Kind of revisiting some thoughts on recovery. Why? Because during this pandemic, we have seen attendance at meetings go down. People, for whatever reason, have pulled back. I'm sure that there are those who do not feel safe being a a group of people. I get that. I'm sure that there are some who have gotten very comfortable with the idea of "live streaming" a meeting. While that is a good thing, it really takes away the one thing we all need as a people in recovery.What would that be? Contact! Face to face----talking----sharing----accountability.
Going back through some of my old note from when I was at Rapha, I found the following definition of recovery. "The entire process of healing from the painful effects of dysfunctional behavior." Think of it like this; God created us with a glorious purpose that would be revealed as we grew. Sin warped and twisted that purpose. So recovery is the process of restoring that which sin has taken away.
Now here is the real kicker. Recovery is for everyone. Not just those who are in bondage to alcohol or drugs. Truly for some recovery is specialized. For those in addiction recovery includes restoration of sobriety, but it goes beyond abstinence from drinking or using.
There are some who by sheer determination stop using, but they become emotionally and spiritually hard and brittle from the strain of fighting the urges to use. The goal of real recovery is to live a life of joyful obedience---(are you ready for this next statement?) To maintain abstinence because WE WANT TO....not because we have to.
Here is the heart of what recovery really is from the workbook Conquering Chemical Dependency. "Recovery means developing the Christ honoring lifestyle that meets the needs we tried to satisfy with our drinking and using."
As with any journey, it begins with the first step. So does recovery. If you decide to take this step, it will seem scary, and everything in you will scream "You can't do this!" But believe me, the goal is to just focus on this day and this first step. Truth be known, all you can do is this first day. Yesterday has passed on....tomorrow has not yet arrived.....so all we have is this day.
STEP # 1- We admit that by ourselves we are powerless over the substances we have used (whether alcohol or drugs)---that our lives have become unmanageable.
The truth of this step is found in Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."
As a recovery Church, we are here to help you begin this journey. We are connected to a number of other meetings that have the same goal as we do. If you are struggling today, then leave a message on our RECOVERY CHURCH ON BROAD STREET Facebook page and I will contact you. And if you don't remember anything else .....know that God loves you, and so do we.
God on you.....
Michael Bynum
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