I
Wanted to Do Things My Way
Client testimony by Paul Hagloch
According to The Message version of the Bible, the author of Psalm 18:20-24
wrote, “God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before
Him.
“
When I got my act together, He gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert
to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review
the ways He works. I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and
I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened
the book of my heart to Him.”
This passage describes how God is working in my life. The Lord has blessed
me in countless ways since I came to Him through my Savior, Jesus Christ.
However, my life did not change overnight.
When I came to the New Destiny Treatment Center, I was a “lukewarm” Christian,
as described in Revelation 3:16. I couldn’t understand why I was continually “spewed
out of His mouth” through divorces, arrests and all of the pain that
came from those experiences.
After nearly eight months of treatment, I now know why. I always wanted to
do things my way.
By God’s grace I came to New Destiny Treatment Center to learn how
to live His way. I had to change my ways or remain lukewarm. With Christ
as my guide, I decided to change.
Change is not instantaneous. Recovery is hard work and will continue to be
difficult for me. Sobriety is not given; it is achieved. I had to take a
good look at the events in my life and the motives for my actions. Most of
the time, my self-examination was not a pleasant process.
My prayer for removal of my character faults did not bring immediate results.
I had to honestly examine the ugliness in my personality and identify what
I needed to change. Once I discovered the traits and habits that hindered
my progress toward moral and spiritual freedom, I had to keep them in focus
in order to pursue cleansing.
The process is difficult and painful, but through prayer and self-discipline
I can replace all of my “emotional garbage” with true virtues
and sincere motives. I have to step outside of my self and allow God and
His life-giving power to flow into me.
As I complete each task, God blesses me with joy, peace and contentment that
are beyond description.
I will continue to study God’s word, fellowship with other Christians
and pray for God’s guidance with genuine faith. Each day I must triumph
over my human nature and trust that God will lead, comfort and bless me – because
He says He will.
God has used the New Destiny Treatment Center to change my life. Praise Him!
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