ADDICTIONS, DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND CAFFEINE by Clare Cooper (Based on Psalm 27:1, 3, 11, 13)

Whom should we fear when the Lord is our light and our salvation? No matter what our addictions in life are, we can trust in the Lord as our refuge. If we are afraid to call on Him as our life's refuge, then we must pray for complete trust in Him. Ask Him every day to be with us. Trust in God no matter who is against us. If armies come against us, our hearts will not fear. Though war be waged upon us, even then will we trust. Ask Him to show us His way. His path is the right way. Because of our adversaries it is hard for us to overcome our shortcomings. Dear Lord, guide us to take care of the bodies you have given us. Teach us to always follow you. You are the only one who can help us overcome our addictions.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, help us to make choices about our bodies. Help us to make good choices about our lives. Let us all pray for people with addictions. Let us ask the Holy Trinity to touch all people all over the world. Our addictions are destroying us. Wait for the Lord with courage. Lord, help us make good choices. We must wait for the Lord with courage.

(Clare Cooper is on the DCCR Assembly and a member of "The Community of God's Love" prayer group at St. Kieran Parish in Shelby Township. She is recently retired from the position of Director of Religious Education at St. Anne's in Warren. She presently serves as sacramental section head at her home parish of St. Therese of Lisieux, also in Shelby Township.)

(This is the fourth in a series of Bulletin articles that will address the twelve areas of prayer for which the Lord has requested that all in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Detroit intercede. Those who are led to pray for this particular intention of addictions/drugs, please contact Clare Cooper, the writer of this article, at #586-731-0579, to let her know that you will join with her and others in praying for this topic.)