PRAYER PROMPTERS #2: HOW’S RECOVERY GOING? (Post 162)

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Post 162

My apologies! Yes, this is September, not August. I promised a full year of thoughts for spiritual recovery during 2023 … but this past month has been filled with health concerns. Basically, I over did my body’s abilities and have paid for it since early July. Now, kind of on the mend, I’m able to return to GRM Blog writing - kind of! Therefore, we are starting where we left off on the topic of prayer prompters; and today’s focus is geared to persons who, themselves, are in the midst of gambling problems. How does one pray for him/her self about such issues? Are the problems so overwhelming that where to start cannot even be pinpointed?

Let’s begin with wisdom from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly; and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.

To be sure, for most persons in recovery (of any kind!), concerns about relapse can be daunting. Strides already made do not wish to be lost, nor does one want to be surprised by temptation. The question is often asked: how can I not become a victim of relapse.

Some of you, no doubt, have heard or read my thoughts on this topic. Actually, the beginnings of relapse most often occur in the mind – not the action. An individual’s thoughts may drift back to those previously, predominating moods. Self image, anger, action-seeking, shame, need to escape, sorrow, or even boredom may serve to move him/her toward behavior that can eventually turn out to be unhealthy – even devastating. As long as self-defeating/self-deprecating concepts reign, the previous mindset will have a greater opportunity to takeover and pave the way back to harmful coping mechanisms.

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) has created a set of 20 Questions to discern how overwhelmed a person is who experiences problems with his/her gambling. As I reviewed the questions, it occurred to me that they could serve not only as present-day assessments but also pinpointed-ways to aim one’s prayers in recovery.

Within this Post, for those whose lives are negatively impacted by gambling, I invite you to take a look at the following GA descriptions of “compulsive gambling” (www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/2-questions ) Then see how they can help in expressing your prayers. Moreover, for additional information and literature on Gamblers Anonymous, go to www.gamblersanonymous.org

Here are common characteristics/situations (listed first) of those who are negatively impacted by gambling problems. Some of the below 20 questions are grouped together.

** time lost from work or school due to gambling and/or a decrease in [my] personal ambition or efficiency. Pray specifically for goals to set and attain each day. Be realistic and keep track. Pray to stay on track. Pray for an accountability person to encourage you regularly - even daily if need be!

** gambling has made [my] home life unhappy and careless of the welfare of [myself] or [my] family HOW is it affecting your personal life? And that of your family? Describe plainly and specifically – and then, pray about these conditions and for each of the individuals affected

** after losing, did [I] feel [I] must return as soon as possible and win back [my] losses; plus after a win did [I] have an urge to go back and win more? Did [I] often gamble until all [my] money was gone? Did [I] gamble longer than [I} planned? Pray for ways to avoid entering into situations of testing yourself; pray for ways to meaningfully fill time that will be satisfying without gambling. Pray for divine healing of compulsive responses having to do with gambling.

** Did gambling affect [my] reputation? Pray for persons that you might have harmed and/or friendships lost from disordered (compulsive) gambling. Pray for ways to build your reputation as healthy and contributing to family, community, and society in general – and to yourself …

** Did [I] gamble to get money to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties … borrowed or sold anything to finance [my] gambling … committed or considered committing an illegal act to finance gambling … reluctant to use gambling money for normal expenditures? Ask for guidance and direction: ask for resource persons to help you to protect your finances; pray for additional ways to budget; pray for ways to save money to pay back loans and other debts; pray for a trustworthy person to whom you can be accountable and who will encourage you in building up your finances safely.

** [Do I] gamble to escape worry, trouble, boredom, loneliness, grief, or loss? … gambling cause [me] to have difficulty in sleeping? Do arguments, disappointments, or frustrations create within [me] an urge to gamble? … ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling? … ever considered self-destruction or suicide as a result of [my] gambling? Name your fears as you pray; name your worries – and ask for help with these specifically, identified worries and fears; share your worries with a trusted, prayer partner - praying together on a regular basis; pray with a trusted clergy person. Pray for help in identifying causal factors; pray for clarity to distinguish the circumstances that especially bring on added stress; pray for a professional resource person to help you sort out the areas of stress in your life; and pray for the courage to get help!

If you noticed that many of the italicized prayer prompters sound familiar and resemble those for persons whose loved one is heavily impacted by gambling issues (see Part 1 of Prayer Prompters), you are right. Disordered gambling affects the entire “community” of the gambler: family members, friends, co-workers, and other close associates.

For all involved, I will close with the wise words from Hugh Lawson White.

When you make a mistake, don’t look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind, and then look forward. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.

And I will add: allow the future to ALSO be in God’s power … and trust!

Blessings to you,

Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO

Founding Director

Gambling Recovery Ministries

https://www.grmumc.org

855-926-0761

For more information on the IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification visit:

www.igccb.org

From IGCCB’s Resources for Coping with COVID 19:

https://personcenteredtech.com/tmh/clients (Online therapy preparation for clients)
https://gambling.easywebinar.live/replay (Jody Bechtold telehealth webinar)
https://youtu.be/dYUEjIFtT8E (Jody Bechtold telehealth webinar)

For more information on gambling disorder and recovery issues, go to: