Having power: that was our dilemma

“But there is One who has all power—that One is God.” (Chapter 5, Big Book)

With power comes responsibility.

If I eat a sandwich, I can use the energy to rob a bank or teach a class. The sandwich is neutral. The energy it provides is neutral. Its value lies in what I do with it. The energy cannot and will not stand in the way of misuse.

When I’m given power, e.g. to be effective in the workplace, I can use that to glorify God or glorify self. The power will work both ways. Even fundamentally good acts, guided by sound principles, if put into the service of selfish ends, will be co-opted by self to further those selfish ends. If I misuse the power for long enough, the supply will be cut off.

When I’m in temptation, all I can see is the thing I am tempted by, and the alternative is a negative space, a desolate expanse. At those times I cannot pray for the alternative, because I do not know what it is. The fact I am in self-will blocks me from knowledge of God’s will, so I am in a Catch-22 situation.

The answer is therefore to ask to be led not into temptation. That is not because God wants to lead me down a bad path but, if I ask nicely, will relent and lead me down a good path. Asking not to be led into temptation means (a) lead me and (b) lead me into a place called not-temptation. When I’m tempted, since all I know is temptation, I’m mesmerised, blinded. All I know about where I’m asking God to lead me is that it is not this, not here, not down this path, anywhere but here.

If temptation were a placed, say Norwich, ‘Lead us not into temptation’ does not mean ‘Please drop your plan to lead us to Norwich’ but, ‘Lead us wherever you like, just not Norwich’. ‘Lead us not into temptation,’ therefore means ‘lead us wherever you like, just not temptation.’

Only then am I saved from abusing the power given me.

What’s your experience?