Bible Reading: Acts 8:9-23

We admitted that we were powerless over our dependencies and that our lives had become unmanageable.

For many of us, personal power is used as the foundation for our self-esteem. We become used to getting things our way, through whatever influences we have at our disposal (money, power, sex, love, etc.). It can be very unsettling to arrive at a place in life where we can’t buy the power we need. For those of us who use power to bolster our self-esteem, admitting powerlessness will require a foundational change.

“A man named Simon had been a sorcerer. . . . Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as ‘the Great One—the Power of God.’ . . . Then Simon himself believed [that Jesus was the Messiah]. . . . When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. . . . But Peter replied, ‘May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin’” (Acts 8:9-10, 13, 18-23).

Simon realized he was powerless in this situation. He admitted his pride and powerlessness and was able to change. We need to be aware of how pride can hinder us. We can’t buy our way out of addiction. No matter how “powerful” we are in worldly terms, our recovery will come by working a program, day by day.

~ Our recovery can only begin as we “give up” our efforts and our pride. ~