Knowing Jesus – understanding His love and forgiveness can go a long way to breaking addictions. Fear and shame as a result of believing lies can be remedied by knowing and understanding the truth.
One of the biggest factors in giving up an addiction is to be motivated enough to do so. Many people have given up smoking after a heart attack, cancer or a lung disease. Even though Jesus died for our sins, we still receive the natural consequences of a particular sin unless Jesus intervenes. If we repent (change our minds so we stop doing the sin) and are His children, we often do not receive all that we deserve:
“he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Psalm 103:10 (See Ezra 9:13).
God often gives the ungodly what they deserve (Leviticus 26:21 Jeremiah 51:6 and any more examples), even in this life.
Even when we do not get what we deserve, we must not take it lightly:
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4
Besides natural consequences (such as health or appearance), there is spiritual consequences. Sin leads us into self-deception:
“…whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:2
Realize how serious it is to allow sin in your life.
Achan (Joshua 7) stole a few items because of greed, against God’s direct command, and brought death to several people and destruction to his whole family.
Saul, did not destroy all the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15), as God commanded, and was destroyed, in part, by an Amalekite (2 Samuel 1), symbolizing that if we allow even a little sin in our lives, it can eventually destroy us.
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) lied to the Holy Spirit by selling land and pretending to give all the money to the apostles when they had kept some for themselves. God considered this very serious and they died.
Perhaps the worse consequence of our sin is on our family and those we love. Notice how Achan’s family all died.
Although God said about David: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart…” Acts 13:23, David’s sons suffered the consequences of his sin:
“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.” 2 Samuel 12:10
Mordecai told Esther that if she did not do what God was asking her to do, her family would perish:
“When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:12-14
Esther readily obeyed and blessed many people.
The newspaper told about a family who had shoplifted in order to get Christmas gifts for their children. I knew the three boys had accepted Jesus when they were young. The last I heard they are selling drugs. A Christmas without gifts would have been a perfect opportunity to teach how the reason for Christmas is to celebrate Jesus’ birth. We don’t need gifts. Who knows, perhaps Jesus would have provided gifts if they had trusted Him. Instead, they were teaching that obeying Jesus wasn’t important – only receiving gifts. The consequences sin brings are heart breaking.
Make sure you have “a broken and contrite heart” Psalm 51:17 We must realize how much sin hurts God and others. We must repent of our sin. If we change our mind we will change our actions. We must change our mind, but the goal is not to feel hopeless or defeated, but to change so we will not sin anymore.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done…” 2 Corinthians 7:10
Be willing to suffer. Sometimes the Lord will may the way easy, but usually giving up addictions often requires a time of suffering. Yet it will get easier and will be worth all we have to endure. He “will not give us more than we can bear”:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
God will “provide a way out”. Again, God does not want us to feel hopeless or defeated. We may lose some battles, but we will win the war if we don’t give up.
God disciplines us because He loves us:
“‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ (Proverbs 3:11-12)
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Romans 12:5-13
God’s discipline has a good purpose.
Substitute good for evil:
“…Hate what is evil; cling to what is good….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:9-21
“Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
“but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” I Thessalonians 5:21-22
If an addiction has taken up a significant part of our lives, we have to replace it with something else. Do we need new hobbies, new friends, new music, etc? The best we can do is concentrate on Jesus and His Word:
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2
Pray without ceasing. Praying means listening, being aware of God’s presence and trying to do what pleases Him. It means continually relying on Him and thanking Him. It also includes times of studying His word and earnest supplication. Every activity in life can involve prayer. Think of praying continually as a goal:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice always, pray continually,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
Ask others to pray for you. Pray for others that you know are also fighting addictions.
Pray in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit is powerful. It is Christ praying through us:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18
One of my pastors said that he could not give up smoking till he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. He needed the free gift of God’s added power.
Walk in the Spirit: Learn to be comfortable being in God’s presence all the time:
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6
Sometimes, if someone has tried for years to get rid of an addiction, he or she can think it is impossible or hopeless:
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 Mark 10:27
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength,” Philippians 4:13
Know that it is God’s will that you overcome your addiction. He will do all He can to answer your prayers:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us; and if we know that he hears us, we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:13-14
Realize that “Christ in you” Colossians 1:27 can succeed:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20