How to overcome that addiction
Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Every bad craving starts right from the heart, addiction is part of the negative cravings that start from the heart. Consequently, in order to overcome any addiction, the first place to start from is the heart.
More so, while most counseling and treatments focus on behaviour modification and creating new patterns that produce different results, we know from God’s word that the only way to a new life is to renounce an old one.
Undoubtedly, God doesn’t see us in our self-induced sadness, depression, habitual sins, brokenness and addictions and just leaves us there. No, he has provided a way out. He doesn’t just modify the behaviour, He changes the heart. Yes, that’s the amazing part, the fact that God has the power and authority to give you a new heart that will no longer crave those vices.
Ezekiel 36:26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
How to overcome that addiction through the ways God has provided for your complete freedom:
1. Freedom Through Jesus: The good news of the gospel is that the punishment for our evil, selfish and addictive behaviours has already been borne by Jesus on the cross. He took the punishment we deserve and offered us the grace, love and acceptance we do not deserve.
1 John 1:9 puts it this way, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
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2. Genuinely Repent from the Addiction(s): The true motive of any addiction is replacing God with the things he has created and looking to them to save you. Unfortunately, the sinking ship of any addiction will only sink further until it completely destroys what’s left of you. Hence, you should do away with all the sins of self-gratification and self-absorption.
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Additionally, let God know how sorry you really are for kicking him out of your life and replacing him with the vices you’ve been hurting yourself with. In addition to repenting, share the problem of your addictions with a trusted believer. We’re called to “Confess our sins to one another. ” The power of the sins of bad addictions is secrecy. So, tell it to someone and you would feel more liberated.
3. Get Cleansed by God’s Word: Daily study and application of God’s word is what will cleanse you from any addiction. When God’s word takes root in your life, it will be characterised by a new identity. You will longer be an alcoholic, a drug or sex addict, a gambler, etc. You will become a new person in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
In conclusion, there are many “versions” to get free from the hurts, habits, and hang-ups of life. There are many great tools and techniques to help foster new behaviour and new ways of thinking. And it’s important to tap into some of these resources. However, the only strategy that leaves you completely changed into a new person is God. He would give you a new heart, a new life, a new identity, a new purpose and so much more.
Scholar Odum is a digital content/freelance writer, blogger, teacher, and former news contributor to the Life Magazine of the Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria.
