Recovery Lane
Wisdom for Today
Desire is one aspect of addiction that can get really out of hand. All human beings are born with abundant natural desires. But add alcohol and drugs to these natural desires and it isn't strange that we often far exceed their intended purpose. We all desire liquid to quiet our thirst. But when our desire is for a "cold one," then we have a tendency to let our desire run wild. When desire drives us blindly, or we willfully demand more than what is possible, then we head down a road of self-destruction. For many of us it was not just the alcohol or drugs that we desired. But desire took us looking for money, power, sex, and even revenge. Addiction and desire became warped and took us to our bottom.
If we ask, God will certainly forgive our insatiable thirst for satisfaction of our warped desires. But He does not leave us with no desire. Even in recovery, desire can be our friend or our foe. If we desire a life - clean and sober, then desire can be our friend. When we desire to follow the path of the steps, then we find happiness. However, if we continue to let desire lead us in an unhealthy direction, then we will reap the consequences this brings. If we desire to run the show our way, it is certain to bring us back to our knees. In recovery, we learn that we must desire to do His will, if we want to find freedom. Where are my desires taking me?
Meditations for the Heart
One temptation I face is to pray for specific outcomes for others I care about. I admit that the prayers I pray are often well intended, because I seek to have God help someone I care about. But when I will ask God to remove their pain, to relieve their struggle, I am also at risk for assuming that I know what God's will for these individuals is. These prayers are said as well intended requests of God. Yet, these very same prayers can get me into trouble. It is all too easy for me to begin to suppose to know the will of God. It is as if I ask these things assuming that this is His will. This type of presumption and conceit can lead me into a very bad place. It took me a while to understand this temptation - to see that I was acting as if I knew what God's plan is. In the program I have learned that I ought to pray for God's will to be done for others as well as for myself. Do I pray with presumption of my knowing God's will?
Petitions to my Higher Power
God,
Your wisdom is far beyond my understanding. Your plan is beyond my knowledge. Help me this day to trust Your wisdom and your plan, not just for me , but also for others. Teach me not to presume knowledge of Your will, and simply to follow where You lead. Free me from unhealthy desire and to desire only your will for me and the power to carry this out.
Amen
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