Principle 7: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:16
The best ways to prevent relapse can be summarized in the acrostic RELAPSE.
Reserve a daily quiet time – Principle 7 sums it up best: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and gain the power to follow His will.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38
Evaluate – Your evaluation need to include your physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health. And don’t forget the value of doing a “H-E-A-R-T” check. Are you…
- Hurting
- Exhausted
- Angry
- Resentful
- Tense
“Be honest in your estimate of yourselves…Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other…Be patient in trouble…Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are hones clear through.” Romans 12:3-17
Listen to Jesus
“Test everything that is said to be sure it is true, and if it is, the accept it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Alone and quiet time – Jesus Christ spent time alone with His Father. You need to do the same.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Plug into God’s power through prayer – God’s guidance and direction can start when your demands stop!
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.” Philippians 4:6
Slow down long enough to hear God’s answer – We need to remember that our timing can be flawed, while God’s timing is perfect!
“Listen to me. Keep silence and I will teach you wisdom!” Job 33:33
“If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful that the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Enjoy your growth – rejoice and celebrate the small success along your road to recovery!
“Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Here are a few final suggestions for preventing relapse:
- Pray and read your Bible daily. Establish a specific time of day to have your “quiet time.”
- Make attending your recovery meeting a priority. Stay close to your support team.
- Spend time with your family (if they are safe). If they are not, spend time with your church family.
- Get involved in service. Volunteer!