Words of Wisdom, Email Newsletter
WoW 091: On the two essentials to recovery, Recovery part 8
This is Part 8 in a series on Recovery.
On Recovery, Part 1
On dualities, sacrifice, and treasure. Part 2
On devotion via acceptance, Part 3
On the vision of your life, Part 4
On exposure and commitment, Part 5
On expectations and resentment, Recovery, Part 6
On trust and the devastation of betrayal, Recovery, Part 7
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Listen to every Words of Wisdom ever recorded.
Recovery is about prayer and action.
The entire point of recovery, according to the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous, is to get you into what they call daily, moment-by-moment, "conscious contact" with God.
Prayer.
Wait. What?
Isn't recovery about stopping the behavior?
That's a part of it. But no, stopping an addictive behavior only sets the table for the feast. The real value and power come from practicing the presence of God. Abiding in Christ.
Why? Because you are powerless to overcome your greatest struggle on your own. Whether that is alcohol, selfish sexual behavior, codependence, fear of others, anger, over-eating, overworking, addiction, sin, or compulsive behavior, it doesn't matter. It's the same story. Either you are in control and powerful enough to change, or you are not.
You are not in control.
You're not in control of overcoming your struggles on your own.
You need God.
You cannot become who you want to become on your own strength.
The old Christian word for this is depravity. Our hearts are bent and twisted and cannot be straightened on their own.
You desperately need God.
The purpose of the Christian life, the purpose of recovery, is prayer. Loving union.
But it's more than becoming a monk so that you can pray constantly without distraction.
Real prayer leads to virtuous action.
Serving others.
Sacrificing so someone else can benefit.
Genuinely loving others through God's strength has turned the world upside down.
As John 15 tells us, your life's purpose is to abide in God, and if you do this, you will bear fruit.
Prayer and action.
Seeking God's will in the moment so you can act on it immediately.
This is recovery.
This is what it means to be a Christian.
A follower of the Way.
Pray because you desperately need God. You need Him to guide you each step of the way.
Not taking action out of religious guilt, or because you 'should,' or so you can earn salvation.
Take loving action.
God alone is the most beautiful.
God alone is good.
God alone knows what is best for you.
Take courageous action to advance God's loving Kingdom, not your small ambition.
Listen to the Spirit and respond in obedience. Aim to do this every moment. That's it.
True wisdom is virtuous skill in living out of a loving relationship with God.
Quotes
"The purpose of your life is to have a fruit-bearing relationship with Jesus Christ."
Dan Frank, Sermon from Grace Church Reno
"That we need only to recognize GOD intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done."
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
"My beloved is the most beautiful Among thousands and thousands."
Worship Mob, Yeshua
Questions
What fear, selfish ambition, or resentment do you need to surrender to God?
A question to pray: How can I serve You?
How is God leading you?
(Use these questions as a journal prompt and prayers this week)
Endnote
Pray because you can't. Act because you can.
Live wisely,
Josh
Did someone se to you? Do you want to cultivate more of the good, true, courageous, and beautiful in your life?
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