The Final Act

We have seen 8 steps so far to putting our trust back in Christ and not in ourselves and this world. The final act is compelling for all of us and we must look at these 12 steps all together to really see the big picture of what it takes to trust our Savior. It is not easy, because we are human. But it IS easy because Christ is not. Without further words, here is the final act in our 12 step program:

9: Let go of our pain. If we look at Jesus' example on the cross, he already took all our pain and suffering away. If we look at our problems, we see that we create most of them ourselves. We are not victims, we are survivors. We will always be stronger on the other side of a trial. Look at what Job had to go through, but he still trusted God. Job 6:10 says: "Than I would still have this consolation-my joy in unrelenting pain-that I had not denied the words of the Holy One."

10: Let go of our decisions. I am not saying that we have to let God decide what we are going to eat tonight for dinner. He does not consume Himself with petty things. He is more concerned about where our decisions in life lead us. Do we make decisions for us or for Him? Psalm 23:3 says: "He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Listen to the Spirit. He tells us a alot about our decision if we just listen to the Spirit's guidance.

11: Let go of the future. We must live for Him today. We must seize every moment for Him because if we don't, and He comes tomorrow, we will have failed our brothers and sisters by letting go into an eternity we all want to avoid. Jesus says in Matthew 6:34:"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

12: Let go of others. In the words of Nicole Kidman in Days of Thunder: "Control is an illusion you infantile egomaniac." I say this to myself a lot. Trying to control others, like our children or our spouses or our siblings, is like trying to control the weather (although some think it can be done). Proverbs 22:6 applies to both children and anyone new to the faith: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." God is in control, not us.

Well, there it is. The 12 step program, although I ask that you seek God on this and how to go about restoring that trust with Him. Pray!! Trust is the hardest thing to give someone. But it should not be for Christ. He saved us from our sin. How can we deny Him the love and adoration that comes with total and complete trust in Him?

Starting my recovery,
Jesus Freak Out!