Friday, December 25, 2020

What Are You Celebrating?

"Sooo, tomorrow's the big day, huh?" someone mocked on Christmas Eve. He didn't add, "for you people," but I knew what he meant. If I hadn't had two calls on hold, a text on the screen, and a dozen other things going on, I probably would have jabbed back and said, "No, that's Resurrection Day, tomorrow is simply the warm-up." He walked away before things could settle down enough for a proper response.

He thinks he's funny. He thinks he's superior. What a shame that is. After our little encounter, it made me wonder, "What is he celebrating?" His children are grown, but there are no grandchildren. He's never spoken of any small children in his life. So, if he's not celebrating Jesus and he's not celebrating Santa, what is Christmas Day to him? Does he ever question not simply why we do this, but why it has been done for hundreds of years? Sure, sure, winter solstice, pagan gods and all that, but the giving thing. What does the giving thing -- maybe not to the extent of the western world but, all over the world, mind you -- have to do with Winter -- especially people who aren't even in the winter season? Why does everyone talk about peace and joy and good will, if this is simply a celebration of astrological or meteorological events? Where did this theme originate if not from the birth of a Miracle? if not from the advent of something glorious for all mankind -- restoration with our Creator? if not from history?

Today might not be the big day, on the Christian calendar, but it is a day of celebrating a promise fulfilled. Today celebrates God's faithful response to mankind's plight. Today celebrates the God's ultimate charity to His creation. Today celebrates the beginning of a life on this temporary earth, for the purpose of many lives begun in eternity. Today begs the question, "If you're not celebrating Jesus, what are you celebrating?"

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps Ten Through Twelve

The last three steps of recovery are considered to be steps of maintenance, meaning they are to be continually practiced once the first nine steps have been thoroughly worked. A life of recovery is just that: it is life-giving and life-permeating. The last three steps -- inventory and action, foundation, and outreach -- ensure recovery remains woven into the fabric of one's life just as work and play, eating and rest. Prayer is essential to supporting the construction of that tapestry.

STEP 10) Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

The Principle of PERSEVERANCE

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3

Dear Lord, this path I pray they will one day walk, is a hard path. There will be no "I've arrived" moments until they hear the words, "Well done," coming from Your lips. This is a path of self-inventory and discipline they will need to walk every minute of every day. It will not be easy, and the rewards may not seem as monumental and forthcoming as they did so early on in the journey; but Lord, I ask You to give them strength to persevere and eyes to see the rewards of recovery. They are there, everyday. I ask that, with a renewed mind, they see themselves critically but dearly loved and not abandoned. I ask that as their shortcomings -- old and new -- are revealed to them, You would embolden them to promptly admit them and take whatever action they are able, to make it right. I ask You to reveal Yourself to them again and again, showing them that You -- the powerful, the good, the eternal -- are always with them. You are the God from whom all blessings flow, and with whom nothing shall be impossible. Amen

STEP 11) 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.

The Principle of SPIRITUALITY

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

My Lord, I have found there is nothing better than You. May they know that as well. May they thirst after You as a castaway searches for fresh water; may they seek after You as a pauper seeks the means to eat; may they long for You as a prisoner longs for fresh air and open skies. I ask that they would want only Your will for them; that they would be assured of Your love for them and Your plans to see them prosper. Lord, help them to walk in Your grace and goodness, and never desire to "go it alone". Give them the certainty when they ask, You will give them all they need to obey and serve You, and fix that petition in their hearts and minds. You will remain with them, You will lead them, You will comfort them when they fall, and You will give them power over temptation -- and they must rely fully on Your presence, direction, comfort and power. Remind them You came not to condemn them, but to save them, and Your salvation is the only true emancipation. Amen

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

The Principle of SERVICE

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

Oh Lord, here we are at a place in their recovery that seems to me so far into the future; but time is of no consequence to You. Your plan for each of us is perfect. It is so difficult for my eyes to see where they are now and envision them counseling and caring for others, but You, O Lord, are our hope and vision. I know they need not walk in fear or loneliness, for You will be with them every step of the way. I am asking You to prepare every place their feet will land and prepare their hearts and minds as they walk. They will not shed one tear or struggle one day without Your knowledge. It is Your comfort, Your trustworthiness, Your presence throughout this journey that will prompt them to selflessly serve others.  I pray they will identify with You and identify with those around them who are struggling, that they might bring Your light to them. I pray their quest to humbly serve You by serving others would be a lifelong quest; and Your strength, which breaks the chains of addiction will not only break theirs, but the chains of many others through their service. Amen

I pray this has blessed you and the lives of those for whom you seek restoration and health.

Monday, December 21, 2020

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps Seven Through Nine

Prayer is such a powerful tool. Often, we find ourselves engaged in warfare against those we love because of their addiction. I am learning to constantly remind myself, through prayer, the warfare is not against them at all. They are as wounded and fatigued by this struggle as we are. Prayer is changing me. As you pray through the steps, bear in mind the change these prayers can engender, in every heart and every circumstance.

STEP 7) Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

The Principle of HUMILITY

"I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32:5

Oh Lord, I ask that they would be humble of heart and liberated of mind. I ask that Your Spirit would reveal to them their shortcomings and give them the certainty they are powerless to correct them. I ask they would recognize You as being powerful and willing to save them, and they would humbly submit to Your transformative hand. I ask they would surrender themselves to full examination by You and by an accountability partner, and they would routinely submit to being held accountable. I ask they would receive godly counsel with open ears and a heart yielded to correction and the sanctification process. Make them new, Oh Lord. May they desire the newness of life You promise in a way that is second only to their desire for You Yourself. May they wake up each day excited at the prospect of Your work in their lives. May they find themselves repulsed at the thought of living with the sins and shortcomings of their past life. May they bow before You and release their grip on anything You desire to remove from them. Amen

STEP 8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.

The Principle of BROTHERLY LOVE

"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." Luke 6:31

Heavenly Father, I ask You to bring them to the realization their addiction has never been solely theirs to bear. You have always been working for good; others have loved them and prayed for them, pleaded with them and raged against their destructive behavior. Help them to see their addiction has done harm to many and been an offense to the One who created them for so much more. Give them the desire to take their recovery so seriously they diligently search the times and places in their lives for those they have harmed; that they make a list and they pray over that list until they have the desire to make amends. Give them clarity as they make this list, help them to see each and every face and admit the damage they have done. At the same time, though, I ask You to remind them that this is who they were, not who they are or who You are making them to be. Amen

STEP 9) Made a direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

The Principle of DISCIPLINE

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24

Oh Lord, I ask You to bring them past the point of recognizing the harm, through taking inventory of their offenses, and on to a place of action. Give them the bold desire to look others in the eye whenever possible and make things right. Give them the courage and strength of character they need to put the well-being of others above their own comfort. Lord, I see it. I have a vision of the mature, disciplined leaders they can be, leaders who stand out by being humble and lead by serving others. Give them a vision of the healed life, the full life, the surrendered life they can experience when they put You and others first. Give them discernment with regard to making amends; show them when such an attempt would cause further harm and guide them through that process of acceptance. Amen

Steps Ten through Twelve tomorrow.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Praying the 12 Steps of Recovery for Those in Addiction: Steps Four Through Six

As we continue praying through the 12 Steps of Recovery, please bear in mind, this is just as much about your recovery as those struggling with addiction. You have been engaged in battle, you have been wounded, and maybe, you have tried to treat those wounds in a way not consistent with a healthy life of your own. Please allow God to work in you as well as through you. For His glory alone.

STEP 4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 

The Principle of COURAGE

"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!" Lamentations 3:40

Lord, I ask You to give them the desire to bring Your light into their world. I ask You to lead them on a comprehensive discovery of who they have been and who they can be in You. Expose their dark places, flush out their ruined lives with truth, reopen festering wounds to be washed clean, and give them the courage to bring these things before You daily. Strengthen them for this exploration, Lord. Much of what has brought them to this place is fear; fill them with Your courage, O Lord. Show them that You are a Rock, that they can lean on You in order to receive newness of life. Prepare the people, places and things around them that, as they uncover parts of themselves -- the unhealthy things in their lives -- they would be replaced by conditions leading them to repentance, to You and to the next step on their journey to recovery. Amen

STEP 5) Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

The Principle of INTEGRITY

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

Heavenly Father, please help them to desire integrity, and to actively seek it in all of their interactions. Please develop in them a desire for authenticity, a desire for transparency that even they are unable to explain. Help them to say what they mean, and mean what they say. Prepare their hearts to submit to accountability. Send someone they will be willing to trust. Send someone who will maintain boundaries. Pull them from the point of recognizing their wrongs to confessing them, speaking them aloud and owning them as past transgressions while seeking to move forward. Keep them from remaining fixated on themselves, and keep them from lingering in a place of guilt and shame any longer than they need in preparation for moving to a better place. Keep their hearts soft and humble; incline Your ear to their prayers and ours. Amen

STEP 6) We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 

The Principle of WILLINGNESS

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor." 1 Peter 5:6

Lord, break them. Bring them to bow before You, humbly, gratefully, willing to accept Your hand on their every thought, their every desire, their every word, their every act. May they be wholly given over to You that Your Spirit might transform them inside and out. May the bonds of addiction be broken as they claim for themselves Your perfect work at the cross. Free them from the slavery of sin. Strip them of their sense of self. But You, O God, are a gracious God! You will not leave them in that place. Fill them with Your character. Show them who they are in You. Give them a glimpse of what could be that they might gladly release the worthless things they cling to, and shed the garments of sloth and fear. Exchange their ashes for beauty, and keep their voices forever praising You. Amen

Steps Seven through Nine tomorrow.