Overcome Addiction

 

I don’t write or share my stories for entertainment purposes. 

I share so that:

1. I can remind myself where I was and where I’m going.
2. I can testify to the world that anything is possible regardless of your situation.
3. I may encourage myself and others going through tough times.
4. I can sensitize people about spinal cord injury.
5. I can praise my Lord and my God for His Grace and Mercy. 

It all started out as a journal. Writing my day to day experiences after being discharged from hospital, back in the year 2019. As I shared my stories, I realized many resonated with my experience and that kept me going.

I recently shared something about addiction and little did I know that it would have an impact on someone. 

A friend shared with me what he was going through and requested me to write something about how to come out of addiction. 

I was honestly touched because I know how painful it can be to struggle with addiction; especially when you know it’s ruining your life but you can’t seem to shake it off.

How do you get out of addiction?

I honestly have no manual for this but as usual, I can only tell my story. 

One great thing that I have learnt from my experience is that when you are honest and sincere with God and you deliberately put effort however small to seek God for help, He will definitely open a way. 

I sort for help from certain folk in church prior and tried to deal with the situation by myself but I failed miserably. 

I claim to be a Christian and so I told myself after several failed attempts over the years that there is only ONE that could get me through this, and that was God. 

Having this faith at heart I resorted to search scripture.

The Bible says:

Jeremiah 33:3

3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and [a]mighty things, which you do not know.’

Hebrews 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 7:10-12

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

Leviticus‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭

“and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;”

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After reading these verses and many others, I prayed and told God He was my last and ONLY option.

But here came the hardest part, OBEDIENCE.

We are usually quick to ask God for help, to get us out of situations that mostly we put ourselves in but never do we acknowledge that we have a part to play. Man was created to serve and obey God.

Most times God shows mercy and in an instant we are back to the old habits. 

Deuteronomy‬ ‭4‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭

30When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 

31(for the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬-‭27

26Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 

27a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

And after much reading and listening to the word of God, I had no option but to comply. Nothing is as hard as fighting the lusts and desires of flesh. 

I was at war with my own self. I still am but through God’s Grace I push on…

I’m always encouraged:

Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

I thank God that I’m not as mobile as I was. One might wonder why I say this but I’m the one that understands.

It took a painful experience to make me listen and give in to God. 

I always say that God knew that if I was walking I would never have given a listening ear. Friends, don’t wait for painful experiences to get you down to listening.

Drastic measures had to be taken:

1. I secluded myself. You can’t get out of something when you are always around the same thing. 
2. I made new acquaintances and some gave me a listening ear to vent. When you have people or a person who encourages you and can listen, you feel better and willing to push yourself more.
3. Self examination. I had to weigh the pros and cons and kept on reminding myself why I had to do this. 
4. Setting goals. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. I started… and put achievable goals.
5. I had to improve on my Christian lifestyle. This is the most important to me. I had to do my part; obedience. I decided to spend more time in prayer. When you are in the mood of prayer, you can always find strength to fight off temptations and always remember, God answers prayer.

James 4:7

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

Addiction is a complex condition characterized by compulsive engagement in a behavior or use of substances, despite harmful consequences. If addiction can lead you to sin against God, not only is it a habit but it’s an evil spirit within you. 

If you have to fight spirit, then you need a spirit greater than it to win, and that is none other than God Almighty.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Matthew 21:22

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Day by day through Gods help, I’ve managed to get this far and I trust God that He can do it for you too however challenging the situation seems. 

Remember, seeking for help is a sign of Strength. Stay strong. 💪 

“…hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” 

Praise be for the Truth of God.🙏🏽