Step 2:  Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Addictions are dis-eases of the mind, the body, and the spirit.  As we approach recovery, we need to do so with our minds and emotions; with our physical bodies; and with our spirits.  Our physical health has suffered.  Our emotions are strung taut.  We feel alienated from God.  We feel that nothing and no one can help us.  

I am here to tell you that is a lie!  There is help.  There is that greater Power.  I firmly believe that one of Satan's greatest lies is the lie that since I have sinned already - maybe serious and multiple sins - therefore, I am a lost cause.  "How dare you pray!  What makes you think God would listen to you!  You are not worthy of His love!"  I repeat: a lie.  

Not worthy of His love?  None of us are!  Yet He gives it freely.  He gave it in the Garden and on the cross and He gives it today.  We're the ones judging ourselves.  We're the ones holding ourselves away from His love and grace.

That Power greater than me is Jesus Christ. 

On rare occasions, a person receives that gift of grace all at once.  Paul, on the road to Damascus is a perfect example of instant grace and it was so overwhelming that he was struck blind for three days.  Alma the Younger had a similar experience and was comotose for the same three days.  Lamoni.  His wife. All had miracle conversions. I have personally known people who have asked Jesus to come into their lives and they had such an experience.  But for most of us, it comes a step-at-a-time; line-upon-line; precept-upon-precept.  When you recognize the Savior and come to realize that He can bring sanity back to an insanely confused life, be grateful if you get a miracle, but don't give up if you don't.

The prophet, Elijah, had a remarkable experinece with the Power of God when he called down fire from heaven and burnt the offering, the altar stones, the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. (1 Kings 18: 38)  But when he ran from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, he couldn't find God.  Elijah stood on a mountain and there was a great wind; but God was not in the wind.  Then there was an earthquake; but God was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake, there was a fire; but God was not in the fire.  And after the fire, there was a still, small voice.  That is where Elijah found God. (1 Kings 19: 11-12).  Even this great prophet had to learn that God's power is not always manifest in great miracles, but in small and tender experiences with the refining power of the Holy Spirit.

So, on a practical note: how do you do it?  Here are some things that work for me:

• Commit to abstain.
• Have faith that Jesus Christ can come into your life and change your life. 
• Pray every day.  Talk to Him about specifics as if He were standing right in front of you.
• Meditate after praying so that you can listen for His answers from the "still, small voice."
• Read the scriptures every day - even if it is only a verse or two.
• Ponder what you read.
• Keep a journal and write down prayers, answers to prayers, special scriptures, and teachings from the Spirit that may come throughout your day.

You are on your way.

Text © 2012 Gebara Education

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