Understanding the 12 Steps: Step 1 (Honesty)

Understanding the 12 Steps: Step 1 (Honesty)

by | Aug 6, 2024 | 12 Steps, Counselling, Finding Help, Therapeuo

“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.”

Step 1, Alcoholics Anonymous

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus, Matthew 26:41

The first step to overcoming – the first step towards solving the problem of addiction or any other compulsive behaviour/impulse – is to admit that there is a problem.

We cannot fix what is not broken – and we are all broken in some way or the other – we just don’t care to admit it.

Jesus said to His disciples that they must watch and pray to ensure they do not enter into temptation. The flesh, inherently, is weak.

The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous offers a set of simple spiritual principles that, if put into practice, will lead to freedom. This freedom is offered to Alcoholics and Addicts around the world but is not limited to the realm of drugs and drink. It can be applied to a myriad of problems. From compulsive shopping, pornography consumption, codependency, depression and anxiety, gambling and even love and sex.

The spiritual principle behind step 1 is HONESTY.

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says this: “Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.” (Chapter 5, Alcoholics Anonymous)

Jesus famously said: THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

For us to overcome our spiritual malady and the weakness of the flesh we need to first of all be HONEST – admitting to OURSELVES that there is something that needs fixing – that our lives have become unmanageable and that we, in ourselves, are powerless.

We need to admit to ourselves that we cannot do this on our own.

Too often the shame of our secret has kept us sick – it is shame that keeps us from reaching out, it is foolish pride that keeps us from asking for help – and so we try to do it on our own.

But there is nothing to be ashamed about. Yes, we might have done things that we regret, we might’ve done things that we resent – and we might feel deeply ashamed about these things – but there is no shame in asking for help, and there is definitely no shame in expressing the desire to fix what is broken.

On the contrary, reaching out and owning our struggle is an admirable thing to do. It is a difficult task that shows much courage.

The First Step – this step of being honest with oneself – is probably the hardest step to take. Once we can make a decision to be honest about our weakness, our powerlessness, we can start taking steps towards our healing and restoration.

I came to the conclusion that something was wrong when I got arrested for drug possession. On that cold concrete floor I had nothing else to do but think about all the ways that my life was falling apart around me.

Is your addiction or behaviour causing chaos in your life? Is it leading to the loss of income? The loss of stability? The breakdown of family relationships? Is your addiction or behaviour affecting your health – physical or mental?

Are you tired and burdened? Heavy laden by guilt and shame? Do you feel powerless and unable to change?

From personal experience I can tell you that there is hope. You can overcome! But it starts with you being honest with yourself.

It starts by admitting that we are powerless over our situation or circumstance, addiction or behaviour – and this honesty then puts us in the position to seek the right kind of help.

Prayer: Lord, if there is anything in my life that needs changing, I pray that You will show me. I ask Lord that You will point out where I might’ve strayed from Your plan for my life and that You will help me get back on it. Give me wisdom, strength and the power to endure on the journey that lies ahead. In Jesus Name. Amen.

If you have come to the conclusion that there is something wrong, something in need of fixing – that your life has become unmanageable and chaotic – reach out: andre@adlabuschagne.co.za / 0653703806.

We will do our best to help you find the help you need.

Rest on Us

Rest on Us

by | Jun 18, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“As the Spirit was moving over the waters

Spirit, come move over us”

Rest on us, Maverick City Music

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1:2:

In the beginning – before the foundations of the Earth was laid – God had us in mind.

Fearfully and wonderfully created in the secret place of a mother’s womb, God has knit together a destiny blueprint for each of us – hiding deep within us potential and purpose.

But many of us find ourselves in a state of emptiness, formlessness and darkness – not yet having truly come into being.

It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:2: for ‘waters’ is ‘mayim’,

The word ‘mayim’, although unrelated etymologically, sounds a lot like our English word ‘mayhem’ – defined as violent or extreme disorder and chaos. What is even more interesting is the fact that the Hebrew ‘mayim’ comes from the root ‘mem’ which is also translated as chaos.

The world is, much like in Genesis 1:2: in a state of emptiness, formlessness and darkness. As a result many of us, our worldview being shaped by the world instead of the world being shaped by our worldview, are in this same state of confusion, desolation and chaos.

But God hovers over the waters – He hovers over our chaos seeking to bring it to order.

He wants to turn the hollowed out earth of our hearts into hallowed ground.

Paul writes the following in his second epistle to the Corinthians: ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!”

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word ‘mayim’ is also used to represent, symbolically, the nations – the peoples of the Earth.

God hovers over His people – seeking to bring them to order. To reform. To restore. To make His creation new again.

This act of reformation and restoration takes place through the indwelling of His Spirit – His Spirit coming and resting on us, dwelling in us.

Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:16, 1 Peter 1:2)

It is not enough for us to just call on the name of Jesus – how could it be? Calling on the name of Jesus is just the beginning. 

We need to open up our hearts and let Him do His work in us. He calls us to come as we are – unwashed and broken – but not to stay as we are. He wants to transform us. He wants to bring us to that place where we can see the fulfilment of His finished work in us. He wants to bring us to the place where we can see the fulfillment of the promise He has placed in us.

God created each and every one of us with a purpose and a plan. He placed within each of us promise and potential. 

This being said, we are born into the ‘mayim’ of the world – into the chaos of the world – and come to Christ void, formless and out of darkness. We call on Christ and He pulls us out.

This is where His finished work in us begins.

This is where our physical reality starts catching up with His spiritual reality. It has all been ordained – the plans He has for us – it has already been paid for – the healing, the deliverance, the restoration. 

It’s like getting a ticket to a concert.

There is a Kingdom experience that has been made available to each of us. The ticket has been bought by the blood of Christ. We enter into this experience through the door of His sacrifice, but that doesn’t mean we know where to go after that. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is how God ushers us to our assigned seats – that place from which we get to see God’s story for His children unfold – a story written, produced and directed by the Creator of the Universe.

He calls us out of the chaos of the crowd and into this Kingdom experience.

He calls us out of the chaos and into newness.

And all we need to do is accept the invitation. All we have to do is open up to Him today.

We do this, very simply, through prayer, spending time in His Word and in fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters. Through the practice of spiritual disciplines we open up to Him, inviting Him to rest on us, to work in us – to be made manifest through us.

All it takes is a yielded yes today. A want and a willingness to seek Him, to see Him, to experience Him.

All it takes is a want and a willingness to accept the ticket that Christ paid for and show up. To say ‘here I am, Lord!’.

And as we do this – as we commit to Him and let Him in we will see our chaos be brought to order, we will see God speak light into our darkness and breathe life into our dry bones.

Prayer: Lord, today I invite You to come and rest on me – come and do Your work in me. Through Your Holy Spirit, lead me deeper into Your Word and Your will for my life. Through Your Holy Spirit, awaken in me a greater need and love for fellowship. Ignite in me, through Your Holy Spirit, a fire that drives me to pray and to seek You in all things so that I might ultimately see You in all things. Guide me in using my time productively, help me redeem my time so that I might experience the fullness of Your Kingdom unfolding around me. Lead me away from the things of this world, and deeper into the heart of the Kingdom. Bring me out of chaos and into order, out of darkness and into light – and let me become an agent and ambassador of Your Kingdom Come in the world around me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

My Chains Are Gone

My Chains Are Gone

by | Feb 25, 2024 | Devotionals, Worship Reflections

“My chains are gone, I’ve been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending loveAmazing grace“

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), Chris Tomlin

“He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.”

Psalm 107:14

Speaking about the thorn in his flesh, Paul writes the following in 2 Corinthians 12:

”9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

A little over 8 years ago I was living a double life. I was a youth pastor and worship leader, but also a drug addict and alcoholic. I had my own thorn in my flesh.

All of this culminated in me ending up on the cold, concrete floor of the local jail.

I was arrested twice in that time – once by the local authorities – and after that by the grace and mercy of our God.

It was in that time that I encountered God like never before.

I have become increasingly grateful for His mercy and grace. Grace is often defined as ‘getting what you did not deserve’. Mercy on the other hand is ‘not getting what you DO deserve’.

The fact that I fully deserved the judgement, not only of man and the legal system, but also the judgement of God Almighty – but was given mercy instead – causes me to tremble. Leaves me astonished.

When I think of the times I should’ve died – near overdoses, hanging out with guns and gangsters, bad batches and bad friends – I am grateful to be alive today.

8 years ago today I stepped into my last ‘first’ 12 Step Meeting. I had relapsed the day before (after stringing together +/- 3 months of sobriety and narrowly escaping a 6 month prison sentence I still had not learnt my lesson), but had returned to the fold again – this time taking that first step on purpose.

That meeting ended with a prayer. Just before the prayer we all stood holding hands in a circle, and someone said: “We stand this way to remind ourselves we need never stand alone again, unless we choose to…”

These words have kept me clean. 

I know that my life has not been ideal – that I have not lived a perfect life – but I am grateful that God never let go of me, and that even throughout my addiction, even throughout my clinical depression, mental illness, physical infirmity and moments of doubt and fear I have always found shelter in Him. I had to go through darkness – even though I have served Him (even in my addiction, with all my flaws and failures, I was faithful and committed) just over 2 decades – to know the fullness of His grace and mercy. The fact that even at my darkest He saw me. Even at my lowest He loved me. And He NEVER LET GO. He promised us: “I will never leave or forsake you – I will never let you be alone!”

Just like He promised Joshua: ‘Be strong and of good courage, I am with you!” He is with you!

I am writing this post for the families of the addicted. There is hope. Your husband, wife, daughter, son, brother, sister – they can recover! They can still come home! No matter how far they may have strayed.

Finally and foremostly I am writing this post to carry the message of hope to the still suffering addict and alcoholic – to carry the light back into darkness and call more of the suffering, broken and weary back home.

Jesus says: come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28-30)

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, if you are broken and weary, if you are still suffering in silence – know that you are not alone.

If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol – so did I.

Come fall before the mercy and grace of Jesus. Let His love flood Your soul.

And if you ever need a friend, come lean on me.

I am writing this for you. You are not alone. We will love you until you learn to love yourself. You don’t ever need to be alone again.

Prayer: Thank You Lord that I am not alone in my trials and my tribulations. Thank You Lord that You hear me when I call and that those who put their trust in You have never been put to shame. You are the chain breaker. You are the miracle worker. And I thank You Lord that You are working freedom in my life today. I thank You that You are silencing the voices of fear and insecurity, and that I will hear the tender whispers of Your heart today. Remind me today, Lord, of the places I have been and help me be a faithful witness of Your love, grace and mercy to those who are still going through their storms. In Jesus name. Amen.