Freedom in Recovery - How Do I Know It’s For Me?

How Do I Know If It's For Me?
If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit drinking or using entirely, or if you have little control over the amount you consume, you are probably an alcoholic and/or an addict. If that is the case, you may be suffering from a problem which only a spiritual solution will conquer. If you are as seriously alcoholic or addicted as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human resources, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best as we could; and the other was to accept Jesus Christ as our Higher Power.
	Romans 7:15-25 points out - “I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” (NLT)
There is a Solution By working through the twelve steps with Jesus Christ as your Higher Power, you can and will change! You will begin to experience the true peace and serenity you have been seeking, and you will no longer have to rely on your dysfunctional, compulsive, and addictive behaviors as a temporary "fix" for your pain. By applying the biblical principles of conviction, conversion, surrender, confession, restitution, prayer, quiet time, witnessing, and helping one another, which are found within the Christ-centered 12 Steps, you will restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God Chemical Dependency Checklist
V	Have you ever decided to stop drinking and/or using for a week or so, but only lasted for a couple of days?
V	Do you wish people would mind their own business about your drinking and/or using – stop telling you what to do?
V	Have you ever switched from one kind of drink or drug to another in the hope that this would keep you from losing control?
V	Have you had to have an "eye-opener" upon awakening during the past year? Do you need a drink or drug to get started, or stop shaking?
V	Do you envy people who can drink or use drugs without getting into trouble?
V	Have you had problems connected with drinking or using during the past year?
V	Has your drinking or using caused trouble at home?
V	Do you ever try to get "extra" drinks or drugs at a party because you did not get enough?
V	Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking or using any time you want to, even though you keep getting inebriated when you don’t mean to?
V	Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking or using?
V	Do you have "blackouts"?
V	Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink or use?
What is your score? Did you answer YES two (2) or more times? If so, you are probably in trouble with alcohol or drugs. But again, only you can decide whether you think Freedom in Recovery is for you. Try to keep an open mind on the subject. If the answer is YES, we will be glad to show you how we stopped drinking and using drugs ourselves. Freedom in Recovery does not promise to solve your life's problems. But we can show you how we are learning to live without drinking or using one day at a time with the help of our Higher Power, Jesus Christ. We stay away from that first drink. If there is no first one, there cannot be a tenth one. And when we are free of alcohol and drugs, we found that life became much more manageable, with Christ’s power.