“Ego is what took me. EGO, “Edging God Out,” that’s exactly what I did. I just got smacked in the side of the face being a kid from a small farming town in Illinois and going into the Southern California Hollywood atmosphere. People start telling you how great you are and want your attention. Women are throwing themselves at you and temptations are flying all around. It was my ego that started becoming an issue. Once that happened, then God became distant. Whenever you put yourself first, you're taken away from what He wants. My career was first. I was raised going to church. After the World Series in 2002, I put the “Word” aside. You know, sometimes when you're at the top is when the devil really comes after you. I didn't know my enemy. I didn't believe that my enemy was stalking me. My dad gave me a book, When the Enemy Strikes, by Charles Stanley. I started realizing ‘oh, this is real. I'm fighting a battle.’ In 2006, after my injury, I wasn't reading the Bible. I didn't have a good Christian group of teammates and friends that were holding me accountable. I started drinking and using cocaine. I was basically starting to spiral out. In 2007 it was out of control, I was off the vine. I cried out to God many times, although I didn't totally surrender. In 2018, I went to the emergency room. They started telling me ‘you have a 20 percent chance to live.’ ‘You're probably going to need a liver transplant.’ I had a probation officer because I got in trouble. My probation officer asked ‘What do you want on your tombstone? Do you want your kids to remember you as a drunk?’ I ended up calling out to Him and just saying ‘God, take away my cravings.’ I always use, Psalm 40:1-2, “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair,out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” From that point on I've never had a drink of alcohol, that was April 6, 2018. That was a huge moment. Read the word of God. Thank God for all He does, and listen. Listening is one of the things that I didn't do. I was very good at praying and asking for things, but I never gave Him time to talk to me. My name is Scott Spiezio and I surrender.