There are many keys to overcoming whatever it is we are in bondage to. But none are as important as working the acronym H.O.W. (Honesty, Open mindedness, Willingness).
Recently I’ve had the opportunity to work with a couple of people that are in the throes of addiction and they are in such denial that they seem hopeless. Hopeless means we “think” we have tried everything and nothing is working. Denial is so cunning, baffling and powerful. As addicts and people in bondage to something, denial causes us to “be so far behind we think we are in the lead.” We really believe we have the answers on how to overcome this bondage. But until we are able to get Honest with ourselves about the powerless state our addiction or affliction has placed us in, we will never get well.
Honesty is the key to living free of bondage and it begins by admitting to God and another human being that we are powerless over whatever we are in bondage to. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) says in the chapter on “How It Works”…”Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.” I believe this says it all because AA was the genesis of all 12 Step programs world wide and millions of people have overcome their afflictions because of the 12 steps and…their ability to be honest.
It doesn’t end there. I know a lot of people who do this first step, they think they’ve gotten honest, they admit they are powerless but they are still miserable. In essence they become “dry drunks.” Dry drunk is a term used to describe a person who is no longer acting out but is still emotionally miserable. The next steps in getting well and overcoming the denial is to have the Open mindedness to listen to others who have been “there” and then have the Willingness to apply suggestions these people give. In a nutshell this is how the 12 steps work.
H.O.W. works for any type of thing you are in bondage to. Ask yourself if you are dwelling on something right now and if something is taking up more space in your mind that it should. If so, then practice H.O.W. you will be amazed at what will happen.
P.E.A.C.E
This is a revelation for me, Jay! Last night at church I was confronted with a thought that I have not been honest with myself or others. It came to me as very twisted though with the notion that I am pretending to be holier than I truly am. Then I read this and God just unraveled so much to me. I am not a drug addict or alcoholic, my vice is food. I never realized how powerless I am to it until my awesome, all knowing and truly loving God put it right in front of me just now. I am admitting this to you, myself and Brian because I know that I can get this monkey off my back. I think that God has made our paths cross for more than one reason. Now that this is out in the light, I know that the fight is far from over. One year ago God gave me a vision of myself standing tall on top of a mountain (and I felt freedom for a fleeing instant). As victory gets closer the bondage gets tighter but I have hope in God because he strategically puts people in my life to come beside me and fight with me and for me. I praise him today for you. Because you are obedient he is using you to help so many broken people.
Praise God Michelle…always remember that bondage breaking is a process and not an event…one day a time and sometimes one moment at a time. I’m proud of you.