You know, when I was using, this was a time of year that I was at my worst. Doing anything and everything to get what I wanted. What I thought I needed. Wheeling, dealing, scamming and all the while slowly killing myself. As I wrote in my last post, I was at my bottom. So many times, more than I care to admit, doing things that I knew I shouldn't be doing. Looking back, I truly understand why God saved me.
I really believe that there are those of you out there, ones that are tangled up in the world of addiction and those that are the loved ones of these lost souls in addiction, are hearing what I am trying to say each post, you are not alone! That is one of the most important things that helped me when I was at my bottom. Just one person that understood, that could relate to the way my mind was working or not working I should say.
No one can truly, fully understand what someone that is caught up in the world of active addiction has and/or is going through. You can't fully understand why an addict does some of the things we do, how we look at or perceive things. As I have learned, over the past 5 years, is that one thing holds so very true in a 12 step fellowship, one addict can best understand and help another addict. Meaning that someone in recovery that has been there and done that can understand, empathize completely as to where I am in life, in my recovery. They are my best weapon to fight against this horrible monster of addiction!!
So, it would seem like good reasoning that a christian would be the best line of defense for a sinner who wants to know God. As a recovering addict is the ultimate weapon for another recovering addict, does it not make sense that the born again christian is the ultimate weapon for a sinner seeking Christ and a new way of life? Now I am not going to get 'too deep' in the subject but I do think that there are some out there that can benefit from this, so here I go...
'The ultimate weapon against the disease of addiction is another recovery addict.' Just as this is true for addiction, the same, I think, holds true for Christians. They are the ones that can empathize with the sinner seeking salvation. Why? Well it is as simple as 'been there done that' type thing. As one addict can best understand another addict (cause we know how we do things and how our minds work). Just having someone, just one person, that can understand where I've been, the things that I have done, means so much to a person that truly wants that way of life.
For someone seeking Christianity, all you have to do is accept the gift God gave to us long ago, Jesus and his dying on the cross for all of our sins. For those through the ages, those that are here today and those that have yet to be born, God gave his son, Jesus Christ. And for Him to die on the cross to wash all sinners clean. It is a gift given long ago and all you have to do is accept it.
So simple! As a recovering addict, I was saved by God's loving grace and mercy. That is the only reason I live today, by God's hand and His alone. We, as human beings, can make things so hard and complicated when it is so very simple. I always hear in 12 step programs that this program is a simple program for complicated people.' I think the same kinda holds true for Christians. Life is simple, we as humans complicate it.
I guess what I am getting at is this, God sent His son Jesus for the sole purpose to die for our sins. Years ago a preacher made it sound so simple and today when I look back on that, it really is that simple. God gave us all a gift long ago and all we have to do is accept it for what it is, forgiveness. I have also learned over the past 5 years that life is simple and that God guides me today in my simple life.
Being a Christian, to me, is doing the same thing I do in my recovery; doing the next right thing for the next right reason, helping someone else instead of always helping myself, understanding that not everyone is where I am in life or recovery, understanding that recovery is a process and so is life. It is a 'one day at time' kind of life, whether it is in recovery or just life in general. I believe that the 12 steps that are part of a 12 step program and the Ten Commandments kinda go hand in hand.
The Ten Commandments are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship which play a fundamental role in Christianity. The 12 steps that are part of a '12 step program' are spiritual principles that are learned and applied to one's life. Someone may not agree with that but it is 'that' simple for me. The spiritual principles that are part of my recovery are the same principals I learned many years ago as a child growing up in church and learning about God, Jesus Christ and what being a Christian meant.
And as always, if just one person 'gets it' and reaches out for the help they want and need, please be understanding if that person is you. Know that they see something in you that they need, want for themselves, in their life. Be good to folks even when they are not so good to you. Yes, it's hard at times, but very doable. Pray every day and night and at anytime during the day or night that you want to talk to God. Give God your pain, your burdens.
The saying 'Let go and let God' works. Something just that simple and it says so much more than you think. I know that is it hard to hand things over to God even when you are a Christian, it can be hard to give it to God without picking it back up again to try an 'fix it'. I know it is but that is exactly what we must do.
Please pray with me this Christmas season that folks will remember the 'true' meaning of Christmas. Pray with me that people will start to see what really needs to happen in this country and stand up to your part in life. Take responsibility for your actions and non actions. Learn the principals in life and learn to apply them, live them in your life on a daily basis.
Even if you don't believe quite yet, believe that I believe, until you can believe it for yourself. Prayer is very powerful. It can do things we as humans cannot do. I have first hand proof of prayer working in someones life that has followed God through out her whole battle with leukemia. I have seen a town brought together for the common good and their prayers at work in someones life.
May you all have a wonderful and joyous Christmas! And please remember the true reason for this holiday season, the birth of Jesus Christ to save us from sin. Remember God is so very good. Reach out to people in need this Christmas season and to the children. They are our future and we need not forget them. Do not overlook them and think that they don't matter, they are the ones that truly matter.
I pray that this makes some kind of sense to just that one person, more is okay too. But I have always stated in my posts that if just one person is helped in the smallest of ways then my time of typing it and posting it is all worth it.
Much love and respect to each and everyone of you this Christmas season...
