Maybe you are struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction. Maybe you have a sexual addiction of some kind. Maybe you have a spending, eating or gambling addiction. Here are some suggested steps to help you understand the causes of addiction and begin the road to recovery.

Obviously, there are no easy answers for any addiction. Underneath any addiction and lust is a deep thirst.  A seemingly unquenchable thirst for something to satisfy, something to take away pain, something to bring excitement.  In any addiction there is emotional pain that needs numbing, a psychological and physiological need for a high, and a deep spiritual thirst for answers to life and relationship with God. You are looking for answers to your deepest needs in all the wrong places.

In the Bible, Jeremiah 2:13 God says, "My people have committed two sins: they have turned from Me the living water and dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water."  Who quenches the deep thirst for something satisfying in life?  Only God.  People try to fill that thirst with everything but God and they dig trenches, bigger, longer and wider, trying the same things that don't work, don't quench their thirst. Jesus said in John 6:35 "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."(NIV) and in John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."(NIV)
So you have fallen into a trap and now your body is physically addicted as well as psychologically to whatever addiction you struggle with. You need supernatural help to escape. You need to begin with God, making different choices, counseling and support.

Here are some steps to help set you free from these temptations and addictions:
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. I would be happy to send you one if you do not have it. 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?
 
Please contact AACC for a referral to a counseling professional in your area or online counseling is available through CounselCare Connection at: 1-708-524-3333.
Support groups, hotlines/resources are available at:
Alcoholics for Christ:    1-800-441-7877 
     Email: al4christ@globalbiz.net
  Alcoholics Anonymous
  Alcoholics Victorious:  1-800-624-5156 
     Alcohol & Drug helpline: 1-800-821-Help 
National Assoc. for Christian Recovery ,
Christian Recovery Resources ,
Gamblers Anonymous
  The National Council on Problem Gambling - NATIONWIDE HELPLINE 1-800-522-4700 
In His Image   (a web support group for over-eating)
Overeaters Anonymous
Overcomers Outreach, Inc: 1-800-310-3001; 1-714-491-3000
Pure Intimacy: addressing online temptation.
Teens: Christian Answers for Teens
Youth Crisis:  Please contact AACC for a referral to a counseling professional in your area.
  His Mansion:  1-603-464-5555 personnel@hismansion.com
   Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-Hit-Home

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. NIV

5. Finding Freedom and Insight through Reading Inspirational articles and books: Read these articles:
National Assoc. for Christian Recovery ,
Christian Recovery Resources ,
When Sex Becomes an Addiction by Stephen Arterburn.
Recovery From Sexual addiction by Mark Laaser.
Spiritual Brokenness in Recovery
Overcoming a Bad Habit by John MacArthur
Other articles on Hoyweb: Ask the Counselor.
Books and Resources can be found in our web site such as:
An Anchor for the Soul: Help for the Present, Hope for the Future by Ray Pritchard
Niv Thin Line Bible/Indexed Bonded Leather/Burgundy
The Search for Significance (workbook included) by Robert McGee  
The Freedom from Depression Workbook by Les Carter, Frank Minirth
Addicted to 'Love' : Understanding Dependencies of the Heart : Romance, Relationships, and Sex by Stephen Arterburn 
Sexual Addiction (audiotape) by Stephen Arterburn, Paul Meier, David Stoop.
Take a look at your life and yourself. Begin to find freedom for yourself before it's too late! Start making different choices with your time and activities. Get into a support group, get counseling and start over with God Who can give you supernatural help to escape these self-destructive habits!

God bless you! 

© copyright 2002 by Lynette J. Hoy, NCC, LCPC

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