We will go more in depth regarding the 12 steps in Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA) later on, but for now I would like to talk briefly about the second step, which is: “we came to be aware that a Power greater than ours could restore us to sanity” Without going in depth into the second step (which we will do later on), AA and NA call us to have faith in a Higher Power. Your Higher Power may vary from mine, which is fine. I call my Higher Power “God” and believe that it is His will that I remain sober.
In the Bible the apostle Paul tells Timothy to stop drinking only water and use a little wine for medical reasons (1 Timothy 5:23). And Jesus’ first miracle involved turning water into wine (John 2:3-11). Due to these passages one might surmise that the act of drinking alcohol in itself is not a sin or wrong. Which I agree with, but there are also many instances in the Bible where becoming drunk is viewed as wrong or a sin. In Ephesians 5:18 God says “do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery”. In Proverbs 31:4 it says that ‘it is not for rulers to crave beer”.
As someone with the disease of addiction I cannot ensure that I can consume alcohol at a rate which will keep me from becoming drunk. In fact, I would say if I were to drink alcohol again, more often than not, I would become drunk. Because of this then, it is my belief that it is God’s will for me to remain sober.
There are a few prayers I would like to introduce in hopes you may find peace in them, if even just for the moment. The first is the Serenity Prayer, the second is the Third Step Prayer, and the third is my prayer:
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to except the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Third Step Prayer
God, I offer myself to you to build with me and to do with me as you will. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do your will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of your power, your love, and your way of life. May I do this always.
God, help me to get through this day, for this I pray! Help me to do what’s right and not live only by sight. God, show me the path you would have me walk and help me to remember you are my foundation; more solid than a rock! Please forgive me when I do wrong and help me to stay strong. Help me to show respect and never neglect. Help me to forgive those who wrong me and show them the right way to be! God, help me to always make the right decision and to wisdom always listen. Give me the guidance I seek and help me from becoming weak! Help me to remember you’re the reason I’m alive and for goodness I should strive. Now God I would like to thank you for all that you do! Thank you for this day and allowing me to live this way, thank you for my wonderful family, without them I don’t know where I would be. Thank you for giving me opportunity even though I sometimes live stupidly. God please be with me until we talk again… Amen.
As I stated earlier, your Higher Power may be different than mine, which is totally fine. What is important in this context is that you do have a Higher Power that you can go to in times of difficulty. Whoever or whatever that Higher Power might be, I hope it brings you peace. Today you can align with your higher power’s will! Today you can remain sober!
(Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash)