“One word frees us from the weight and pain of life; that word is love.”

-- Sophocles

As a former drug addict, addicted to heroin and cocaine for over 10 years of my life, I have learned what it means to be empowered. I have become empowered to release the things, circumstances and people in my life who were not serving my highest and greatest good. How did I do that? Through prayer, meditation and knowing the truth of who I am.

When I found out that I was created in the image and likeness of Love, I became empowered because I began to love what I thought was unlovable ... me. When I found out that God/LOVE saw only my good and never condemned me or judged me, I stopped judging myself and condemning myself and began loving myself. That’s empowerment!

I learned that there was no substance greater than the substance of LOVE/God and in knowing this it was easy to let go of my ego’s need to use drugs. When I learned that I had power within me to overcome anything and that nothing was more powerful than that Power within me which is God/Love, I became FREE.

I live a healthy, happy, prosperous and FREE life today because I accepted the Truth that the One Presence and One Power that is Love is who I truly am ... not the addict ... not the judge ... not the condemner ... not the unloved ... but the real me: God expressing as Zakiyyah/LOVE.

~ Zakiyyah Lana

“We do not open our hearts ‘when....’; we open them ‘in spite of.’ God grants us the opportunity and power to transform every negativity into everlasting love.”

-- Mary Manin Morrissey

“This is the most profound spiritual truth I know: that even when we’re most sure that love can’t conquer all, it seems to anyway.”

-- Anne Lamott

Rev. Zakiyyah Lana invites you to contact her for support with prayer and spiritual guidance at her ministry, Pathwayz To Freedom. Email her at revzlana@hotmail.com.