Galatians 3:5

I ask you again, does God give you the power of the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you as a result of your trying to obey the Jewish laws? No, of course not. It is when you believe in Christ and fully trust him. ~ Galatians 3:5 (TLB)

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Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God’s help.

This is the how and the why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous, page 62

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Quit playing God.

But I'm so good at it!

And after all

we're only talking

about the little things.

I'll leave the big ones to God...

Salvation

Condemnation

The destruction of the world.

But he's so busy.

He can't worry about a little lie,

just a half truth, really,

to not hut feelings.

Or about what I eat,

whether the chicken fry

or another baked fish. Phew!

I can handle this.

What do you mean, baloney?

You don't trust me?

God, you love me.

You care about me.

Nothing's to little for your concern.

I'll let go, release it all,

and really mean that prayer,

your will, not mine,

be done.

Galatians 3:4

Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ~ Galatians 3:4 (NASB)

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We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous, page 24

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WhenEVER will I learn?
Must I allow the same lesson
to be pounded into my head
again
and again
and AGAIN???
I know I do it to myself,
that I have a taste of recovery
then toss it away
again
and again
and again.
But at some point I learn
recovery feels better
than my addiction
that I don't want the illusive prize
and choose to hold the real one
and my experience
can bless others
doing what they would not do
again and again and again.

God, let it be sooner
rather than later.
Let me listen to those
who have learned the lesson.

Galatians 3:3

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? (Galatians 3:3 NIV)

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We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 25)

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Powerless.
Life out of control.
I can do this
with sufficient willpower,
if I follow the rules,
if I use my logic,
my experience,

what I read of how it's done...
but then again
I've tried that.
Failed at that.
Fell flat on my face.
I can't do it
and have demonstrated that
in every manner for many years.
I give up.
But I have a Spirit
who will take over
if I just let go,
take direction,
and do as I'm told.

Thank you, God,
for proving I can't
but you can.

Galatians 3:1

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? (NIV)

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Yet all reasons for not drinking were easily pushed aside in favor of the foolish idea that he could take whiskey if only he mixed it with milk! (Alcoholics Anonymous 36-37)

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Knowing better,
having experienced the glory
of doing it well,
of living recovery,
of achieving alignment
of my life with His...
Despite years of study,
repeated recommittals,
leadership roles,
extensive service...
Cognizant it's counterintuitive,
embarrassed to fall short,
to miss the mark,
to have settled for less...
God, I know I'm foolish,
that I'm a failure.
No, not a failure.
I'm yours, you made me,
and you don't make failures.
But I know better.

Help me to choose better.

God, I know I'm foolish.
Let me turn loose,
surrender,
and be the success you choose

to make me.

Galatians 2:20-21

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (NIV)

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But there is One who has all power—that One is God. May you find Him now!

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. we asked His protection and care with complete abandon. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous (Kindle Locations 906-908). 

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Who would choose to set grace aside?
God's unmerited love...
would you decline just because
you had not earned it,
it felt like charity?
(Insert graphic,
hand raised, guilty.)
A being possessing all power?
Who would not seek out and find
this greatest of great,
this source of, well, all power?
But how intimidating, how humiliating...
who would decline to search for the source?

(Insert graphic,
hand raised, guilty.)

The law I understand,
the give and take,
punishment for failure,
judgment for those who prove
they deserve it...
beyond a reasonable doubt.
Who expects justice through the law?

(Insert graphic,
hand raised, guilty.)

God, I'm drawn to wrong answers
but they don't give me peace, happiness.
Teach me to accept grace, to seek
the source of all power,
and to know the law gains me nothing.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NIV)

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Like myself, he had admitted complete defeat. Then he had, in effect, been raised from the dead, suddenly taken from the scrap heap to a level of life better than the best he had ever known! (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 11)

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Throw in the towel, I'm done. 

It's okay, though. 

I'm not the star, just the understudy.

I'm here, ready to be of service

but when I stand back and watch,

when I just take orders

and do my best,

excellence happens

and I bask in it,

a part of it, 

the beneficiary,

but blown away

by the results.

I can't believe what a work or art

you can craft 

from the raw material

that is me.

Galatians 2:19

It was the Law itself that killed me and freed me from its power, so that I could live for God.

I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. (CEV)

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Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 62)

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Whatever
I've tried all these years
over and over again
didn't work.
Why should I trust it to work now?
Do I relish guilt,
savor shame,
revel in remorse?
Emphatically not!
Why, then, should I persist,
why try harder when I know
I could not before have done more
than I did, at least briefly...
I'm incompetent, powerless,
unable to manage my life,
my responsibilities.
It's time to toss my pride in the rag pile
and allow the results
even if I can't claim
responsibility.

God, thank you!
I don't have to be
responsible.