<p>POWERLESS Jesus said, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” Principle 1: Realize I’m not God. I admit that I am powerless to (John 10:10). control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is S-- Selfishness: The Lord’s Prayer is NOT, “Our Father who unmanageable. Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our art in heaven . . . Give me . . . Give me . . . Give me!” addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become “Whoever clings to his life shall lose it, and whoever unmanageable. loses his life shall save it.” Most problems we have with other people stem from selfishness. POWERLESS: The Serenity Robbers S-- Separation: When we can’t find God, we can be certain who moved. “For I am convinced that nothing can ever P— Pride: “Pride ends in a fall, while humility brings honor” separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. (Prov. 29:23). Ignorance, power, and pride create a The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot deadly mixture. keep God’s love away . . . Nothing will ever be able to O-- Only ifs: “Only if they hadn’t walked out . . .” “Only if I separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our had stopped drinking . . .” Admitting our powerlessness Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us” (Romans 8:38-39). means we can start walking in the truth instead of our rationalization. “Whatever is covered up will be uncovered, and every secret will be made known” (Luke 12:2). W-- Worrying: Worrying is not trusting God enough. Keep the Serenity Prayer in your pocket and trust the One and Only Higher Power, Jesus Christ. “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of tomorrow, too. Live one (Robert “Bob” Pierce (1914-1978), relief worker, day at a time” (Matt. 6:34). parachurch administrator, founder of World Vision and Samaritan’s E-- Escape: Previously we may have used much needed Purse) energy trying to escape and hide from our hurts, hang- ups, and habits through unhealthy relationships, drugs, Pastor David Jeremiah tells a story about Bob Pierce. Pierce had alcohol, food, etc. “For the light is capable of showing advanced leukemia. But he went to visit a friend in Indonesia up everything for what it really is. It is possible for the before he died. As they were walking through a small village, light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also they came upon a young girl lying on a bamboo mat next to a (Ephesians 5:13-14). Our true “escape routes” are river. She was dying of cancer. And she only had a short time to through His power and grace! live. R-- Resentments: Resentments are like “emotional cancers.” “In your anger do not sin . . . Do not let the sun go down Bob was upset. He said, "Why isn’t she in a clinic? Why isn’t while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a someone taking care of her?" But his friend explained that she foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27). was from the jungle. And she wished to spend her last days L-- Loneliness: Trying to maintain our “false power” can lead next to the river, where it was cool and familiar. As Bob gazed to isolation. “Loneliness is a choice: in recovery and in at her, he felt such compassion that he got down on his knees Christ, you never have to walk alone again.” Get involved in the mud, took her hand, and began stroking it. Although she in church, Celebrate Recovery, etc. “Continue to love didn’t understand him, he prayed for her. each other with true brotherly love” (Hebrews 13:1). E-- Emptiness: “When you finally admit that you are truly Afterward she looked up and said something. "What did she powerless by yourself, that empty feeling deep inside— say?" Bob asked his friend. His friend replied, "She said, ’If I that cold wind that blows through you—will go away.” could only sleep again, if I could only sleep again.’" Bob began to weep. Then he reached into his pocket and took out his own sleeping pills, the ones his doctor had given him because the pain from his leukemia was too great for him to sleep at night. He handed the bottle to his friend. "You make sure this young lady gets a good night’s sleep," he said, "as long as these pills last." </p><p>Bob was ten days away from where he could get his prescription refilled. That meant ten painful and restless nights. That day his servant hood cost him greatly. But even in the midst of his suffering, God had given him a supernatural sense of satisfaction that he had done the right thing. Even though Bob Pierce was from the other side of the world. He was a neighbor to this young lady. He was a Good Samaritan. </p><p>Based upon an average 71-year- old life span, you will spend...23 years sleeping (8 hours a day); 6 years in a car; 3 years eating; 11 years in leisure activities; 2 years getting dressed; 17 years working; and... let’s say you come to church Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday night, an average of three hours a week, you will spend a whopping total of ... 6 months in church. Stephen Rice</p>