A few years ago, I had to come to terms with something. Something hard. I was an alcoholic. I grew up with an alcoholic dad and in my mind, the images I had of him were the images of what an alcoholic looked like in my mind. Based on this, I was sure I was not that - just a social drinker. Have you ever looked up the word alcoholic? It means: continued, excessive or compulsive use of alcohol drinks leading to pyschological or physical dependence or addiction. And I was at that place. Continued, excessive use of alcohol to 'numb' me from pain or from having to deal with life. If I was irritated it was always easier to grab a corona, or 3, with some lime and salt to alter my mood rather than deal with the issue. If I was happy, I had even more coronas!
When I invited Christ into my life on July 24, 2009 - I gave up alcohol completely and have not had a drink since. Praise God. I continue to reflect back on that and think about how I had such a dependency on it and how easy it was to let it go because He was worthy and He was enough.
Here I am today, April 2, 2012. For the past month, the LORD has been showing me that although I gave up alcohol and my dependency on it - I had let something else come between me and my full dependency on Him. I had turned away from alcohol, but in time had turned to something else. Something that isn't viewed as 'bad' by society, but something I have allowed myself to place in alcohol's absence and something I have placed before Him. And that something is coca cola. When I am irritated, I like to drink a coca cola. When I am happy, I drink a coca cola. Sometimes for no reason at all, I just drink a coca cola. Coca cola has replaced coronas.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with drinking a corona. I am not saying there is anything wrong with drinking a coca cola. I am saying that for me, there is something wrong with it. The reason is that I have learned to turn to drinking a coke when the going gets tough. I have learned to turn to drinking a coke when I want to celebrate. I have learned to turn to coca cola just because, for no reason at all ... a continued, excessive, compulsive use of coca cola.
So as of yesterday, I have decided to give up coca cola for at least 30 days, possibly longer and possibly for always. I am determined to re-learn to turn to who I should have solely been depending on this whole time. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30
I choose the prince of peace when I am irritated,
I choose the light of the world when I am happy,
I choose the name above all names when I feel insecure,
I choose the blessed redeemer when I don't feel worthy,
I CHOOSE JESUS, MESSIAH - just because.
What about you? Is there any thing, big or subtle, that you have allowed yourself to find comfort in, whether it be a time of celebration or a time of grievance, before turning to Christ?
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