Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Persecuted (08/22/24)
-
TITLE: True Freedom | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
08/28/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
But a disease may come on slow. Cancer for instance may be discovered early and with the proper treatment the person may survive. When a person has cancer, they usually don’t fight with the doctor or friends about receiving treatment. They want to begin treatment and eliminate the disease from their body.
There is a disease people refuse to be treated for, and that is alcoholism. People deny they are alcoholics. The warning signs take some time to appear. Blackouts (Loss of memory) happens, and excuses follow. The alcoholic begins to miss work forcing the spouse to call in work and lie, “He has the flu.” There are arguments in the home. The alcoholic out on a bender does not return home for days. The family is concerned for the safety of the person. They are many distressful times in the house.
Family and friends plead for the individual to seek help. Yet, the alcoholic is determined to show them he is normal. He promises the next time will be different. It does not happen. It is the same result. Marital relationships are damaged, and many times divorce follows. Children live in uncertainty. They fear for their life growing up in an alcoholic household.
There comes a time when alcoholics can not differentiate between right and wrong. Their circle of friends and invitations to functions dwindle. Still the alcoholic is not convinced a problem exists. The alcoholic doesn’t know he is persecuting himself mentally, physically, and emotionally. There is a disconnect spiritually. His family endures extreme anguish. The self-centered alcoholic is oblivious to what he is doing to his loved ones. The condition only worsens. The alcoholic is approaching one of three destinations. They are jail, asylum, or death.
There is hope. The individual must be willing to surrender and go to any lengths to get sober. It is the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is highly successful when followed as suggested. It is a program of twelve steps. Working these steps thoroughly, a person has a chance to live a full life. They will realize the bottom line is that only One can relieve them of their alcoholism and that One is God. When this happens, a psychic change begins to take place.
God lays spiritual gifts at the feet of alcoholics. It is up to them to use them. One of those gifts is meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is a great support system. In the meetings one will be able to identify with other alcoholics and learn how they stay sober one day at a time and overcame their problems sober. Problems that have persecuted them for many years.
Living this program and developing a strong personal relationship with God several promises will be fulfilled. These promises are found in the book “Alcoholics Anonymous.” Just a few of them are, going to know a new freedom, will not regret the past, self-seeking will slip away, and we will see how our experience can benefit others. We will realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Following this program, the persecution of self and others will disappear. When feelings of loneliness, anger and fear arise, the alcoholic will have the knowledge on how to handle these situations. The fellowship’s goal is to stay sober and help others do the same. One way this is done is members share their experience, strength, and hope with others freely in hopes they will not drink and escape the self-persecution by knowing true freedom.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Blessings