Though it may seem hard for strugglers to believe, it is possible to overcome addiction of any kind as you look to God for supernatural help.
Sadly, not everyone who is bound wants to overcome addiction. They first have to acknowledge that they are trapped before calling out for help. The good news is that with God it is possible to break every chain of bondage and be completely set free.
No matter what addiction we face, God offers us a way out. It could be anything from smartphone dependency to drugs and alcohol, lust or pornography. No matter what your struggle is, God knows and He cares and He wants to set you free. That’s why He has made a way out for each of us to overcome addiction.
If you’re caught up in an addictive cycle, you probably think turning this around involves a complex rehab strategy but that’s not necessarily the case. With God, things are pretty straightforward, in fact so simple that at times we may not always see the solutions He offers – though they are staring us in the face!
Whatever addiction you may be affected by, whether it is what you allow your eyes to see or the amount of food that goes in your mouth, the core problem is our age-old battle against ‘SIN’. Sin comes in many different forms and we all struggle with something.
You can overcome addiction
The simple solution is REPENTANCE. As Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Go and sin no more.” Repentance means turning around from the way you’ve been going and to start heading in the opposite direction! It involves coming to terms with the fact that you have a problem and making a decision to turn your back on it.
This means naming the issue. It could be anything from overeating to binge-watching TV to all kinds of things that steal your time, health and relationships, robbing you of your family, vocation, and destiny. There is no doubt about it, sin brings devastation. The Bible says the result of sin is death. It also tells us that the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. That is what addiction accomplishes for us. Yet many of us continue to flirt with our addiction and its false promises. It may offer temporary comfort but ultimately it will lead us down a trail of destruction.
Consider the well-known quotation… “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” The writer of this statement is unknown but the truth it shares should be made known to everyone to help them overcome addiction. Even so, we may know what’s best for us and yet somehow, in this world where anything goes, we can easily be anesthetised to the consequences of our negative actions.
The answer always begins with repentance, which means choosing to follow Jesus no matter what. Remember the old Sunday school song… ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ – “Tho’ none go with me, still I will follow… The world behind me, the Cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.”
Repentance requires naming the problem and refusing to accept its ongoing existence in our lives by putting our faith in Jesus to overcome addiction. After all, His Name is the Name Above All Names – the name that is higher than sickness and disease, the name above addiction. As we speak His name over the situation, we give Him permission to intervene in our situation and our faith rises to overcome addiction. And, of course, as we pray and confess our sin to God He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us.
If you are struggling today, trust Jesus to deliver you.
He said He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. He said He came to set the captives free. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life. (Romans 6:23). And that doesn’t just mean life in Heaven where there is no sin, it means having a victorious life on earth. It means we can break chains of addiction no matter what they are.
Yes, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy but Jesus came to give us life and life in abundance (John 10:10). Abundant life is not struggling with sin. God has made it possible for us to be reconciled with Him, forgiven of our sin and empowered to overcome addiction and live a victorious life.
Sin is like a deep ravine that separates us from God. In order to cross that vast divide, we need a bridge. Jesus is that bridge. As we accept Him as our Savior, we are empowered to live a new life in Christ, putting our past behind and embracing the freedom we can have in Jesus.
For those Christians who continue to struggle – do not feel condemned. The Bible also tells us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Repentance is the first step to overcome addiction but there is much more we can do to walk in victory. Different Christian writers have different perspectives however here are 7 key steps to break chains of addiction compiled by Al Gibson. May you receive complete freedom in God as you consider these crucial steps that are sure to bring freedom and liberty into your life.
International Christian
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