It’s right there in the Bible—a better high.
I love this scripture:
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18
I have a Life Application Study Bible. It has an “Explanatory Notes” section at the bottom of the page that explains what the verse is about.
Here is the explanation of the verse in the notes section:
5:18 “Paul contrasts getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary “high,” to being filled with the Spirit, which produces lasting joy. Getting drunk with wine is associated with the old way of life and its selfish desires. With God/Spirit, we have a better joy, higher and longer-lasting to cure our depression, monotony, or tension. We should not be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we have, but how much of US the Holy Spirit has. Submit yourself daily to his leading and draw constantly on HIS power.”
I love this. In the explanation Paul is talking about Step One and Step Twelve of our 12-steps of recovery!
Step 1: Admitted we were powerless and that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry the message to others who still suffer and practice these principles in all of our affairs.
The spiritual awakening is that I don’t have to submit to my old way of life of drinking when I put down the alcohol (selfish desire) and submit myself to God’s will.
The power that I receive from Holy Spirit power is a high that can lead me out of that need for the temporary high of alcohol and into lasting joy.
The first steps to experience this “alternative high” in recovery:
Admit I am powerless.
Ask for God’s help to stop my addiction.
Reach out to others and go to a meeting.
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