Post by Teresa on Feb 3, 2006 21:59:49 GMT -5
Steps to Freedom from Addiction
1. Finding Freedom in Christ: Start by learning who Jesus is and what He can do to set you free from this sin/addiction by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Freedom from any bad habit or addiction comes when you begin a relationship with Christ. Scriptures say:
Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Gal 5:1
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-37 NIV
When a person trusts Christ as their Lord and Savior, he or she can be set free because Jesus is God and has promised in John 8:36 "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." and in John 10:10 "I have come to give you life and give it more abundantly."
Jesus sets people free and answers the pain in their lives....where am I going when I die and what am I living for on this earth? He also gives power to overcome the temptations and the addiction when a person surrenders his or her life to Him. People need spiritual change from the inside out.
Jesus wants a personal relationship with you. It is through Him and His power that you will ultimately find true freedom from and victory over this addiction. Why? Because He will meet your deepest needs and provide the power to overcome your addiction.
2. Finding Freedom through choices you make:
Plan 3-4 things you are going to do before you cave-in to the urge to go to your addictive behavior.
When you have the urge:
Pray for God's power to avoid this temptation: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it." (1 Cor. 10:13)
Meditate and memorize some scriptures about Christ's power in your life: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillippians 4:13. Read scriptures about how to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God such as Ephesians 6:10-18. Read scriptures which teach Christian living and virtues such as Colossians chapter 3: "Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.......set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ... put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry..... Put on the new self......let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. (and in verse 17): and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,..... "
What choices can you make so that your behavior glorifies the name of Jesus Christ?
Read scriptures on how how to be a good steward of your time, talents and resources.
Decide to do something else (a healthy activity):
Turn your car around and go home instead of the bar, casino, shopping mall. Start a project or begin to clean your house. Call someone to talk and pray with. This person can act as a sponsor to help you think about what you are doing, how to avoid triggers and start doing something productive instead. Commit to taking these steps before you cave-in. It's my belief that you have control over this addiction and that you can avoid and prevent it.
This activity and pattern is a choice and you don't have to make that choice.
3. Finding Freedom through Counseling and Support:
You can truly benefit from counseling and 12-step support groups. Get a counseling evaluation as you may also be struggling with an obsessive compulsive disorder. This kind of disorder has some physiological causes which is helped by medication and counseling as well.Through counseling and support groups you can to discover what is underlying this issue for you, what your triggers are, how to prevent and overcome it.
What needs are you trying to fill? Do you struggle with low self-esteem? Are you trying to just get a high? Have you been depressed and feeling hopeless about your life? Have you experienced trauma or loss in your life that you are trying to escape? Are you unhappy about your life?
How can you resist this temptation and start living a healthier, happier life?
4. Finding Freedom through Prayer and Fellowship: Prayer is the key. Praying to Christ for the power to change and power to resist the temptation. Jesus said in Matt 6:9-13 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Real Freedom comes when we surrender our lives and hearts to God and admit that we cannot overcome this sin in our lives without His help and intervention.
Jesus said in Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Paul writes in Phillipians 4:13, "I do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." NIV
Find a solid, Bible church to get encouragement and fellowship because scriptures command us to fellowship with other believers and to pray for one another:
Heb 10:25 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
1. Finding Freedom in Christ: Start by learning who Jesus is and what He can do to set you free from this sin/addiction by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. Freedom from any bad habit or addiction comes when you begin a relationship with Christ. Scriptures say:
Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Gal 5:1
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-37 NIV
When a person trusts Christ as their Lord and Savior, he or she can be set free because Jesus is God and has promised in John 8:36 "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." and in John 10:10 "I have come to give you life and give it more abundantly."
Jesus sets people free and answers the pain in their lives....where am I going when I die and what am I living for on this earth? He also gives power to overcome the temptations and the addiction when a person surrenders his or her life to Him. People need spiritual change from the inside out.
Jesus wants a personal relationship with you. It is through Him and His power that you will ultimately find true freedom from and victory over this addiction. Why? Because He will meet your deepest needs and provide the power to overcome your addiction.
2. Finding Freedom through choices you make:
Plan 3-4 things you are going to do before you cave-in to the urge to go to your addictive behavior.
When you have the urge:
Pray for God's power to avoid this temptation: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it." (1 Cor. 10:13)
Meditate and memorize some scriptures about Christ's power in your life: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillippians 4:13. Read scriptures about how to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God such as Ephesians 6:10-18. Read scriptures which teach Christian living and virtues such as Colossians chapter 3: "Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.......set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ... put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry..... Put on the new self......let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. (and in verse 17): and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,..... "
What choices can you make so that your behavior glorifies the name of Jesus Christ?
Read scriptures on how how to be a good steward of your time, talents and resources.
Decide to do something else (a healthy activity):
Turn your car around and go home instead of the bar, casino, shopping mall. Start a project or begin to clean your house. Call someone to talk and pray with. This person can act as a sponsor to help you think about what you are doing, how to avoid triggers and start doing something productive instead. Commit to taking these steps before you cave-in. It's my belief that you have control over this addiction and that you can avoid and prevent it.
This activity and pattern is a choice and you don't have to make that choice.
3. Finding Freedom through Counseling and Support:
You can truly benefit from counseling and 12-step support groups. Get a counseling evaluation as you may also be struggling with an obsessive compulsive disorder. This kind of disorder has some physiological causes which is helped by medication and counseling as well.Through counseling and support groups you can to discover what is underlying this issue for you, what your triggers are, how to prevent and overcome it.
What needs are you trying to fill? Do you struggle with low self-esteem? Are you trying to just get a high? Have you been depressed and feeling hopeless about your life? Have you experienced trauma or loss in your life that you are trying to escape? Are you unhappy about your life?
How can you resist this temptation and start living a healthier, happier life?
4. Finding Freedom through Prayer and Fellowship: Prayer is the key. Praying to Christ for the power to change and power to resist the temptation. Jesus said in Matt 6:9-13 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Real Freedom comes when we surrender our lives and hearts to God and admit that we cannot overcome this sin in our lives without His help and intervention.
Jesus said in Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Paul writes in Phillipians 4:13, "I do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." NIV
Find a solid, Bible church to get encouragement and fellowship because scriptures command us to fellowship with other believers and to pray for one another:
Heb 10:25 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.