Addictions

[gregb123]

I am a fairly new Christian. I have struggled for years with alcoholism and cocaine addition. I was sober for 2 months and recently had a relapse, I know why it happened and I feel that God was saying "Look you cant do this alone or with a worldly veiw. You must give it to me and trust in me to release you." I have tried to do that, but lately I have not acknowledged it in my prayers. I know I never want to use again, so I need prayers and encouragement. I also don't know how to tell my wife, she will be destroyed and I don't want to hurt her more by telling her.

[johnorth]

Hi Greg,

My name is John. I to once suffered in drug and alcohol addiction. Now I am free, I have been for 4 or five years. I am not going to say that it was easy because it wasn't. This I will tell you, I went to AA, and some NA meetings for years. Now I don't know if you go or not, but I found it wanting. I found a lot of help there, I took the steps, I made meetings, I did all that I was supposed to according to them. When I took step one I admitted that I was powerless over all, then two, I already knew that God could deliver me and restore me to sanity, the problem was I didn't think I was worthy of His love and some of the people led me astray, because I was so hurt and disoriented that I followed the wrong crowd and did what I knew was wrong in His eye's but what seemed right in the eye's of men. Many times I have looked back and asked myself why I did that, saying to myself I should have done what I knew to do. The enemy took advantage of me, in this vonurability and kept me decieved for a few years. I had the semblance of God, but in fact was denying the power of God to deliver me. You see the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. That word salvation is the word sozo in the greek and means -- save, saved, delievered, heal ect. Today most people classify addiction as some kind of disease, if this were true and it is in part. Its an oppression of the devil. Then we as believers are healed or it. For it say's in Isaiah 53. that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, then in Matt. 8, it say's that He himself took our imfirmities and bare our sicknesses, then in 1 Peter 2 it in the last part of the 24th verse by who's striped ye were healed. This all means that whether physically, mentally, and spiritually, we who believe have been healed. That we have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of His dear Son.

We who believe are no longer subject to those things any longer, though many of us suffer with these things needlessly. You see, God, through Jesus Christ has so thoughrouly redeemed us, bought us back from the devil and the captivity, that all things become new when we believe. But we have to believe it. We have to stand on it. We have to ask for healing from time to time. It is alway's Gods will to heal. One verse in particular is Acts 10:38-- How God annointed Jesus of Narzareth with the Holy Ghost and power and went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed of the devil. You see thats for you and me today also, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The enemy wants nothing more than to get you looking at your situation, and not at God. He wants now that you are saved, for you to think of yourself as a worthless worm, who is confined in the prison of addiction. For the reason that if you realized that God has set you free through Jesus Christ, and ask HIm to remove this addiction from you, then you will have a testimony, and with a testimony, you may be the one to help break the bondage of another. The devil don't want that, with your testimony, you can help to set people free, from the same bondage that you have been subject to for so long.

My dear brother, God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to suffer what we should have. It should have been us that was on that cross. It should have been us, that endured the suffering of the whip, that our Lord did. It should have been us that took the stripes for our healing. Thank God it wasn't for there isn't one among us that could have. Jesus Christ the righteous is the direct reflection of what God is. Everyone that came to Jesus in the day's that He walked this earth were healed, when they came to Him. He is no different today. He will do the same thing that He has alway's done. He will heal you if you will call on Him and believe. Those are the only requirements that He has. I believe that you have already asked forgivness for this, so I am not going to worry about it. If you haven't ask Him and then please pray with me the prayer that I will write in a moment. Pray it out loud and only believe.

Father I ask you to heal this dear brother in the Name Of Jesus. Remove from him all traces and desires of this oppression. I ask you to do this now, in Jesus name. Father Your word say's that if we pray and believe that it will be done in the Name of Your Son. That if we ask, we will recieve. That our joy may be full . Lord my brothers joy cannot be full if he is stuck in addiction. I ask that you heal Him of this now in Jesus Name. Devil, take you hands off of him this instant, In Jesus Name.

[justmejean]

Hello Greg,
Alot of us can relate to your issues so know your not alone!
I want to share my testimony of how the Lord delivered me from alcohol and drugs.
I had gone into a treatment center for my issues. This is where the Father baptised me in His Holy Spirit and I was completely delivered of alcohol and drugs! Yes! My life changed so dramatically that I couldn't even listen to the same music, watch same tv shows or read the same books!
This scripture comes to me for you....
"Faithful is He who calleth you who also will do it! 1 Thessalonians 5:24"

Which really means, it is the Lord who has called you and He will make the changes necessary in your life. You only but need to submit and obey what you know to do. (and sometimes it is just one teeny step we know we are to do!)

I would suggest you come clean with your wife too. No need to give the enemy power through hidden sin.

Lots of people fall...but have gotten back up and gotten stronger then ever!

I also used to attend AA and NA meetings until the Lord told me to stop and begin attending bible studies and to start going to a bible teaching church.

Learn to be led by His Spirit! If you are unsure what it is He is saying for you to do...be led by His peace then!
Hope this makes sense to you....

It has been over 19 years since I have done any of that junk...sometimes I get the urge to...but the Lord always gives me a way out and I walk away from it.

Greg you are an overcomer and the Lord will lead the way for you if you ask Him to!!!
If you are not yet baptised in the Holy Spirit...pray and ask for it!!!!

Father I do pray for strength and encouragement for Greg. Lord show Him the way you have for him...deliver him from all evil my God! Show him how to live now!!! In Jesus name! amen

God's blessings your way today!

A student,
Jean Jones

[debolynn]

I spent a good long time in alcohol and drug addiction and I thought it was all under control until I lost my husband and mother withih 9 months of each other. I went straight back to the drugs so I would not have to feel. I quit going to church and fellowshipping with other christians, I quit doing my lessons and going to chapel. My life was a mess. A very dear friend of mine got me started going to Celebrate Recovery "a Christian 12 step Program" and it is awesome. I am held accountable for my actions and cannot pull the wool over they eyes of my accountability partner. This is a difficult addiction to get out of, but NOT BIGGER THAN GOD. My God can get us through whatevver we need. Just know it takes time.

Father God, I lift Greg up to you now. You know his addicitons, hurts,, habits and hang-ups. Guide him day by day and help him lay the addiction down. Take the craving for these things away and fill him with your mercy and grace instead. Bring someone into his life that will be able to help him. In the precious name of Jesus.
In His Service
Deb OKane

[Martinhosking]

God is able Greg, 'Who the son sets free is free indeed'

I will pray for you bro, but you may need some professional help & couselling or even re-hab, have you considered Teen Challenge??

God Bless
Martin

[justmejean]

Dear Greg,
How are you doing by now?

Please update us.

I was thinking only this morning about how the Lord has delivered me from that kind of lifestyle and how thankful I am for it.

God is good!