Wings Devotional Recovery ... February 29, 2008

Just For Today -- Illness

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

"Few indeed are the practicing addicts who have any idea how irrational they are, or seeing their irrationality, can bear to face it.  Some will be willing to term themselves 'problem users', but cannot endure the suggestion that they are in fact mentally ill.

They are abetted in this blindness by a world which does not understand the difference between sane drinking and abusing.  'Sanity' is defined as 'soundness of mind.'

Yet no addict, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior, whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber, can claim 'soundness of mind' for himself."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 32-33 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation
is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©
Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

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When we are practicing or active in our addiction then we do not see anything clearly because we are altering our minds and the only focus we have is to get our drug of choice and to keep getting it, so we do not suffer.  To our insane thinking, that is a normal day.

We are not so blinded that we cannot see that we are a little more excessive in this drinking/drugging behavior than others but we surely cannot think that we are 'mentally ill'.  That term is not something we would ever be willing to accept.  When confronted with the truth of our problem and our insanity, we react rather poorly and are appalled at someone suggesting such a thing.

What it takes is coming to believe in Jesus who has a greater, or the greatest power to remove this demon of addiction that clouds our mind and our very being.  This is something we did not realize we had to do and is something we cannot begin to do without God performing the change. 

With that realization that Jesus is greater than we and that He can restore us to sanity, we are allowing Him to begin a good work in us to restore is to a sound mind.  We lose our mind because we now have the mind of Christ.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 

16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM?  But we have the mind of Christ. -- I Corinthians 2:12-16

* As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

·        greater personal discipline,

·        worldwide persecuted Christians,

·        Hedge of protection to our children

·        Blessings to our spouses

·        Godly men in Government

·        Rest and Peace to our pastors

·        Your activities for the day.

Love One Another

Stand Together

Fight this war, no matter the cost

Pray for our children

Turn our hearts toward heaven

Seek to be one nation under God.

God Bless and Guide You in your Christian Walk Today

“The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
-- Numbers 6:24-27

You can help when no one else can."
  -- c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
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