I have some experience with Alcoholics Anonymous. I am personally not an alcoholic but have friends who are and who invited me to their meetings. AA does not publish its success rate for treatment but unfortunately, there is not much else out there for people with this disease to utilize.
In AA, they promote God or a “Higher Power” that is your only real help in battling this disease. Seven of the twelve steps in AA involve God. I am a firm believer in this approach and am confident that the solution to this disease needs to involve God.
Unfortunately, whether to attract more secular members or more cynical ones, AA will water down God and call Him a Higher Power. While they officially will not state this, I have heard sponsors telling their sponsee’s to use nature or the universe or some other bigger than life concept to lean on during this difficult time.
It is during these difficult times that we must lean on God. Nature is not going to help us. Our strong will is going to fail us and the universe is just a bunch of clouds and stars so they will not be much help either. Only the God of the Bible has any chance of curing our fellow brothers and sisters. Surprisingly, with all of the talk of God in AA, you will not find a Bible anywhere.
How unfortunate this is when the God we need help from is in the pages of the Bible. Scripture is full of encouragement and His spirit lives within the pages of the good book.
Job:
“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Isaiah
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound”
In AA, they use their own “bible” called the Big Book. These are the principles and teachings of AA’s founders. While this is a good reference and training tool, if God is the answer then one needs to read and reference His Big Book to find true healing.
God wrote His book through many scribes and prophets over 3,000 years ago. Even today, it still finds its place in the top 10 books sold every year.
Psalm 119 states:
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.
Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.
His word is the scriptures He handed down to man thousands of years ago. Meditate on it, read it weekly, daily or whatever it takes to get it to reach your inner being where discouragement and fear have taken hold. We can win this fight and God provides a Way. God is our Higher Power and nothing else can even come close.
And that is the Whole Truth. God Bless
and remember God always answers His kneemail.
