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What Does Recovery Mean to Me?
Prison Writings
While I was in prison I had to go through a drug rehab program called Therapeutic community. I didn’t much like the program but one thing I did like about it was the fact that they were always giving us writing assignments. A lot of the prisoners in the program with me hated that, but I love to write! Anyway I was going through some of my paperwork from prison the other day and found those writing assignments and thought some of them would make great hubs.
This one is called “What Recovery Means to Me”
Well I thought about getting real technical with this assignment. Looking up recovery in the dictionary, researching the big book and other writings from AA maybe even going around to a few peers and asking what recovery means to them. But that is not what this assignment asks for. The question is simple. “What does recover mean to me?” To me, not to the dictionary, not to AA not even to any of you. But the question is also complicated, “What does recovery mean to me?” Not so simple. Because with me, there is so much to recover. So much that seems just beyond recovery.
Recovery means taking back what was lost.
Going to the enemies camp and taking back what he stole from me. The enemy in this case is myself, the enemies camp is my heart. There lies all my defects, apathy, selfishness, sloth, depravity in general. Through succumbing to them I have become my own nemesis and created my own nightmare. No one likes to be lied too and deception is most wicked, never stings more than when it comes from within.
So then what does recovery mean to me?
Recovery means challenge, hard work, determination, and hard core tenacity. Recovery means no more excuses no further delay. This is for real this is not for play! So I grit my teeth and put my feet to the grind ready to battle to do whatever it takes. Whatever I have to endure I know it’s well worth the cost. Because of all the good things that I know recovery can also be.
What does recovery mean to me?
Recovery means restoration. Restoration of peace of mind, restoration of love for myself and my family. Ultimately, to me, recovery means everything, recovery means life.
Comments
Thank you for sharing your thoughts during "recovery" and expanding our understanding of the word in a different context. Blessings!
Forever His,
I like this hub, recovery what was stolen. I have only one question. Is it not actually our soul not heart which steals? Am I correct? This is what I teach.
- Author
RevLady thank you.
Vladimir I see what you mean but in this case by heart I meant the center of my being IE my inner core. Not the literal blood pumping heart in my chest. In that context heart and soul are pretty much synonymous I think.
Proverbs 23:7, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:"
The enemy is the devil. Go to his camp and take back everything he took from you, and don't believe any more of his lies! You ARE a child of God and as such you are heir to the throne, a prince! Now live like you believe that, hold your head high and be proud of who you are!
- Author
Thank you big sis. I know that the enemy is the Devil but sometimes you can be your own enemy. In fact most of the time the devil has nothing to do with it. He spends most of his time sitting back and letting us destroy ourselves.
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
I would love to sit back and blame all my problems on the Devil. "The Devil made me do it." I wish! Then I would have no guilt or shame. But I need this shame, I need to never forget what I can do when I stop holding myself accountable. Before you quote Romans 8 and tell me there is now no condemnation let me tell you that I don't condemn myself. When I say shame I mean this kind of shame.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Ultimately the Devil is my enemy, but not my worst. Because when I am walking by faith the devil has no power over me. My true enemy is myself when I rely on myself. When I rely on God no weapon formed against me shall stand. So basically the Devil is irrelevent. More pentecostal Christians need to understand this. The Devil is nothing compared to us. It is us who decides whethor or not to walk by faith or walk according to the flesh.
I love you big sis. :-)
He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world!! Yea, I do totally get what you are saying. There is not a demon around every bush, sometimes its our choices that lead to our downfall. So glad you know your own heart and can speak so candidly about your short comings. That says alot about your character.
Total submission to God is always the best answer!
Love You Too!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Sure you've been quoted that a thousand times or more but this is at the heart of any recovery. Do you do it or does God. The book says that what God asks of you, He also will do it. My big problem and I have a hunch that this is what you were saying (but I don't want to put words into your mouth) is that I get in God's way as He works His will in me. The work is in the verse "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God that loved me and gave His life for me." Jack Your Dad In Heaven Watches You And Loves You More Than I Do And That Is Considerable My Brother.
Great Hub..very good research..truly this why Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of our minds..
Mike :0)
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