that Twelve Step Programs can be very helpful. I was a member of of Al Anon for about 6 years at the turn of the century. Many wonderful, and quite sane people were in the program. It provided help to me. I liked the fact that it was centered on the idea of a "higher power", which to my understanding is God.
I am glad to hear that your friend Sandi had a turn around for the better and drank alot of juice.
Enjoy every minute with her. Life is a gift from God. None of us know how long we have. Each breath is a gift. It is wonderful that you share God's word with her. Keep in mind that Christ said "That which you do for the least of my brothers or sisters you do for me." See Christ in the eyes and the heart of Sandi. Let others see Christ in you.
The journey in your life, helping Sandi, might seem long and difficult, but the Lord is with you both. When you feel like you cannot take another step, look down at the sand. The one set of footsteps you see are the Lord's, as He carries you through difficult times.
Remain steadfast in your love and obedience for Christ. He is always with you!
Roland