Am I worth fighting for?
 
 
  Breaking Free Chizuk #1408  
 
 
In Today's Issue
   
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Editor’s Note: By Rabbi Ben A. of Chabad.org
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Torah: SHOVAVIM
 
 
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Image of the Day
 
Editor’s Note
 
By Rabbi Ben A. of Chabad.org

 

"And G‑d said to Moses, 'Come to Pharaoh'…"—Exodus 10:1.

When G‑d summoned Moses to confront Pharaoh, G‑d did not say to him, "Go to Pharaoh," but rather, "Come to Pharaoh," as if to say that He, G‑d, was already there and by approaching Pharaoh, Moses was actually approaching G‑d.

Therein, G‑d revealed to Moses the secret of Pharaoh's power and the power of all evil—that, in essence, it is truly nothing more than the audacious misappropriation of the power of G‑d. In other words, the source of evil is the independent ego and the ultimate independence of ego is not the rejection of G‑d but the belief that G‑d's power is one's own.

After all, who was Pharaoh—tyrant, dictator, killer of children and oppressor of slaves? All of these were but manifestations of Pharaoh—particular character defects, if you will. But the essence of Pharaoh – that which made all of these other behaviors possible – was nothing more or less than the worship of self, as Pharaoh so outrageously exclaimed (Ezekiel 29:9), "I created myself."

Thus, G‑d told Moses "Come to Pharaoh," as if to say, "Come, enter the essence of evil and confront it in its source, as it really is. You will find that I am there already, for I am the power that evil so audaciously claims as its own."

So it is with us. Our inner Pharaoh is the ego that claims G‑d-like powers. He may be called by various names such as self-control, will-power or intelligence, but his message is always the same. He insists that he has our addiction under control. By the time we realize that this Pharaoh's claims are untrue, his domination over us is already complete. We stand face to face with evil, and it seems that there is nothing that we can do.

But then G‑d beckons us, "Come. Come face the obsession as it really is. The ego is not as powerful as it claims, but to the contrary, completely powerless. When you can see this – that the power of ego is nothing but a complete and total lie – it is then, and only then, that you will see true power, the power of G‑d." 

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What a call we had today on Duvid Chaim's 12-Step phone conference!

So many Powerful shares - generated by our working the Exercise "over the past 23 hours” - which was Find G-d inside yourself!

We heard men share their stories of how G-d has given them:

  • Courage and
  • Strength and
  • The willingness to make Big Decisions, plus
  • Answers that arrived as thoughts in their head after they quieted their anxiety and panic long enough to hear The Still Small Voice

We also heard from those of us who are now brave enough to disclose their secondary addiction known as Co-Dependency. And how - by finding G-d inside themselves, they were able to break out of their comfort zone that is really nothing more than the prison of victimization and self pity!

This was made possible, we concluded - NOT by tapping into our own personal self reliance and intelligence. But all this was made possible to tapping into the G-d resource and the G-d reliance that comes by turning in all things over to the Father of Light :

The ALMIGHTY himself!!

Kel Elyon - אל עליון - Our Higher Power!

You are invited to spend some time with the Big Book and review "the how and the why of it" - the “simple concept that is the Keystone to the triumphant arch we pass through to Freedom" - by reading the BB pages 60 thru 62.

In addition, I would like to share with you a very powerful prayer that Miriam has shared with me from the CODA Book (with my own slight edits to make it more like a Tefillah). I have printed this prayer and taped it inside my Siddur. I suggest you do the same.

HaKodosh Boruch Hu, I am having trouble with personal relationships.

I can’t control my emotional nature. I am prey to misery and self-pity. I am struggling to make a living and treat my wife like a queen.

I feel useless. I am full of fear. I am unhappy. I can’t seem to be of real help to others. I know in my heart that only You can restore me to sanity if I am just willing to stop doubting Your Power. I humbly ask that You help me to understand that it is more powerful to believe than not to believe. And that You are either everything or nothing. Ayn Od Milvado!

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Torah
 
SHOVAVIM
 
By GYE Corp.

Join the Worldwide YEshiva Shovavim Initiative at shovavim.org - "YES we can!"


"Shovavim" - which stands for the first letters of the Parshios Shemos through Mishpatim - is a time of calling for Teshuva, as the Pasuk says "Shuvu Banim Shovavim - Return, wayward children!" This period covers the servitude of Mitzrayim and the subsequent redemption. Below, we bring a nice quote from Rabbi Twerski's daily tips, which can help us understand why this period is so "mesugal" and important for Teshuvah:

"I am your God Who has delivered you ,"from the land of Egypt" (Shema, Numbers 15:41).

This verse is recited twice daily, because the deliverance from Egypt was more than a historic event. It was a deliverance from a state of enslavement, and this deliverance should repeat itself daily in everyone's life.

No enslavement and no tyranny are as ruthless and as demanding as slavery to physical desires and passions. Someone who is unable to resist a craving, and who must, like a brute beast, do whatever the body demands, is more profoundly enslaved than someone subject to a human tyrant. Addicted people are an extreme example of those who have become slaves to their bodies.

Dignity comes from freedom, in the capacity to make free choices, and hence, in our ability to refuse to submit to physical desires when our judgment indicates that doing so is wrong. Freedom from domination by the body is the first step toward spiritual growth."

Today I shall ...

... declare my freedom from the tyranny of my body.

Do you think you may have a porn addiction?
 

Do you have a problem with obsessive and compulsive porn use? Have you seriously tried the tools on GYE and feel that you are not getting better? Maybe it’s time to consider joining a 12-Step program.

Porn Anonymous (PA)
If you’re compulsively acting-out with pornography and masturbation we suggest you explore joining Porn Anonymous (PA). If you need help deciding whether to join PA, call Michael at 347-699-2368, or email help@pornanonymous.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit pornanonymous.org (Hebrew: p-a.org.il / Yiddish: pa-yid.org).

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
If your compulsive acting-out has progressed beyond the screen (with other people, paid sexual services, etc.) we suggest you explore joining Sexaholics Anonymous (SA). To figure out if SA is for you, call Dov at 917-414-8205, or email Dov at dov@guardyoureyes.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit www.sa.org.

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