The founders of AA and the 12 Steps were aware of Biblical principles and based on these, they structured the program of Alcoholics Anonymous to include counselors whom we call sponsors.
The role of a sponsor includes listening to the person they are mentoring, their needs, their fears, their confusion, and their pain. A sponsor is a sounding board for providing not only an objective point of view but also prayerful understanding about how healing is attained and how life works.
The Bible teaches: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV) In early recovery a sponsor is often the first person we seek when we need encouragement in taking new steps that are unfamiliar to us. We have feelings we don't always understand and are hearing about new ways of doing things that really don't make sense to us. A sponsor sticks with us and will remind us of the good decisions we are making and when we are heading in the right direction. They will also tell us when we appear to be setting ourselves up for relapse.
The Bible teaches: The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. (Psalm 19:7-8 NLT)
A sponsor is a sounding board who not only provides us with an understanding and listening ear but also offers an objective point of view. There's so much to learn about the recovery process and we've only got limited time and energy each day. An essential part of God's care is providing us with wise people who will both model a healthy lifestyle and share principles for healthy living with us. These people help us reshape our thinking and behaving.
Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive. (Proverbs 16:20 NLT)
If we haven’t already done so, it’s time to prioritize the involvement of wise counsel into our lives.
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