The Power of Grace
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, grace is “the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation.”
Of all of the things we need most in our lives when we feel we have failed at everything, grace is the gift that can encircle us with love, lift us up, and inspire us to believe in ourselves and become better people. Whether we receive this grace from God or another higher power, the most important thing is to surrender ourselves and receive it. It will give us power we never knew possible.
Divine Influence
One of the first things we do in treatment is to admit that we are powerless and turn our lives over to God. What happens in that moment when we surrender ourselves is more than magical, as we allow divine influence to enter into our hearts and into our lives, then the healing begins.
There is so much power in admitting that we are powerless. Seeking power from a divine source allows us to be helpless and strong, all at once, and we gain wisdom as we plead on our knees for the gifts of forgiveness, strength and grace.
Regenerate and Sanctify
We have seen ourselves at our worst, and are now taking the steps to regenerate. Regenerate our bodies, minds, and souls. We seek treatment to cleanse our bodies of our substances and renew our physical strength. We seek treatment to cleanse our minds of cravings, old habits, and thought patterns. And we seek treatment to cleanse our souls of the pain and emptiness that we tried to compensate for in our addictions.
To sanctify means to purify, or make holy. We have the opportunity now to clean our slate, before God, our family and friends, and most importantly, ourselves. With divine grace, we can seek and achieve forgiveness and make ourselves whole again.
Inspire Virtuous Impulses
Up until this point, impulses have meant something entirely different to us. It started out to be all about us – our pain, our emptiness. Then it became about the substance, and those impulses became stronger and more difficult to resist. Until it seemed impossible, and we no longer had control over our impulses at all.
With grace, we can develop virtuous impulses. Looking outside ourselves to provide a smile, a kind word, or service to another human being. No matter how rough we are feeling, grace provides us with the impulse to do virtuous things and be a better human being.
Strength to Endure
Starting on the recovery path is only the beginning. Every day is another chance for negative thinking, old habits, and unhealthy appetites to rear their ugly heads. Strange how rebuilding our lives isn’t an overnight project, but rather a daily struggle with all kinds of bumps in the road. We face the consequences of our pasts, the reality of our present, and the needed courage for our future.
But we don’t have to face each day alone. With the grace of a higher power, we can receive strength beyond our own. When we feel like we are at the end of our rope, there is a loving hand there to support us and keep us from falling. When we turn to a higher power, we find that we can do things we never thought we could do on our own.
Resist Temptation
There may never be another day without the temptation on some level to use or abuse our substance. Just like practice makes perfect, it might get a little easier the more often we resist, but it definitely does not feel that way. As a mere mortal, resisting the temptations of addiction is next to impossible. However, with grace, we draw upon a strength that is beyond mortal.
When we feel alone, when we feel that we are being tested beyond our limits, we can reach for divine grace and receive renewed ability to resist temptation. Our cravings will not go away necessarily, but our burdens will be lightened as we turn to our higher power.
Grace is Infinite
The best part about divine grace is that it is limitless. Like a bottomless well, or the vast oceans, we can dip our cup in the water and it will always be full. Grace is something given us, but it is given only to those who ask. We need only ask for grace and it will be given to us bountifully by the higher power of our choice..
We have the opportunity to receive grace every day of our lives. Through prayer and meditation, we can receive the refining and strengthening powers as often as we ask – we just need to reach out our hands and surrender to the power that is beyond our own.
We can choose to be sanctified and regenerated by divine grace. Enlightened Solutions is the perfect place to begin our recovery journey and learn how to access grace in our lives. Find your grace today.
If you are battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you are not alone, and there is hope for your recovery. At Enlightened Solutions, we understand the complexities of addiction and foster hope for the future. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, call us today at 833-801-LIVE.
