I have done so many crazy things in my life it is hard to understand sometimes how I made it to this place in one piece. Of course, I believe it is God’s plan and God’s will, but I still think I challenged His planning many times!
One that comes to mind, happened years ago when I was working and living in Utah. A few people I knew were going to Cheyenne, Wyoming for what I think they call now Frontier Days. I thought back then it was called Pioneer Days, but I could be wrong. Anyway, it is an all-out celebration which I think runs for about ten days. There is a rodeo that has the best riders in the country and sure enough there is a whole lot of partying going on.
Cheyenne is not a big town but during this event the population explodes. Back in the day, getting a motel room was impossible. We had planned to do what many did, camp out and live rough for a few days. The rest of our plan was to see as much of the rodeo as we could over the weekend and join in any of the rest of the festivities as possible.
The one thing, for sure, Cheyenne was not lacking in was bars. There were a whole lot of them. Seeing I drove my own vehicle I headed downtown while some of the others scouted out a good place for camping. I figured I would just have a few drinks then I was supposed to meet up with the group at the fair grounds around one in the afternoon, that was about two hours away. My problem then and still would be now, I could never just have a few drinks.
Well, I did just have a few but that was a few in a bunch of different bars. Of course, I lost track of time and when I finally looked at my watch it was around one thirty. This was the days before cell phones, I had no way to call my friends, so I decided I would just get in my truck and see if I could find them once I got over to the fair grounds. There was only one problem. I couldn’t find my truck. Completely lost and drunk I wandered the streets for what seemed hours.
I knew I had parked it in a lot but for the life of me I couldn’t find it. Finally, as I was passing a bar I decided just to go in and have a few more. Maybe I could recall the name of the street or maybe the name of that first bar I drank in. But all it led to was more drinking and when I left that place it was dark. Man, I was tired and as I came upon a little place that had benches I decided to sit down. The next thing I knew I was being rousted by cops and without getting into what happened, suffice it to say I ended up in a jail cell. Drunk and disorderly was the charge. Once again, I had let alcohol decide my fate.
This was an all too typical story from my years struggling with addictions. I would start out with good intentions. Go some place to enjoy and have a good time. But I would never choose to do so sober. And because of that most of my good intentions were wasted.
We are just wrapping up a 14-week session of Celebrating Life in Recovery. An awesome program which I have been involved in for years. If you have been following this blog, you know I have written about it several times. And in fact, there is a link for the ministry somewhere on the page you are reading right now. If you are interested check it out. In the 13th week we always review the 12 steps that are part of all the first 12 weeks of the program. These steps and the Bible verses associated with them can truly change lives. I thought today I would share them:
THE 12 STEPS
STEP 1
We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive
behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature, For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out,” (Romans 7:18)
STEP 2
We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore
us to sanity.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good
purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
STEP 3
We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as Iiving sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”(Romans 12:1)
STEP 4
We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
“Let us examine Our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord.”
(Lamentations 3:40)
STEP 5
We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact
nature of our wrongs.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for each other that
you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
STEP 6
We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
STEP 7
We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
‘If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
STEP 8
We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make
amends to them all.
“Do unto Others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
STEP 9
We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to
do so would injure them or others.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your
gift,” (Matthew 5: 23-24)
STEP 10
We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong,
promptly admitted it.
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t
fall (1 Corinthians 10:12)
STEP 11
We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact
with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to
carry it out.
“let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
STEP 12
Having had a spiritual experience as a result of these steps, we tried to carry
this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
You see these 12 steps are not just for us who are lost in addictions they are a new and better way to do a check up on your own walk with God. Maybe this is a good day to start and draw closer to Him.
I never did find my friends and when I finally got out of jail I remembered where my truck was, but it had been impounded. It was a costly weekend and I never did get to the rodeo! I am blessed I did make it through those times and now every time I do a 12-step checkup, I am reminded how far God has led me and how far I still must go. I pray if you are struggling today these steps may help and bless you also.
Blessings and Happy Sabbath, John
5/11/18
