Savage2Saint Sobriety August 4, 2023

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. - Proverbs 27:17 (NLT).

I'm blessed to have great friends and family in my life. Christian men and women who aren't afraid to tell me when I'm wrong. True friends who keep it real with me. Brothers and sisters I can call when I need a friend or someone to just listen. These saints are an essential part of me staying "sharp," which enhances my relationship with Jesus.

These relationships are great for me, but I have to be careful not to take them for granted. These only work the way they do if it's a two-way street. I have to be willing to tell them when they are wrong, I have to be willing to tell them one hard truth over a thousand easy lies, and I have to keep it real with each and every one of them or else I am letting them down.

For me, I have found that Christian based support groups, like Celebrate Recovery (CR) and Reformers Unanimous (RU), are great places to find like-minded individuals who are seeking the Lord and hungry for change in their lives. My church, West Point UPC, in Doniphan, MO, hosts a Celebrate Recovery meeting every Sunday night. The first half of these meetings begin with a meal, then praise and worship, followed by a focus on one of the Bible-based principles that Celebrate Recovery was founded on. Everything is focused on fellowship and making new, sober friends. This verse comes to mind - "not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:25 (NIV).

The second half of the meeting is where everyone breaks into smaller groups to discuss issues we may be going through, or the group leader may offer a topic to discuss. These groups are designed with less people, so each person has a chance to talk. You're not required to talk, you can just listen, but everyone gets the opportunity to have a voice if they choose. Men have their own groups, women have theirs.

These groups are where we work out our past hurts, hang-ups, and habits. This is where Proverbs 27:17 comes to life, "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." - (NLT). I can go to my small group and get the problems I'm facing or issues that are bothering me off my chest. The same problems and issues, that, in the past I would use drugs and alcohol to forget about them. I used to try to escape the problems, only to cause bigger problems. Now, I can process what I'm going through without the use of drugs and alcohol. Now, I can free myself of the extra weight these problems add to my everyday life. Not by making them magically disappear, but by working through the problems, not holding them in, and seeking the counsel of Godly people. That's what these groups do for me and they can do the same for you.

Nobody said that life was easy. Living life on life's terms can be difficult at times, but we never have to go through it alone. Jesus taught us how important it is to fellowship with one another throughout the Gospels, but I like the power this verse shows us when we fellowship with one another...Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (KJV). Yes, it's not only important but POWERFUL, too. I encourage everyone reading this to join us this Sunday night @ 6:00 PM for Celebrate Recovery. We are located at 252 Ripley Route E, Doniphan, MO. If you need a ride, feel free to contact Shevon and I through the contact form on our website.