Alcoholism Support Group
Alcoholism is the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, even when it is negatively affecting your health, work, relationships and life. If you think alcohol is causing you to lose control, it's time to seek help. Our group is a safe place to vent, check in, get back up if you fall, and reach sobriety.
People often ask, "How does the program work?" The how of this program is Honesty; Open-mindedness, and Willingness. Often we must pray for willingness; sometimes we even have to pray to be willing to be willing!
We have very stubborn wills. If surrendered daily, however, they can accomplish much good for others and ourselves. Surely those who say, "I will, I will" and don't are not as close to the heart of God as those who say "I will not," but do!
Am I really willing?
God, help me realize that to do your will for me today, in however small a way, I must let go of my own will.
We have very stubborn wills. If surrendered daily, however, they can accomplish much good for others and ourselves. Surely those who say, "I will, I will" and don't are not as close to the heart of God as those who say "I will not," but do!
Am I really willing?
God, help me realize that to do your will for me today, in however small a way, I must let go of my own will.
There's a scripture I love in Romans 7 where when I mess up - I don't stand in condemnation of myself (anymore) because I am not condemned in Christ and always think about this one:
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to dothis I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in Gods law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to Gods law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin.
Paul is saying we are flesh and spirit and we always have to beat the flesh to be in submission to the spirit. It's definitely a war, but in the end, thanks to Jesus Christ, we know who loses - so knowing that, we can shoot for more victory than defeat in life.
LOVE YOUR POST!
I had to see it for the grief it was causing me. Especially after being sober for a bit! Alcoholism is a Subtle foe. What a gem that statement was for me :)
Billy
For me sometimes I think I am willing but when I look at my actions it turns out that I am not. What I am actually doing, as opposed to what I say I am going to do, is the biggest indicator of whether I am willing or not.
As in your post - am I saying "I will, I will" or do I actually do!!
Didn't Christ show more love for the sinner than the righteous?
I really don't know myself ,just askin' how you determined that conclusion.
I do agree with the idea of continual surrender,it seems if my surrender goes out of my mind it,s soon after out of my soul.
It just occurred to me you may be quoting some writing,if so could you provide the source please?
For me, my stubbornness (or maybe the better word is determination), which is an asset and has served me well in many areas, has been the last thing I needed to let go to make lasting change. It kept me a high-functioning alcoholic for years. Or I would quit, and restore my life, save the money, and heal the relationships. And then, after I had done well, I looked around and saw that my life could withstand a few drinks. And as there was nothing else operating in me to challenge it, and no one on the outside, I would become determined to give myself that reward for all my hard work. And we know the rest of that story.
I am a strong person, and I still rely on that, but it's been a blessing and relief to start learning to do that in an entirely different way, which I am willing to believe will protect my sobriety in the long, long-term.