God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway! This posting is coming from the heart of this counselor who is helping people nationwide (by phone) face the facts of their addiction issues.
God is not only our Savior, but He desires to heal our brokenness. If one desires to overcome an addiction, they must first stop the choice to continue to sin. Godly sorrow worketh repentance. Repentance means to turn away from the sin and seek God.
Instead of going to the ‘crutch’ (drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc.), make the choice to go to God. God promised a way of escape from every temptation. He leaves the choice up to us. If the addiction was caused by painful events in life, there must be a determination to work through the greater pain of change than to remain in the pain that is the same.
This is where godly counseling can be a conduit for God’s healing balm of truth to help replace the lies of the devil. It’s a process. The devil wants you to define yourself by your past. God’s truth transforms us be renewing our minds. We open up the ‘wound of our heart’ then clean it out with God’s truth and allow it to heal from the inside out. It is spiritual exploratory surgery. “Search me, O God, and know my heart!”
The consequences of persistent sin:
Hebrews 10:26-31 (NKJV)
26 “For if we sin willfully (deliberately) after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Whatever sin temptation or addiction a person may have, once they are born again of water and Spirit, they cannot play games with God. We have a choice about every action that we take. Each time a person willfully or deliberately sins, they are trampling Jesus Christ who died on the cross for their sins.
This is a serious matter. We cannot blame our actions on the addiction, we must make a choice to run from the addiction and pursue an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. His word says that He will make a way of escape out of every temptation – it’s our choice whether we follow the holy path or succumb to the temptation.
Yes, it takes a lot of determination to do what is right and there is a healing process that must take place. But we cannot return to the sin and expect God to play a game of forgiveness with us over and over again.
God proved His love for us by coming in the flesh and dying on a bloody painful cross for our sins. God will judge us all. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God when we continually deliberately sin against Him!
God said to make no provision for the lusts of the flesh. When we turn to the sinful act or addiction repeatedly, we are making provision for our lustful sinful flesh!!
We can be conquerors through the power of the Holy Ghost. But we must allow God to sit on the throne of our heart (our decision maker) and follow His path! Life is too short and eternal hell is never ending. I choose to follow GOD – be holy as He is holy!!
www.carolclemans.org – (636) 448-0121 – I love teaching God’s anointed Word for churches/conferences – call to schedule speaking or for nationwide confidential counseling by phone/Skype.