Let Go and Let God Part 2

 

                                                      

When we are in the grip of addiction, we are both the abused and the abuser for… “we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on (in) self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.” BB pg.62

Invariably: on every occasion: always.

 

“The devil's voice (the negative sense of self: ego) is logical, even plausible, but it's still deception, God's voice may seem delusional, but it speaks the truth beyond logic." C.S. Lewis

Delusional: a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary.

Psychotic: having trouble telling the difference between what’s real and what’s not: exhibiting mental or emotional unsoundness or instability. “…there was always the curious mental phenomenon that parallel with our sound reasoning there inevitably ran some insanely trivial excuse for taking the first drink. Our sound reasoning failed to hold us in check. The insane idea won out. Next day we would ask ourselves, in all earnestness and sincerity, how it could have happened.” BB pg. 37

Indisputable: unquestionable: beyond questioning.

 

“We can either be a hostage to our ego, or a host to God. The choice is always ours. Choose wisely.” Wayne Dyer

 

“Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all.” BB pg. 14

“We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.” BB pg. 30

Concede: to acknowledge grudgingly or hesitantly, to accept as true, valid, or accurate.

Delusion: something that is falsely believed or propagated.

 

“What is his basic trouble? Is he not really a self-seeker even when trying to be kind? Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well?” BB pg. 61

“Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate.” BB pg. 62

Root: an underlying support : basis : the essential core : the heart.

Basis: something considered as its foundation, the principal component of something.

Self-delusion: the act of deluding oneself or the state of being deluded especially concerning one's true nature, abilities, feelings, etc.                                                                                                                 Deluding: to mislead the mind or judgment of : deceive, trick oneself.

The next two paragraphs define the ALCOHOLIC DELUSION:

“The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.

Obsession: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often-unreasonable idea or feeling.

Abnormal: deviating from the normal or average, unusual in an unwelcome or problematic way.

Persistence: continuing to exist despite interference or treatment.

Illusion: something that deceives or misleads intellectually, perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature. “We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago ...” BB pg. 24

Astonishing: causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder.

“…in their hearts they really do not know why they do it. Once this malady has a real hold, they are a baffled lot. There is the obsession that somehow, someday, they will beat the game. But they often suspect they are down for the count.” BB pg. 23

Baffled: extremely confused or puzzled.

“We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.” BB pg. 30

Once again, Delusion: something that is falsely believed or propagated.

 

                                      SO:

 

“Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.” BB pg. 98.

Regardless: despite everything or anyone.

“We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His (God’s) omnipotence.” BB pg. 133

Omnipotence: an agency or force of unlimited power.                                                           

Unlimited: Boundless, Infinite, Unrestricted.

 

Let Go and Let God Part 1

 

                                 Let Go and Let God

                                                           Part 1

A maid said to her mistress: “I notice that when you sit, you sit tight. You are all screwed up and tight on the inside. Now look at me. When I work, I work hard; but when I sit, I sit loose.” There was a real philosophy of life in that statement. When you work, work hard; but when you stop working, then stop working—relax. You cannot repeat to yourself too frequently the always healing statement: “Let go; let God.” Let go your inward fears and worries, and let God absorb them in grace and love. Let God replace the false energy of fear and worry with the true energy of faith working through love. My Lord God, I’ve burned up my soul and body and mind in the false energy of fear and worry. Such tension has taken me nowhere, except deeper into the mire. Help me this day to link all my energies to the calm of your purposes and to the peace of your power. Then I shall know harmony and accomplishment. Amen. E. Stanley Jones. Abundant Living.

 

The truth and practice of the concept of “Letting Go and Letting God” begins with the 3^rd Step. This is the crux for the successful integration into truly embracing a new way of living, “For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.” BB pg. 68

CRUX: a main or central feature.

TRUST: assured (characterized by certainty or security : guaranteed) reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

 

“Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we (I) decided to turn our (my) will and our (my) life over to God as we (I) understood Him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do?” BB pg.60

Convinced: is to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action: to Persuade. Persuade: to move by argument or expostulation (to reason earnestly) to a belief, position, or course of action (i.e. Program of Recovery/12 Steps).

 

“This is the how and why of it. First of all, we (I) had to quit playing God. It didn't (doesn’t) work. Next, we (I) decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our (my) Director. He (God) is the Principal; we are His agents. He (God) is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we (I) passed to freedom.” BB pg.62

Decided: Unquestionable, Indisputable. Free from doubt or wavering, not questionable.

Principal: influential, most important, consequential: with respect to power to produce an effect.

Concept: organized around a main idea or theme.

Keystone: something on which associated things depend for support.

 

“When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He (God) provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him (God) and performed His (God’s) work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His (God’s) presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn.” BB pg. 63

Sincerely: with truth, genuineness, or straightforwardness.

Remarkable: worthy of being or likely to be noticed especially as being uncommon or extraordinary (exceptional to a very marked extent).

Conscious: personally felt.

Presence: something (such as a spirit) felt or believed to be present.

Reborn: regenerated (formed or created again), revived (restored to consciousness or life).

 

“We were now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee-to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!" We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him.” BB pg. 63.

Maker: a creator.

Bondage: servitude (lacking liberty to determine one's course of action or way of life) or subjugation (to make submissive) to a controlling person or force.

Abandon: to give oneself over unrestrainedly.

Utterly: to an absolute or extreme degree-to the full extent.