Over the PA system, I heard my name being called to please report to the guidance counselor. It was my senior year in high school. Although I was a good student, involved in many activities, and had many friends, I had one great area of lack in my life. I was a teenage alcoholic.
My guidance counselor, who was known as the “coolest” counselor, kindly told me that he had great concern about my life because of reports that he was hearing of my dangerous behavior when I was intoxicated. Every cell in my body seemed to tingle as he laid my addiction bare before me. I realized that I had a problem and that my life was out of control.
For the next three years I tried to stop drinking. The more I focused on my need to quit, the more I turned to alcohol to help me handle the stress that imagining coping with life without alcohol produced. I was caught up in a vicious cycle and didn’t have the strength to hop off. Although I was attending college and appeared to have a fulfilled life, on the inside I was miserable and defeated.
One day my college dorm mate witnessed to me and told me about our ministry’s Foundational Class. It took me a year to finally decide to take the class, but the believers never quit on me, and neither did God.
I became born again in the class, and the craving for alcohol was gone. I was made whole spiritually, mentally, and physically, and saw immediate deliverance, much like what is recorded in the Book of Acts. My new, wonderful believing friends taught me principles from God’s Word to help me continue to enjoy my life without alcohol. One of God’s promises that means so much to me is II Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I have a sound mind! I have the ability to hold God’s Word in mind and act on it. I am in control of this awesomely and wonderfully made body and mind that God has given me.
It has been forty years since I took the class and I have enjoyed forty years of sobriety. When life is challenging, I run to God’s Word instead of running towards a bottle. When life is victorious, I enjoy a party in my heart between my God and I, and I celebrate with thanksgiving with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
What has God done for me because of the Word of God that I learned in The Way Ministry? He took me out of the pit, His love lifted me, He touched me, and, oh, the joy that fills my soul. I will be forever grateful to my God and to my wonderful ministry that taught me His delivering Word.