Tag Archives: addiction

Do You Need Saving?

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I hate addiction. I hate how it changes people. The seductive lies, whispered until the person believes them.  I hate how it steals, how it devours everything good in them, an insatiable monster, never satisfied. I hate how it robs people of hope. Has addiction stolen something from you?

Addiction stole my brother from me. But God used my brother’s addiction to convict me.

Everywhere I turn, I see lives smoldering from addiction. Like a fire, addiction reaches out with burning fingers, scorching everyone, not just the user.

Death nips at my brother’s heels. He is so caught in the chain of his drug use, that he can’t see a way out. Even though he wants to. His days are full of torment, but he can’t stop.

He has been through 12 different treatment programs, jail, and prison. Still, this disease has him in its jaws.

Part of me wonders, Lord, if it’s that bad, why doesn’t he quit? And the other part answers, don’t you think he would stop if he could. No one wants to live like that. He is powerless without Jesus.

And that’s when it hit me. What things in my life am I blind to? How many times do I complain about things that I can’t seem to free myself from?

My pride. I think that because I haven’t fallen as low as some, that somehow I’m stronger than them. I am not.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Jealousy. I look at certain people and I covet what they have. That multi-book contract, a beautiful and elaborate home, no money worries, and the list goes on.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:16

All of us need saving. None of us have the strength to save our selves. If we did, Jesus wouldn’t have come to earth and died on a cross for us. If we could save our selves, then we would live a life free of pain.

Jesus came to save us all. It is our choice whether or not we let Him.

I can’t make my brother chose Jesus and freedom. No matter how much I want to. No matter how many tears I cry.

But I can choose freedom for myself. And so can you.

Chose today to give God everything that is binding you.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Let’s pray,

Dear Jesus,

Please let us know your truth. Don’t let the enemy of our soul win with his lies. Let your Holy Spirit reveal the lies so that we may cling to Your truths. Your promise freedom, Lord, and you always deliver your promises. We claim victory is ours through the blood of Jesus on the cross. Thank you for your gift. Thank you for freedom.

In Jesus name, Amen.

If someone in your life suffers from addiction, here is my post on intercessory prayer.

This post is featured on The Better Mom link up. Check out other great articles on parenting, marriage, and more!

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Twitt

Intercessory Prayer- How to Stand in the Gap for Loved Ones

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Last week I shared how God used an addict, my brother, to convict me of Godly compassion. I was overwhelmed by the support and outreach from readers who have had addiction touch their lives. It touched my heart, because you see, I was scared to share that with you. I even considered taking the article down when I first hit publish.

So I want to talk about prayer, specifically praying for an addict.

Prayer is the most powerful tool we have in our arsenal when it come to fighting addiction, and my dear friends, it is a battle.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the author, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Simply put, addiction is from Satan, for his goal is to steal, kill, and destroy us. John 10:10

When we pray on behalf of someone else we are standing in the gap before that person and God. You are also engaging in spiritual warfare.

First, if Jesus is your personal savior, then through His blood the enemy has been defeated (Revelation 12:11) and as His heir you have claim to this promise and power.

When praying ask God to put a hedge of protection around you and your loved one. Job 1:10

Second, you need to plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and the person you are praying for. It is only through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross that we have any authority over the things of this earth and the things of the spiritual world.

Third, the word of God is powerful and living. Pray aloud God’s promises from scripture. Isiah 61:1 is an excellent verse in regards to addiction.

Many of you have prayed and may not see immediate results. Do not become disheartened. In Daniel 10:13 we read that an angel coming to the prophets aid was detained in battle for 21 days. Our prayers are heard and are effective, but the battle must still be fought.

God tells us to pray without ceasing. Our prayers allow God to work where sin has shut Him out.

Let us pray together,

Dear Lord,

We pray a hedge of protection around ourselves, our homes, family, and name of person. We plead the blood of Jesus over _________’s addiction. We plead the blood of Jesus over their desire for drugs/alcohol. Your word promises to set the captives free and to release from darkness for the prisoned. We pray that your Holy Spirit would work in our hearts and ________, that your name would be uplifted and glorified.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

What verses do you to proclaim God’s promises to us?

Remember to sign up to receive posts for free to your email. I’ll be hosting author Donna Pyle from her Bible study on God’s Armor and fighting spiritual warfare. Just go here and click on the subscribe button.

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Twitt

How God Used an Addict to Convict Me

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I’m going to share something gritty, real, and raw about my life with you.

My older brother is a life long drug addict. He’s been in and out of rehab and jail multiple times. He’s lost his job, his house, and now half of his teeth.

I have held hope that each time he’s really kicked the habit. And each time he’s begun using again, I tell myself I should have known. I tell myself he has the power to change and it’s his choices that have got him where he is today. And that’s true.

But as much as I don’t understand his addiction, I’ve felt superior to him. I’ve comforted myself with the fact I would never allow myself to walk the road he’s chosen.

And last night, I saw him at a belated family Christmas party. I haven’t seen him in over a year. His hair is long, he’s skinny, he’s aged considerably, and he’s using. I believe he was on something while at the party.

But I saw something else. I saw a man who wanted to be around his family. A man who needs love. A man who Jesus Christ died on a cross for, even though Jesus knew the path my brother would choose. And Jesus loves him, loves him beyond the things he’s done and the choices he’s made.

And so do I. I wrapped my arms around him and told him I loved him.

Then I asked him if I could pray for him. He said yes. So in a room filled with probably over 60 extended family members, with stereo blasting and kids weaving between tables and chairs, I pulled my brother in a hug and I prayed out loud for God to protect Him, for the Holy Spirit to speak to Him and work in his heart, even when I had to push the words past the tears burning my throat.

He turned to me and said “You’re going to make me cry.” And I told him that was all right. Then he left.

I don’t know if he’ll ever beat addiction, but I know that my prayer meant something. And that if I never see him again, I won’t regret loving and praying with Him.

But I would have regretted not praying with him. I would have regretted not listening to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, because it was me who was changed last night.

God allowed me to see an addict through His eyes, not through my own. I’m tearing up as I write this, because of how God has humbled me.

So I share this with you to show you that God can work through any situation to show us a part of Him if we open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit.

Is there any area of your life that God’s convicted you?

I share a post on the book that helped me come to this place on Faith, Friends, and Frappuccino’s today.

This post will show you how to pray effectively pray intercessory prayers.

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Twitt