just thinking, that's all.

What it takes to come to faith in Jesus: realize your sins and finally getting to the point where you no longer want to sin and you want to be forgiven of sins and start to live a life for Jesus with decreasing sin, trying to be more and more like Him.

What it takes to come to sobriety: realize you are an alcoholic and finally getting to the point where you no longer want to drink and you want to start to live a life without alcohol.

Oh, how I seem to run across so many parallels in sobriety that mirror my walk with Christ, the latest hitting me on my drive home the other day. Obviously (to me anyway), it was because of Christ that I was even able to approach sobriety three years ago (1 year, 2 years), but it struck me the other day how these two went hand in hand. It was at almost at the exact same time that I said,

I don't want to drink anymore, it is not worth it 

and 

I don't want to sin anymore, I want a saviour. 

Neither were of my own strength, both have been the best decisions of my life, both here on this earth and eternally.

I mean, that's powerful. I stand back in awe of what He has done in my life. And I bow down at His feet, thanking Him for changing me and having mercy on all of my shortcomings.

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, 

which is corrupted by lust and deception. 

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—

truly righteous and holy. 

~Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)

I know the Lord used alcoholism to bring me to the Cross. I look back in my twenties and early thirties and marvel at the thought that I had no idea, many, many years in the future there would be an answer to why it all happened in my life. Why I suffered through the guilt and shame, why I could never stop at just one, why my brain fantasized about the next drink all day long until I got it, why I thought I was a better parent by drinking when in reality I was distancing myself from them, why I don't remember so many of the details because I was in a fog, why partying was such a high priority. There was a purpose. He let me do my thing, and used it for my good. 

So, today I am in prayer. Deep in prayer with gratitude for my sobriety. For the grace bestowed upon me by our merciful Lord. For my changed for the better life. Deep in prayer for those who suffer with alcoholism. I ache for them. Friends. Family. Loved ones. Deep in prayer for those who don't even know they have a chance at something better if they could just stand up in the face of mercy and reach out their hand. Deep in prayer for those around me whose lives are being affected by the horrible truths alcohol brings. 

Deep in prayer, lifting my hands up to the GLORY of our LORD.