In our harried and frazzled world many things can interact to cause recovering alcoholics to make decisions we should not. A few of these things we must actively work to switch. Others , however , simply cannot be changed. When these things are making a contribution to behaviour that imperils our health, our relations with others, and even our spirituality, it isn't a weakness to turn to prayer. The words "Lord, help me to accept the things I cannot change" offer comfort and focus.
Everything from an administrator who is indifferent and rude, to inadequate money to pay the bills, to a neighbour who plays their music too loud can turn into a reason to turn to alcohol or other drugs. The reality is that this choice only makes our situation worse. When we drink our Problems intensify.
Alcohol brings out the worst in us. It emboldens us to speak our mind to that boss, to stupidly spend what cash we do have, and to let our outrage control our interaction with our neighbor and everyone else in our lives. Alcohol is not a solution to our Problems. Prayer can be.
When we diligently pray we will be able to learn to accept the things that we can't change. Prayer allows us to change our mind-set. Our outrage subsides, our logic takes over, and we will be able to better think out our options. We will be able to resolve ourselves to disregard comments that would have been better left unsaid. An uninterrupted flow of paychecks will be our reward. Revenue assured, we will next apply ourselves to better budgeting our money and dealing peacefully with that self centered neighbor.
Turning to prayer to gain focus is a positive approach to coping with Problems. It directs our attention in the right direction and permits us to logically deduce an answer to our issues. Alcohol has just the opposite effect.
Everything from an administrator who is indifferent and rude, to inadequate money to pay the bills, to a neighbour who plays their music too loud can turn into a reason to turn to alcohol or other drugs. The reality is that this choice only makes our situation worse. When we drink our Problems intensify.
Alcohol brings out the worst in us. It emboldens us to speak our mind to that boss, to stupidly spend what cash we do have, and to let our outrage control our interaction with our neighbor and everyone else in our lives. Alcohol is not a solution to our Problems. Prayer can be.
When we diligently pray we will be able to learn to accept the things that we can't change. Prayer allows us to change our mind-set. Our outrage subsides, our logic takes over, and we will be able to better think out our options. We will be able to resolve ourselves to disregard comments that would have been better left unsaid. An uninterrupted flow of paychecks will be our reward. Revenue assured, we will next apply ourselves to better budgeting our money and dealing peacefully with that self centered neighbor.
Turning to prayer to gain focus is a positive approach to coping with Problems. It directs our attention in the right direction and permits us to logically deduce an answer to our issues. Alcohol has just the opposite effect.
About the Author:
Karen Jacobs is a contract writer and recovering alcoholic who lives and works in gorgeous Western Kentucky. She writes on obsession recovery subjects, including Suboxone obsessions and withdrawal fromCymbalta symptoms.
