What keeps you clean?

I am not under your guidelines but I have a some insight...

I am 5 months sober now and had tried traditional 12 steps and like you I didn't like them and kept telling others "only Christ can save me". No one understood until I found Celebrate Recovery.
Its a 12 step program based on scripture. To me its a perfect fit.

[SIZE=-1]www.celebraterecovery.com

I would check your local churches and see if they offer that or a program similar.

Your post sounds so much like me!


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1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable.
   
   I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18)
2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
   
   
   For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
   
   
   Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
   
   
   Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. (Lamentations 3:40)
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs.
   
   
   Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16a)
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
   
   
   Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
7. Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
   
   
   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
   
   
   Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)
9. Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
   
   
   Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
    
    
    So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.
    
    
    Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. (Colossians 3:16a)
12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and practice these principles in all our affairs.
    
    
    Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

Look to the Lord daily in PRAYER, WORD and WORSHIP.

Seek help, yes like that of Celebrate Recovery. Something Christian Based.

Stopping it before it starts...heres what I mean...

I couldn't find the exact scripture that explains:
Sin, when first conceived is in thought, then becomes desire which leads to sin-action which leads to death.

Mark 7:21 Because from inside, from the heart of men, come evil thoughts and unclean pleasures,

You have to rebuke those thoughts and lift them to God before they can grow in you. You have to find immediate alternatives (I would say the WORD, WORSHIP, PRAYER) when tempted. You will probably fail some...but persever and call upon his name as best you can, before you are given to burning in your flesh and the actual act of the sin.

THIS WILL BE KEY IN YOUR VICTORY...and you'll be free to enjoy your deliverance.

PRAISE THE LORD!

I have never struggled with an addiction so I can't really relate to you from experience... but just I thought at the very least I could offer some words of encouragement

you are right... the devil is already defeated, praise God! but, he is still very powerful, and we are weak humans prone to sin. otherwise, recovery would be a breeze! We are SO lucky that through the grace of God, we can call on him for help and he will be there for us! God will never leave your side, but you have to pray for strength and believe that he will give it to you, and fight satan's presence with the word of God every day.

It is true that only Christ can save you. However, in your recovery, he will put people in your path that will help you immensely. I don't know much about substance abuse, but I know that in recovering from depression, having the encouragement of others on this earth (most importantly your Christian brothers and sisters) is a blessing. Putting it all into God's hands doesn't mean that you should do it alone, with just you and God. Of course, you should spend alone time with the Lord to study his word and pray, pray, pray every day. You said yourself that you need interaction, though. The celebrate recovery site that others suggested looks great! but in addition to that, I'm sure you could benefit from immersing yourself in church activities.. like a small group, bible study, or prayer circle (if you aren't already involved in those sort of things).

I am praying for your strength and wisdom! Remember, you have Christ on your side... you are already well on your way to recovery and unspeakable joys in heaven with our Father

loveiseverywhere said:

This question is directed to those with a year or more of sobriety NOT in a 12 step program and whose HP is Jesus.

I just don't care for AA. It bores me to tears. I hate sitting in a room for an hour. I need interaction.

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I so totally agree. NA did not "cure" me and I couldn't bear the thought of sitting with addicts however-many nights a week for the rest of my life.

What keeps me clean right now is the touch of the Holy Spirit. He reminds me of the people I've hurt and the horrible things I've done for my addiction. I am also positive that next time I relapse, I will die. That's a pretty strong motivator. I have done stupid things already that could have easily killed me but for the grace of God.

You are right - Christ can keep you clean.

Hang in there - pm me if you get crazy. Take care and God bless...

i'm proud of you for struggling against this! keep reachingout!! ~ love and prayers, dee

loveiseverywhere said:

I get the thoughts sometimes, mainly missing my "friends" sometimes. But, then I keep going over the end result in my mind.

Me: Broke, tired and crawling on the floor looking for another rock- looking like a paranoid IDIOT.

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That is so true - you just keep that end in mind. I so understand. Remembering the awful possibilities keeps me clean, with the love of Jesus Christ.

I see noone has posted in a while.

I hope your well.

Based on your last comment.

I think that one of the most difficult barriers to success in recovery, along with triggers is
cutting off old ties.

You seem to at least know that...I pray you'll persevere in it.

I only look back to see how God has blessed me.
Don't want to go back there again....ever.

I am a miracle

Thank you God - for giving me a new life.

Without Him removing the obcession to drink from me -- I would be dead without Him.

Thank you!

Hi...I found this thread while searching for someone standing on the scripture:

3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

I am standing on it myself, 12 years clean/sober (the last 10 without AA).

I hope you have a good holiday season. P.M. me if you would like any help or someone to talk to....God bless you, remain in the Vine!

Praise God!
Jeff

Thank you Jeffwo -
From John Chapter 15 - verse 3

Wonderful chapter. Thank you again!

Vivian

I've been clean now almost three years, never been to a twelve step program, but I'm not a Christian. Even though I don't exactly fit your criteria I'll try to answer anyway: every time I think about using I think about my family, friends and how much I could potentially hurt them by slipping up, and try to remember how miserable I was when I was using. If that doesn't work I just sit there and wait and wait until the feeling passes. If you wait long enough it will pass. Not that it won't come back, but you have to deal with every urge as it comes. Another thing is: you can't be friends with people who are still using. It's just not possible to stay clean around people who aren't clean.