Overcoming Addictions (Part 2)
OVERCOMING ADDICTIONS(Part 2)
This is the concluding part of our discussion on addictions. In the part 1 we looked at what addictions are and some examples of addictions. Today, we will look at How to Overcome Addictions.
1. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ADDICTION
The first step to solving the problem of addiction is to admit you have a problem. An addiction isn't normal. Addictions are wrong. God created us to be free and not enslaved to anything. Any negative habit that enslaves us is an addiction. As Christians, we need to understand that addictions are sins against God. If there is any negative habit you have been in for more than three months, it is an addiction. It is time to repent.
2. ASK GOD FOR HELP
Addictions are such a way that no matter how hard you try on your own, you can't overcome them. Psychologists prescribe ways of dealing with addictions but the truth is only God can help us. Only God has the power to help us overcome addictions. After genuinely repenting, you need to approach God and ask Him to help you overcome that addiction. It won't be easy but God's Grace is always sufficient for us.
3. DON'T TRUST YOURSELF
One of the mistakes we make when dealing with addictions is to trust in our own abilities. An addiction like masturbation won't end simply because you want it to end. Personal resolutions don't stop addictions. You can decide that you won't watch pornography again but within few days, you will be back to watching it. To overcome addictions, we need to only depend on God.
4. AVOID TEMPTATIONS
Some of us got addicted to things because of the friends we keep. We have friends we drink with, we have friends we watch pornography with, we have friends we womanise with. To overcome these addictions, we need to cut all those negative relationships off.
When you are dealing with a dangerous addiction like masturbation or pornography, you need to avoid movies that have sex scenes. They might not be hard core porn movies but they have the tendency of tempting you. Avoid things or people that will take you back to the addiction God has saved you from.
5. EXERCISE SELF CONTROL
A man without self control is like a city without walls. God will help us to overcome addictions but we also need to be disciplined and have some self control. You should be able to see a link to a porn site and not open it. That's self control. You should be able to see a beautiful woman and not lust for her. Self control is not easy but we can't overcome addictions without any form of self control.
What we need to know is that addictions are dangerous. Addictions destroy our self esteem. Any time you engage in something you want to stop, you feel guilty and very disappointed. Addictions keep us from God. You need to be free. You can't be controlled by addictions. Jesus died to set us free from sinful bondage. An addiction is a demonic bondage. We need to deal with it now before it destroys us.
May God give you the Grace to deal with any addiction you might find yourself in. If you try and you fall, don't give up, continue trusting in God, with time, God will help you to overcome it.