Real-Life Example
Julian has always been known for living his life to the extreme. His friends always suggested his personality was from an action movie. But most recently, he has been unable to pay his bills. He consistently asks his friends for help with his apartment rent and utilities. Everything came to a crashing halt when Julian called his friend Melanie late one night from the newly built Casino on the bad side of town.
Colette had been experiencing a really hard time with her new boss and increasing tasks on projects at work. Each evening, when she got home, she would relax by watching an episode of her favorite television show and drinking a few glasses of wine before trying to get ahead on her work assignment for the next day. Recently, something changed. She had noticed she was drinking more and more to calm down once she returned home from work. Often, she would wake up hours later, having passed out on her couch due to consuming so much alcohol.
Key Thoughts on Addiction
The grip of addiction happens when our trust and dependence rely on someone or something other than the goodness of God in our lives. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, addiction is a state of mental or physical dependence on such things as drugs, alcohol, substances, or even the behaviors of others. The choice of addiction in our lives echoes that there are places of deep hurt, pain, and bondage in our hearts that need the healing and freeing power of Jesus.
Addiction occurs in many forms, but the primary way it becomes present in our world is through indulgence in drugs, alcohol, sexual brokenness, and negative behavioral influences such as gambling or seeking approval from others. At its core, these negative influences happen when we partner or “occupy” our souls in something temporarily satisfying but eternally empty. For the Christian, falling into a pit of addiction is unnatural and uncomfortable. It places our trust in things other than God: work, shopping, activities, and even our family or children. Addiction, in conclusion, is idolatry, the act of anchoring our trust in things other than God. He alone is worthy of our worship, adoration, complete love, trust, and attention.
In the many prayer encounters I have seen, the limitation of addiction breaks through a sequence of events that leads us into a deeper trust in our heavenly Father. Daily choices and the constant settlement to trust Christ as our ultimate fulfillment are steps on the path to freedom from the negative influences of addiction. Practical examples of freedom over addiction may look like:
Admission to the presence of addition in our lives and our inability to overcome apart from the supernatural power of Christ.
We should give our will to Jesus and ask for His light and life to direct us toward holiness and freedom.
Accepting the assistance and help of God to enable our freedom by partnering with the community of faith.
Guarding our hearts by practicing daily confession, forgiveness, repentance/renunciation, and divine exchange.
Personal Review Questions
Have you ever been tense about your usage of ______? (substance, unhealthy coping activity)
Has anyone close to you expressed their concern in your usage of ______? (substance, unhealthy coping activity)
How old were you when you began to use ______?
How has your usage of ______ affected your life?
Personal life?
Relationships?
Job/Career?
Social Interactions?
Have you ever quit using ______?
How would your life become better if you decided to quit?
Are there any lies you believe about God’s Word, your identity in Christ, or God’s promises to you that may be influenced by feelings of addiction?
Praying for Breakthrough from Addiction
As you apply the 4 Biblical principles used to pray for freedom from abandonment, know that you are partnering with the finished work of Jesus on the Cross to bring freedom and healing to your heart. The Holy Spirit is present within you as you pray, providing guidance and direction according to God's will. With this assurance, you can know that your Heavenly Father hears your prayers and that He will answer them according to the good and loving nature of His heart.
You may pray aloud, using each step below:
REALIZE: “Lord, I confess sins and habits of addiction. Would you show me the first time I experienced this negative influence?”
RELEASE: “Lord, please show me who I need to forgive for influencing addiction in my life. I choose to forgive (name of person) for (what they did or failed to do). It made me feel (share your painful emotions with the Lord). I release (name of person) from all harm, debt, and judgments. I choose to bless them."
“Lord, do I need to forgive myself for the ways I responded to this negative influence?
“Lord, am I holding a judgment or unmet expectations of You as I experience the negative influence of addiction?”
REPENT & RENOUNCE: “I repent for every way I have partnered with addiction. In the name of Jesus Christ, I renounce my agreement with addiction and every effect it may have on my life (past, present, and future). I renounce all influences of addiction, including addictions to alcohol, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, food, gambling, compulsions, obsessions, media, people, and impure sexual actions. Lord, I choose to hand addiction to You.”
RECEIVE: “Lord, what do You want to give me in exchange for the addiction I have given You?” (Ask your Heavenly Father what He wants to give you in exchange for the focus area that was renounced.) “What truth do You want me to walk in, based on Your Word, Your promises to me, and my identity in Christ?” (Write down and give thanks for the truths that you received from the Lord!)
Scriptural Truth
“Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34)
“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. 15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living” (Romans 6:14-16)
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”(Galatians 5:1)
“You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12)
You can break free from every negative influence present in your life! If you want to go deeper into the spiritual and emotional wholeness that God has for you, check out my book, Encountering Abba’s Heart, or use the purchase link below.
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