Acts 9:32-35 NKJV

[32] Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. [33] There, he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. [34] And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. [35] So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

Over the past few years, I have done a lot to help myself. I have continued my daily habit of Bible reading for over three years. I have eaten consistently healthier for over a year. My blood work is great. I am no longer a diabetic (according to my numbers). I can't help but be proud of those accomplishments.

What I am quick to tell everyone is that none of it would have been possible without mercy and grace. All of the good I've done... all of the positive life choices I've made... none of it amounts to anything without the daily presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.

In all of the years prior to my sobriety, I was completely unhealthy and unhappy. I was stuck in the neverending cycle of delusion and addiction. I was helpless, hopeless, and completely disheartened by the life I found myself living. I tried, but I could not fix myself. Nothing worked.

If Aeneas could have fixed himself, there is no way he would have been bedridden for eight years. He would have been proactive. He couldn't fix himself. All it took for his life to change was a simple introduction to the healing power of Jesus.

The healing we experience is for us, but it can also be an encouragement to others. I am not a shining example of willpower. I am proof that willing submission, willful obedience, and consistent attention to spiritual, physical, and mental health does make a difference. We weren't designed to do things on our own. We were created to operate with a dependency of God. I am thankful that I am a living, breathing example of what God can do with a broken mess. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to share it with others.