By Marvin Declare

One of the most important questions I ask individuals or families is what do you REALLY want?

"Addiction is giving ourselves over to things that in our deepest honesty, we really do not want. It is a process of attachment which 'nails' our desire to specific objects, with the result that our will and desire become enslaved. Addiction breeds willfulness within us, yet paradoxically it erodes our free will and eats away at our dignity."

The wonderful thing about addiction is that is brings us to our knees. When we "hit bottom" we come to know that we cannot solve all our problems, no matter how hard we try. Something deep inside us points us to something, someone who is greater than us.

There is a Higher Power beyond ourselves. Step # 2 of Alcoholics Anonymous states "Come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity". Step 2 is then followed by Step 3 which is "Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand him". The Old Testament portrays to us a wonderful image; Psalm 61.2 speaks of coming to the Rock who is higher than we are.

The Oxford Group wanted to help people who struggled in life. "God as we understand him" in Step 3 was expressed this way because they wanted to keep the openness to people who are searching. Those who are beginners do not automatically become experts. We need mentorship, leadership, education, support, directions, support groups and Love. Even after decades of maturity we can still know but a fraction about God. Jesus accepted those who were weak in faith, if their hearts were well-intended. God accepts honest immaturity.

I share with those in the community that there is no such thing as a "dumb question." I tend to be more concerned about a persons soul than their doctrine. "God as we understand him" leaves room for those who prefer to define God, rather than to allow Him to define them. Many believe any view of God is ok. Tendency is to yield to a God we feel comfortable with. Often he bears a striking resemblance to US. We must understand God as Bible portrays Him.

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Exodus 20:3 gives us that first commandment that "You shall have no other gods before me." Addictions are really a form of idolatry. We worship these objects of attachment, and are prevented from truly, freely loving God and one another. Jesus taught that our view of God is critical. Matthew 11:27 - no one knows Father, except through Jesus. John 8:24 - must believe Jesus represents God.

We cannot experience the full awakening proclaimed by the Twelfth Step, until we call the Higher Power by His true name announced in the Bible. The basic message of recovery groups: "Something saves." The basic message of the Bible: "JESUS saves." "At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow."

It takes an act of faith and personal trust to surrendering to the Higher Power. We have all experienced Hurt, Sadness and Loneliness in our lives. We are the ones who need to open the door of our heart to God, He wants all of us. We have to work through the shame, abandonment and rejection of our lives to trust ourselves to "Let go, and let God." There is an element of passivity, in that we realize we cannot solve our problems no matter how hard we try. We surrender when we realize that our deepest needs can only be met by God, not by our addictions. When the fear and resistance is gone and we have finally surrendered, we come to see that God is not our enemy but rather He is the ultimate healer and cares for everyone.

In the process AA's Step 3 we must turn our will over to God. It's not enough to accept God's existence - Satan does that. Honest seekers must "surrender as much of ourselves as we can to as much of Christ as we understand." An example would be found with Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke 19:8

Marvin Declare, RPC is President PSALM 23 Transition Society. They work with hundreds of people who are either homeless or struggling with addictions and operate a residential men's recovery program based in Abbotsford, BC www.psalm23society.com

Read Marvin's remarkable testimony

January 29/2009