|
"At
one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved
by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice
and envy, being hated and hating one another, but when the
kindness and love of God our Savoir appeared, He saved us,
not because of righteous things we had done, but because of
His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and
renewal by the Holy Spirit."
Faith and recovery are graces from God. It cannot be earned
or achieved rather they are offered to us freely by God, and
we learn to accept and take hold of them. Yet spiritual growth
and recovery from any addiction are yet easy if and only if
we will fix our eyes on Jesus. God's grace for total renewal
and transformation is the most powerful force to resist addiction
and temptations.
When
we know that God is there for us, we will know where we're
going and we know God is guiding and empowering us, self renewal
comes much more easily.
I
can truly say that God's power to transform our old and indifferent
ways is the most powerful force since I was an alcohol addict
for several years already. I am here, willing to attest and
testify all the goodness of the Lord and declare to all nations
that God saves me from alcoholism and gives me new life. I
become a new creation as I draw near to God and by his grace
I was saved! I am very much happy to proclaim the good news
to all people that Jesus name is the name that leads me to
see myself in new ways.
My
addiction to alcohol started after I had 3 children. I encountered
lots of trials and troubles in life. My family also had no
peace for my wife and I was always fighting. Even though we
went to church and worshiped God, when we reached home from
church we will then start a great fight. I was frustrated,
full of anger and sadness. I went to my friends and my circle
of friends told me to just simple forgets all my troubles
by drinking alcoholic drinks. I then started to drink and
forgot my troubles for the mean time but then when I reached
home having been drunk, the more troubles happened. My wife
will greet me with her noisy mouth telling bad things against
me and we will start another big fight. That situation became
worst after I used to drink any alcoholic drink. I got addicted
and I became a drunkard. The troubles and fights with my wife
never ended. I continued using alcohol as one way of escaping
my problem but I was not able to escape my problems but instead
it became worst. I became an alcoholic addict. As early as
9 in the morning, my tongue will salivate if I can't taste
any liquor. Early in the morning I got drunk. I became a problem
to my family.
My
wife draws near to God as she grew weary of my condition and
with our family condition. She then asks prayer support for
peace and love to prevail in our family.
She
then started to join the Healing Ministry in Catholic Charismatic
Renewal Movement. After she joins the said prayer, she learns
to love me even in the worst situation in my life. She taught
by her prayer group to have patience in dealing me. She was
changed. When I reached home having been drunk, she then greet
me with smile, she takes care of me and loves me despite of
what I did. I then, realized that she was changed because
she was now serving the Lord.
December
2008, I also joined the prayer meeting of Charismatic healing
ministry. Then, I started to draw near to God. I went to several
prayer meetings and heard different testimonies that God is
powerful to heal and save and he is a loving God that forgives
all our sins. I learned to pray to Jesus and begin to have
faith in Him.
I
continued serving the Lord by joining several prayer meetings.
After two months of joining the healing ministry, I got healed
from alcohol addiction. It was month of February. I was in
Sandingan Bohol joining the prayer meeting, I sensed that
I will not salivates anymore even I can smell any liquor.it
was the grace of the Lord that I was healed from addiction.
After several weeks, I went to my friends that I used to be
with during our drinking sessions, I tested myself if I will
be tempted to drink. Praise the Lord, alleluia; I was not
able to drink even 1 glass of liquor. It was by the grace
of the Lord that I was saved from alcoholism. But I experienced
healing; some of my friends were criticizing me that I am
not anymore a Catholic but a Born again because I was changed.
I realized that being a born again is not just to change our
religions but to change our very own self. I got pity on us
Catholics because if we change our old ways and became renewed
towards God we will not be named as renewed Catholics but
of other sects. It is a challenged to all that we can change
for the better not just Catholics or non-Catholics but every
body is called to renew once life with God.
I
am very much happy now serving the Lord together with my family.
We have also attained peace and love in our family life. I
am very thankful to God for forgiving my sins and renewing
myself towards a new servant to Him. Thank you also to Sunday
Post for this column. Praise the Lord!
SGD.
Mr. Jeron Apare
C.P.G. North Ave. Tagbilaran City
|
