Christ is the answer to addictions

I recently started addiction counseling with a local clinic, (God has given me another opportunity to share with others who Christ Jesus is.)

One thing I have learned through this process is that eighty percent of the people that come in never used drugs before they were prescribed pain killers from a Doctor for an injury or surgery, they never thought that drug addiction would be a part of their lives, or knew the pain it would cause, or the lengths they would go to hide their addiction from others.

They are from every walk of life, they are men and women just like you and I, addiction has no prejudice it consumes whomever it can. As I get to spend time with them I see God working in them and on them, for He has brought them to this clinic, for Spiritual, Physical and Emotional healing, it is a long process that requires all three of these areas to be healed, for we are all made up of Mind, Body, and Soul.

But addiction goes beyond opioids, beyond alcohol, beyond pornography, it goes beyond what we believe, it takes us further than we want to go, it makes us live in the shadows hiding in our guilt and shame. Addictions deceive us into believing we cannot live without whatever chains us.

Addiction as defined by merriam-webster
Definition of addiction 1
: the quality or state of being addicted
addiction to reading 2
: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal
broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.

This I know Christ Jesus has set us free from this bondage, it doesn’t matter what our addiction is Christ can break those chains, this is not a theory I have read about, for I have had my own addictions which Christ has set me free from, and I have seen Him set others free from their bondage.

Christ died for each of us and He meets us where we are and says come follow me, He doesn't leave us there, He leads us into victory and freedom.

We as followers of Christ must learn the freedom we have in Christ, the help we receive from the Holy Spirit and the power of God in our lives, we are dead to sin, it is no longer our master were rescued from its bondage by the power of Christ. He declared it is finished, putting an end to its power over our lives.

We need to learn who we are in Christ and what it means to be free. If sin has you in bondage, know this you are not the first one to be in bondage, nor will you be the last.

Don't let the devil trick you into hiding in your guilt and shame, Jesus already knows what is going on and He said who the Son sets free is free indeed! If you want to walk in freedom from whatever holds you back, start to pray with others, let them help and start the healing process there is help, there is hope.

God's word says this;
“Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.”John‬ ‭8:34-36‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Lord, I seek refuge in you; let me never be disgraced. In your justice, rescue and deliver me; listen closely to me and save me. Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the power of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and oppressive. For you are my hope, Lord God, my confidence from my youth. I have leaned on you from birth; you took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always about you. I am like a miraculous sign to many, and you are my strong refuge. My mouth is full of praise and honor to you all day long.” Psalms ‭71:1-8‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1, 13, 16-26‬ ‭CSB‬‬​

“Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”2 Timothy‬ ‭1:6-10‬ ‭CSB‬‬