A 12 step program can only go so far for some. And even if the person is clean and has been clean the desire doesn't seem to go away. Just the urge to use can make living very unpleasant at times. Praying for Jesus to take away the desires is becoming repetitive and futile. God is the only one that can take away this kind of behavior, but doesn't. What happens now? Where's the direction?
Getting rid of psychology desires to use drugs.
- Thread starter HappySoul
- Start date
I've known two people - both non-christians, both alcoholics- who one day cried out to God in desperation one time and God completely set them free from their addiction. Instantly. One had been an alcoholic since a teenager. Life long. Both lost all desire to drink.
I was set free from an eating disorder. Instantly.
I have another friend who was completly set free from smoking, drinking and drug addiction. All were pretty instant. (The drinking was something God just did for him, unasked for - and the other two were through ministry.) He'd been a user since 12.
He took up smoking again through boredom but he was set free from his addiction to it, initially.
God can set people free from stuff. Sometimes he does, and other times he leaves you to work through it. I've had things I've had to battle through for years (like forgiveness issues). Other things he's just zapped. One thing I do know is that if you ask for help, you'll get it. And God won't let anything destroy you 'if' you give him your life.
Neither of the first two I mentioned became christians after God set them free. And he didn't take back that gift.
I had a neighbour (wife of one of the two mentioned) who had had two husbands who were ex-alcoholics. The first was very into AA meetings and was a leader in one for 20 years or so. She was a very supportive wife and sat through 20 years of meetings with and for him till he died. She wasn't a christian, but we talked a lot - and one thing she said to me several times - was that in all the years she sat through AA meetings, the only ones she ever saw really make it, were the ones who properly did the step of 'giving it over to a higher power'. Whatever step that is.
She said that the ones who refused to do that just didn't seem to last. And she wasn't the type to make something like that up.
She told me because she knew I was a christian. (She was a cultural catholic, in that she'd gone through the ceremonies as a child and believed God existed.)
God can. That I know.
And he can do it completly. Not leave someone still struggling with the residue years later. 'I am .............. and I am an alcoholic. That's one part of the program I never liked.
If God sets you free (and he really, honest to goodness has) you don't need to keep saying that he hasn't. Gone is gone.
(But of course it has to actually be gone.) Fooling yourself isn't faith - it's denial.
I was set free from an eating disorder. Instantly.
I have another friend who was completly set free from smoking, drinking and drug addiction. All were pretty instant. (The drinking was something God just did for him, unasked for - and the other two were through ministry.) He'd been a user since 12.
He took up smoking again through boredom but he was set free from his addiction to it, initially.
God can set people free from stuff. Sometimes he does, and other times he leaves you to work through it. I've had things I've had to battle through for years (like forgiveness issues). Other things he's just zapped. One thing I do know is that if you ask for help, you'll get it. And God won't let anything destroy you 'if' you give him your life.
Neither of the first two I mentioned became christians after God set them free. And he didn't take back that gift.
I had a neighbour (wife of one of the two mentioned) who had had two husbands who were ex-alcoholics. The first was very into AA meetings and was a leader in one for 20 years or so. She was a very supportive wife and sat through 20 years of meetings with and for him till he died. She wasn't a christian, but we talked a lot - and one thing she said to me several times - was that in all the years she sat through AA meetings, the only ones she ever saw really make it, were the ones who properly did the step of 'giving it over to a higher power'. Whatever step that is.
She said that the ones who refused to do that just didn't seem to last. And she wasn't the type to make something like that up.
She told me because she knew I was a christian. (She was a cultural catholic, in that she'd gone through the ceremonies as a child and believed God existed.)
God can. That I know.
And he can do it completly. Not leave someone still struggling with the residue years later. 'I am .............. and I am an alcoholic. That's one part of the program I never liked.
If God sets you free (and he really, honest to goodness has) you don't need to keep saying that he hasn't. Gone is gone.
(But of course it has to actually be gone.) Fooling yourself isn't faith - it's denial.
PS. Let him have the last word. What does he want for you? Maybe you'd up and leave your faith if he gave you what you wanted on a platter. Maybe your salvation is more important to him. Maybe you mean well, but he knows what would happen if you wern't still seeking him for his help.
We're all human.
We're all human.
Ya, I ihave also met a persom in church that was set free instently from drugs, and another person in QLD, (I just heard about), was all over the news, because he was the hardest case of ED anyone had seen, he tryed to quite many times, but couldn't not not eat, and then he somehow got set free, and last time I heard, the guy was going to the USA to speak to a bunch of psychiatrist who are wondering about what worked, and he'll get to share what God did for him. 
. (This was a few months ago I heared this story.)
. (This was a few months ago I heared this story.)As a recovering addict myself, I can tell you that it doesn't always happen instantly, but with God's help, it does happen. Say what you will about me, but in my addiction, whenever I honestly sought God, he responded. I had been to 8 rehabs before, but when I finally asked God to help I was guided by Him to a co-occuring disorder's treatment center. According to 3 psychiatrists and many more therapists, I am Bipolar and have ADHD, as well as being an addict. Once my mental conditions were treated along with my addiction, I was finally able to put together some clean time. God doesn't always take away the desire to use like magic, but if you put you're faith and trust in God and WORK for it, then it will happen soon enough. Am I going to tell you everything in life is perfect and I never have the desire to get high or drunk? NOPE! But today I don't have to, and I can make it through the rough times (and even those cravings and urges) without getting high. It wasn't until I let God lead me, though. As someone else already stated, the ones who work the 3rd step (We placed our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him) are the ones who make it. Using myself as an example, before I earnestly asked God for help, I was homeless, in and out of jail, a thief, and pretty stereotypical junkie. The needle was my best friend; I was completely and utterly alone and spiritually bankrupt. I finally asked for God's help, and He has helped me. It wasn't by magic, it wasn't instant, and it wasn't easy, but He helped me. He put the people in my life and gave me the opportunities I needed to get clean and sober. Today, I am finishing up my bachelors degree, have a place to live, not in trouble with the law, and by far more importantly my family and friends are back in my life, and I have a growing and loving relationship with God. So it is possible to get and stay clean, but not by yourself, and its never easy. I had to put work into my sobriety and my trust in God that He would take care of me. I can't tell you what's going to happen tomorrow, but so far I've been able to stay clean, and I'm pretty confident that I will go to bed sober tonight and wake up that way tomorrow. Feel free to message me for any reason, I'm always willing to help another addict.
