Psycho-Babble Faith | about religious faith | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: Lenten Sacrifices... » holymama

Posted by Dena on March 6, 2004, at 16:48:50

In reply to Re: Lenten Sacrifices..., posted by holymama on March 3, 2004, at 18:19:50

Dear Autumn Dawn (looooove your name!);

I figured I'd better hurry up and respond to your post, since I expect to be blocked any moment now.

You wrote:

"I am a big drinker, unfortuanately, and for a very long time have been drinking every night, not just a little wine, but vodka or scotch. What a waste of time, and after meditating on some scripture, realized that it was such a hard thing to consider giving up, it was almost like I loved IT more than God. It was getting in my way of being good, of being drawn to good, of loving the good (I guess 'the good' being my way of thinking about God). I really agonized about this since I am taking my Biblical stuff really seriously these days, and decided to give up hard alcohol. Period. No more. Ever"

Isn't it funny how the things we use for comfort become "idols" in our lives? It seems that God means it when He describes Himself as a "jealous" God. He really wants to have first place in our lives, & won't settle for anything else. He wants to be our source of comfort, of joy, of security, of identity, of reality, of purpose & meaning, of peace... and when we put ________ in His place (even when we don't know we're doing it!), we push Him out of first place. It can be so darn subtle too.

I applaud your awareness of having done this with alcohol (been there, done that); I've felt the seductive allure of that liquid security blanket. I always used to have the fantasy of getting really buzzed (not totally out of control, just to break down my defenses) & then show up (anonymously, of course) at a church, to see if I could really lose myself in worship! I never did it, & now I no longer drink. But it's no coincidence that in Acts, people thought that the ones who were experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit were drunk! I've seen and heard those who are "intoxicated" with the Spirit of God - they lose their inhibitions, & just swoon with love for God. I feel so jealous when I see others experiencing that... but I'm still dealing with an over-active sense of control. Someday, I'd love to be swept off my feet by God!

Keep reading your Bible, keep seeking, keep knocking, keep asking. He'll answer.

Shalom, Dena

If I get blocked & you ever want to email me, it's: brehmites@aol.com


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Faith | Framed

poster:Dena thread:318247
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040113/msgs/321213.html