Psalm 129: The Lord has has cut the cords of the wicked

From Psalms

Psalm 129
(A song of ascents.)

¹Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth,
      may Israel now say:
²Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth:
      yet they have not prevailed against me.
³The plowers plowed upon my back:
      they made long their furrows.
⁴The LORD is righteous:
      he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.

⁵Let them all be confounded
      and turned back that hate Zion.
⁶Let them be as the grass upon the housetops,
      which withereth afore it groweth up:
⁷Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand;
      nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
⁸Neither do they which go by say,
      The blessing of the Lord be upon you:
      we bless you in the name of the Lord.

Verse 4 of Psalm 129 says, "The Lord is righteous, he cut the cord of the wicked."  He has broken the chains of my addiction.  My life an my outlook are completely different and I am changed man.  It has been a long journey of prayers, 12 step meetings, and working the 12 steps.  A journey which is not yet complete - it is one that will likely continue far beyond the time I have all 150 psalms on this site.

I am reading a book, whose whole premise is that we are not the people we think we are.  That we perceive ourselves completely differently than how others perceive us.  This perception we have of ourselves prevents us from changing and becoming the great people we have the potential to be.  In fact, the author goes on to say, we won't change unless the things we value are at risk of being lost.  And so it is for addicts, and so it was for me.  I didn't start the recovery process until my career was at stake, and my marriage was on its last legs.

It's only in the most dire of circumstances that we finally reach out for help.  And only when we reach steps 4 and 5 do we get realistic perspective on who we are and how big our problems are.  Nevertheless, God is there when we are ready.  Ready to set us on a new path with honesty and openess.  Ready to make sacrifices and turn our lives over to God.  When we're ready, God will be there to cut the cords of our addictions and the problems that tie us up in our addiction.  God can only work with us if were willing...and as I'm learning we can only be willing if the things we value are at risk of being lost.

Oh Lord, I am forever grateful for the cords you have cut in my life.  I am grateful for the journey you have set me on, and the changes you have brought into my life.  Thank you for the people who given Your messages that I needed to hear.  The people who opened me up to the truth and changed my perception.  Continue guide me on my journey of recovery.  As I journey this path of recovery let me also help and support other addicts that need guidance and support.  Let me be Your messenger and the Your light to these recovering addicts as others were to me.  In Your son's name - Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.