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ADDICTIONS (article 2)
by Clare Cooper
As we continue to
pray for persons with addictions, there are many avenues to travel.
When I took on the task to pray for all people with addictions, I began
to realize how many people out there were addicted to many things. My
thoughts of addicting substances turned to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and
caffeine. There are many addictions.
Recently, I asked the Lord about myself. I told Him that I
did not have any addictions. He made it very clear to me that I did,
and that ended our conversation. This was difficult for me to hear.
What was the Lord trying to tell me?
Some days later, after I had some blood work done, my doctor
told me that the tests showed that my triglycerides were too high.
Triglycerides are part of our cholesterol level, which in my case was
always low. Now, however, my triglycerides reading was high, and I
found out that sugar can affect it.
So, my doctor told me to go off of sugar as much as
possible. Oh, I thought this would be so simple – not so. After the
first week of no sugar, I realized I did have an addiction and I was no
different than a drug addict or a smoker. Smokers can use a patch to
help them. I was going through what I thought a drug addict or smoker
would go through to give up an addiction “cold turkey.” It became very
difficult. I purchased some sugar-free candy that first week. That
helped me get over the hard part. My body slowly got used to having no
sugar. Now when I eat small amounts of candy or other foods made with
sugar, I find them way too sweet.
After about six months, my triglycerides went from 324 to
250 – a good start to living without sugar and improving my health. I
also had a bonus of losing sixteen pounds. But, most of all, I learned
that I, too, have an addiction.
Look around you to learn what addictions you have. Ask the
Lord in prayer, “To what am I addicted.” How about TV – computers –
food – and possibly sugar? We can make many things our addictions.
Let’s start today to find our own addictions.
Let God’s grace help you with your addictions. Grace is the
active expression of God’s love. God’s love is the root of grace; grace
itself is the dynamic flowering of this love, and the good things that
result in life are the fruit of this divine process.
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
This article is part
of the second series of articles that address the twelve areas of prayer
for which the Lord has requested that all in the Catholic Charismatic
Renewal in the Archdiocese of Detroit intercede. Anyone led to pray for
this particular intention of Addictions, please contact Clare
Cooper, the writer of this article, at #586-731-0579, to let her
know that you will join with her and others in praying for this topic.
(Clare
Cooper is a member of the Community of God’s Love Prayer Group at
St. Kieran Church in Shelby Township, and a member of the DCCR
Assembly.)
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