Day 41
In our alcohol and drug infested world I’ve always been grateful that I never fell into addiction. I’m surrounded by people who have battled drugs and alcohol; fortunately most of my affected family and friends are in recovery.
I do, though, have a monkey on my back. It may sound trivial but in fact it’s quite serious. My drug of choice is food; pretty much anything full of sugar and “bad” carbs. Throughout the years I’ve been able to control my weight with yo-yo dieting and exercise, but I continue to fall off the wagon time and time again.
Many years ago I was diagnosed with a form of rheumatoid arthritis. It completely destroyed my right wrist, which was repaired by a titanium fusion. I was unable to use my right hand for about a year and a half, and it began to attack other joints before the arthritis was controlled with medication. I can honestly say that experience was many times more difficult and painful than what I’m going through now.
The scientific world has concluded that inflammation is the root cause of disease in the body, and diet can greatly affect inflammation. Despite this knowledge, the “junk food junkie” in me has continued to dominate my food choices. I’ve had many periods of “being good” but can easily be taken down, especially in social situations where I don’t have control over the food that’s present.
I know that there’s a link between cancer and sugar, yet I continue to reach for the wrong foods. It makes no sense at all, but I know the only solution is to rely on God.
Recovery programs are available for those struggling with addictions to a multitude of substances. Many of these programs focus on 10 steps, including:
1. We admitted we were powerless over (substance) – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
When we surrender control to the Holy Spirit, and allow him to drive our thoughts, amazing results can unfold. Look out for my next post that examines this issue on a deeper level, but for today,
Be Blessed!
