Putting God before the Addiction

[Blessed7]

This is something I've been struggling with since I was convicted and brought home a few weeks ago. I've rejoined a church home, and during the new members classes, we've touched on subjects of salvation and sanctification.

We study the Romans Road. My teacher said that the salvation (the saving) is instantaneous and that the sancitification is a process. To me, this is very easy to understand.

However, it's alot easier said than done. She told me that not everyone just ups and stops the things in their lives that are wrong (i.e. drinking, smoking, pre marital relations), but that God works in our lives and eventually we will be able to look back and say that we USED to do things this amount, but now we do it a different amount (shorter amount of course)

I was introduced to drugs a while back, and my addiction became me. Yes, things are very different now; I pray daily and avoid situations that would lead to exposure to substances, but even then, sometimes I fail.

My faith is weak, I can honestly say that. How can I fix it? I read scriptures, I pray, I attend services, and everything seems perfect. But once I catch the scent of it, I'm back where I started. And it's gotten so bad that I've realized I've started trying to justify my actions in order to convince myself that I can have both God and my addiction and still be ok.

Any feedback is welcome. Thank you for reading/replying!

 

[patches]

This is something I've been struggling with since I was convicted and brought home a few weeks ago. I've rejoined a church home, and during the new members classes, we've touched on subjects of salvation and sanctification.

We study the Romans Road. My teacher said that the salvation (the saving) is instantaneous and that the sancitification is a process. To me, this is very easy to understand.

However, it's alot easier said than done. She told me that not everyone just ups and stops the things in their lives that are wrong (i.e. drinking, smoking, pre marital relations), but that God works in our lives and eventually we will be able to look back and say that we USED to do things this amount, but now we do it a different amount (shorter amount of course)

I was introduced to drugs a while back, and my addiction became me. Yes, things are very different now; I pray daily and avoid situations that would lead to exposure to substances, but even then, sometimes I fail.

My faith is weak, I can honestly say that. How can I fix it? I read scriptures, I pray, I attend services, and everything seems perfect. But once I catch the scent of it, I'm back where I started. And it's gotten so bad that I've realized I've started trying to justify my actions in order to convince myself that I can have both God and my addiction and still be ok.

Any feedback is welcome. Thank you for reading/replying!

Sounds like you need some help, can I ask what it is that your addicted to?

 

[soberxp]

let me show you why your faith is weak,

1ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

so be made for what? all men

what will be made for all? supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks,

BUT THIS IS NOT MEANing THE content will be made for all men!!!!!ONLY "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks,what action about BLESSING" will be made for all men!!!!!

Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not(and do not betray truth); also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Revelation 13:17 kjv:And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

SAVE HE ( save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ) WHO CAN'T BUY truth OR betray truth.(And that no man might buy or sell)

Linkin Park - The Catalyst
God bless us every one 上帝保佑我们每一个人
We're a broken people living under loaded gun 我们却是活在枪口之下不完整的人
And it can't be outfought 谁都无法脱离争斗
It can't be outdone 永远没有结束
It can't be outmatched 永远无法停止较量
It can't be outrun 永远无法停下脚步
No no
God bless us every one 上帝保佑我们每一个人
We're a broken people living under loaded gun 我们却是活在枪口之下不完整的人
And it can't be outfought 谁都无法脱离争斗
It can't be outdone 永远没有结束
It can't be outmatched 永远无法停止较量
It can't be outrun 永远无法停下脚步
No no
And when I close my eyes tonight 当我今夜在无数的炫目的光线中闭上眼睛
To symphonies of blinding light
(God bless us every one / we're a broken people living under loaded gun)
Oh / like memories in cold decay 好像记忆彻底的腐朽了
Transmissions echoing away 传送的信息回荡着散开
Far from the world of you and I远离我们所在的世界
Where oceans bleed into the sky去到大海渗入天空的地方
God save us every one 上帝拯救我们每一个人
Will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns 我们会在一千个太阳的火焰中被焚烧吗
For the sins of our hand 因为我们手上肮脏的罪恶
The sins of our tongue 那源自我们语言中的罪恶
The sins of our father 那来自我们父辈的罪恶
The sins of our young 那来自下一代的罪恶
No no
God save us every one 上帝拯救我们每一个人
Will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns 我们会在一千个太阳的火焰中被焚烧吗
For the sins of our hand 因为我们手上肮脏的罪恶
The sins of our tongue 那源自我们语言中的罪恶
The sins of our father 那来自我们父辈的罪恶
The sins of our young 那来自下一代的罪恶
No no
And when I close my eyes tonight当我今夜在无数的炫目的光线中闭上眼睛
To symphonies of blinding light
(God save us every one上帝拯救我们每一个人 /
will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns我们会在一千个太阳的火焰中被焚烧吗)
Oh / like memories in cold decay好像记忆彻底的腐朽了
Transmissions echoing away传送的信息回荡着散开
Far from the world of you and I远离我们所在的世界
Where oceans bleed into the sky去到大海渗入天空的地方
Oh / like memories in cold decay 好像记忆彻底的腐朽了
Transmissions echoing away 传送的信息回荡着散开
Far from the world of you and I远离我们所在的世界
Where oceans bleed into the sky去到大海渗入天空的地方
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
Lift me up, let me go 带我走 让我走
God bless us every one 上帝保佑我们每一个人
We're a broken people living under loaded gun 我们却是活在枪口之下不完整的人
And it can't be outfought 谁都无法脱离争斗
It can't be outdone 永远没有结束
It can't be outmatched 永远无法停止较量
It can't be outrun 永远无法停下脚步
No no
God bless us every one 上帝保佑我们每一个人
We're a broken people living under loaded gun 我们却是活在枪口之下不完整的人
And it can't be outfought 谁都无法脱离争斗
It can't be outdone 永远没有结束
It can't be outmatched 永远无法停止较量
It can't be outrun 永远无法停下脚步

then who will ....................................
1ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

[theM2]

your solution

we all have addictions of different things and to differennt extents. Be it drugs or ideas and thoughts in our heads. What I know is that it is difficult to break an addiction but through shear will power excercised through the freedom God has given us we can make the choice to stop. If you really and truley want to stop, pray about it but do not think God will do everything for you. Paul throughout the new testiment encourages believers to pull their own weight, meaning you should take the first step and then God will jump in.
trust me Ive learnt this, it will also help if you meet someone who is genuinly spiritually mature, I am lucky my pastor is. Take the initiative and God will jump in.

 

[Boanerges]

Hi Blessed! Before going any further I would recommend the following:
1. Pastoral counseling- your Pastor is well equipped to help.
2. Depending on the addiction sometimes medical help is warranted. That is not a sin or a sign of weakness and the medicines doctors use are only things God placed here for medical scientists to find and use.

That being said- God works differently in everyone's life, some come out of individual problems right away and with others it is a walk . Non the less all have issues that God is dealing with. For me I had two encounters with drugs and alcohol. One night Jesus became so real and so beautiful in my life I simply did not want those things any more, this was the first time. The second was over three decades later when I was given huge amounts of prescription pain medications. I realized that I could not keep taking them and quit cold turkey.Yes I had withdrawal symptoms and yes I would gladly have take some of those medications to ease that suffering. Instead I choose to cling to Jesus and walk my way through what seemed quite hellish at the time. The end result- I am again walking in freedom.
Also I certainly have had plenty other things to deal with over my lifetime.
I have found the best way to fight the problems that assail our flesh is to immerse ourselves in God.
Read the Word of God daily- ask the Holy Spirit to show you what it means and how to apply it in your life.
Worship daily- spend at least an hour a day pouring your heart out to God. This is an intimate form of communion.When we pour out out love we touch God and He touches us, life is imparted and change occurs.
Pray- talk to God. Tell Him what's on your mind and believe Him that He is helping when you call.
Although we can indeed build up our faith there is always enough if we just use it. Jesus made a point that if one uses the smallest possible amount of faith one can move mountains. Well my friend God has given everyone a measure of faith and He does not shortchange us. The thing is we need to use what He has given. When temptation or problems arise we simply cry out "Jesus help me"! Then we put one foot in front of the other focusing on the fact that He is indeed answering our cry. Soon we find that we are beginning to resist in His strength and not our own- that is walking by faith my friend. Sometimes out flesh will scream and circumstances will declare that we are not going to make it but we hang on to Jesus with every breath and beat of our heart. Yes we will find ourselves coming through and entering into His rest. Yes we will find that each time we overcome by faith in Christ it gets easier to trust Him as we realize just how faithful He is. I am sending you a private Message and if you want to talk I am around here most days.
You are in my prayers- do not worry for God always answers my prayer.
Many blessings in Jesus wonderful Name,
your brother Larry.

 

[sharen]

Pray. God is for us not against us.