How To Overcome Addiction With God

Drugs and alcohol have beset humankind since ancient times. How to overcome addiction with God is a global matter; every home is a target or a victim. According to the World Drug Report 2020 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 269 million people used at least one drug in 2017.

Overcoming addiction with God offers a transformative path toward freedom and recovery. Through faith, prayer, and seeking divine intervention, one can embark on a journey of healing and renewal, finding solace, support, and the power to overcome the challenges that come with addiction.

With God as a steadfast companion, individuals can discover the resilience and inner resources necessary to reclaim their lives and embrace a future filled with hope and restoration.

How To Overcome Addiction Together With God

Recognizing Addiction As A Sin

The first step in overcoming addiction with God is recognizing that addiction is a sin that breaks our relationship with Jesus. Substance dependency tramples on the human body—the abode of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you and whom you have received from God? You are not on your own.”

Many Christians hold to the common faulty rationale that taking drugs, having an alcohol addiction, or smoking tobacco is not an addiction or sin but a mere tolerable habit. Substance dependency approaches idolatry since drug dependents place more value on their drugs than on their families, other people, or other pursuits in life like work or school. Knowing that addiction is a sin is a crucial step in divine healing.

Repentance And Confession

Knowing that addiction is a sin requires repentance and confession to Jesus and other people that their actions violate God’s commands and morality. Recovery takes time and may involve a series of relapses.

God loves us, and we must be ready to repent and move on whenever we fall back into sin. 1 John 1:9 reads: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Willingness To Change

True recovery entails a sincere willingness to change, which involves altering our character and ways of living. It is easier to say, “I will stop,” than to sincerely drop bad habits and take other concrete actions to achieve deliverance.

However, with the help of God and a supportive community in a good church, we can find the strength and guidance to overcome our struggles. Recognizing the importance of mental health, we can grow spiritually and seek the necessary medical help if needed.

Engaging in church activities and studying the teachings of the Bible can provide valuable insights and encouragement along our journey of transformation. God’s faithfulness is evident as he helps his lost children, who humbly admit their need for change and seek divine intervention.

Dropping our bad habits is not easy. But we gain victory with Jesus and our sheer willingness to become better. God is faithful to his lost children who admit their need for change.

Take Responsibility And Accountability   

Most addicts are in denial about their addiction. They easily blame personal difficulties and other tragedies like getting fired from a job, family separation, depression, or boredom as the culprits for drug use. Sometimes they say that “everybody does it” or that “it is legal” to take drugs or drink alcohol as a scapegoat.

This flawed paradigm deceptively absolves addicts from acknowledging the truth, confessing their responsibilities and sins, and undergoing much-needed repentance. God’s anger and their innate guilt are not removed. Worse, drug dependents may dangerously conclude they can continuously take drugs because they feel innocent.

Society also upholds the recurrent error of haphazardly judging a drug user as a “victim.” Admitting to God and friends that you are responsible for your addiction is an essential step toward healing.

Overcoming Temptation

Satan’s primary weapon and strategy is deception. The devil lurks in our homes, workplaces, and on street corners. 1 Peter 5:8 reads: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

The enemy tricks people into servitude by letting them believe that drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances are safe, moral, and acceptable in everyday existence. When an addict takes drugs, the high gives him an illusion of control and power over his life. Anyone who has been through addiction and recovery will tell you that a support network significantly affected their healing process.

Spiritual Warfare

Temptations, triggers, and cravings confront people in addiction recovery daily. The mind of a drug addict is also inherently wired to defend and pursue addiction. However, with guidance and strength from God, individuals can overcome these challenges and find hope in their journey of recovery. The Bible tells us that faith in God can transform lives and lead to good character.

It is essential to recognize and distance oneself from unhealthy activities and sinful behaviors that contribute to addiction. Through prayer, studying the teachings of the Bible, and surrounding oneself with a supportive community, individuals can draw closer to God and experience his transformative power. Healing may require a lengthy spiritual battle, but with faith, perseverance, and the help of God, victory is possible.

Exercises That Boost Spiritual Progression

Harnessing The Power Of Prayer

A prayerful life enhances our holy fellowship[1] and communication with God. By praying, we talk to God about our innermost hurts and appeal for his healing and blessings. Confession, as a form of prayer, gets us closer to Jesus Christ. The Lord loves a prayerful person who increases his faith and hope in Christ.

Bible Reading

God’s Word is the source of truth. We also learn from the Bible that God is our great healer and can help us overcome our physical, emotional, and spiritual issues. The Scriptures give us joy and strength when we fall into addictions.

By meditating on the gospel, we will learn concrete ways to break the cycle of substance abuse, dispel suffering and shame, and enhance our faith in Christ Jesus. God promises his people that he will help in the recovery process and help them overcome old habits.

Praise And Worship

Songs of praise and worship soothe the troubled minds and souls of addicts and alcoholics. These uplifting melodies not only offer spiritual nourishment but also contribute to the improvement of mental health. Christian music is often a great vehicle to break free from withdrawal symptoms and help you overcome your struggle against addiction.

By embracing faith and immersing themselves in the uplifting lyrics and melodies, individuals find strength, hope, and the courage to persevere on their path to recovery.

Church

The Bible tells us that we can’t rely on our own strength in our struggle for recovery. Attending a church community where we spiritually grow fosters healing and recovery. In church, we will develop relationships with new friends with whom we can share our innermost hurts and problems, which can lead to healing.

Cultivate Contentment

Contentment is the key to having a happy and joyful life. Discontent often leads a person to seek pleasure elsewhere than in the presence and benevolence of God.

Cultivate Gratefulness

Practicing and expressing faith and gratitude to God and other people nurtures our mental health and cultivates a godly character and perspective on life. Gratefulness enhances contentment, and we are strengthened against the allure of sinful activities, such as drugs, that can harm our well-being.

When we embrace gratitude for the blessings in our lives, both big and small, we discover their true meaning and experience the joy that comes from a deep relationship with God. Through prayer, we can freely express our thanks and seek guidance, finding solace and freedom in our connection with the divine.

10 Encouraging Bible Verses To Curb Addiction

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.

— 2 Timothy 1:7

And do not get drunk on wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

— Ephesians 5:18

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

— Proverbs 25:28

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

— 1 John 2:16

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.

— 1 Corinthians 6:12 

Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

— James 4:7

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

— 1 Peter 5:10

Wine is a mocker, strong drinks are brawlers, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

— Proverbs 20:1

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

— Matthew 6:13

For freedom, Christ has set us free; therefore, stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.

— Galatians 5:1

Summary

The Bible admonishes that addiction is sinful and thwarts a holy, spiritual walk. Overcoming alcoholism and substance abuse requires time and a sincere desire to recover. There’s no easy way out. Satan does not easily give up. But nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).

Overcoming addiction together with God entails utmost faith in our Great Healer, who can drive out evil from the deepest recesses of our souls. We are powerless on our own to defeat the bondage caused by the enemy. But, with God’s love, we can break free from addiction and gain a renewed and victorious life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where In The Bible Does It Talk About Overcoming Addiction?

1 Corinthians 10:13-14: “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.” This talks about overcoming challenges, which includes the concept of overcoming addiction.

What Is The Biblical Understanding Of Addiction?

The biblical understanding of addiction revolves around recognizing it as a sin, disrupting one’s relationship with God. Substance dependency is often compared to idolatry, emphasizing the need for repentance, confession, and a sincere willingness to change with the support of faith and prayer.

What Is The Root Of Our Addiction?

The root of addiction is often seen as a sinful behavior that distances individuals from God. Recognizing addiction as a form of idolatry and understanding its spiritual implications are crucial in addressing its root causes.