Habakuk 2:15 Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbours, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!
Being addicted to addiction is fighting a war on two fronts. History demonstrates that these wars are rarely won.
Those who are addicts, whether of obsessions or addictions, can be tricked by their addiction when the addiction they suffer from promises another thrill that will meet their craving, and therefore, they flirt with temptation. The temptation is calling them and causes a desire, which in itself is the thrill that leads to temptation. Not only are addicts addicted to a substance craved for, they are also addicted to the temptation of the promise of relief that the substance might bring them. The thrill, titillation, or rush that can come from being tempted by what someone is addicted to can be as strong a feeling as the addiction itself.
It is like being addicted to addiction. When someone lives in addiction, they will eventually become addicted to the euphoric mental image of pleasure and relief, as well as the substance desired. The addiction becomes the identity of the addict. When a person accepts their addiction, they are now hooked on being addicted. Therefore, addiction is a two-edged sword. There ends up being two addictions to defeat. One is the substance to which they crave, and the other is the addicted environment in which the dependency is taking place.
Prov. 23:35 You will say, They struck me, but I was not hurt! They beat me as with a hammer, but I did not feel it! When shall I awake? I will crave and seek more wine again and escape reality. I will be thrilled by the temptation and seek more of what is destroying me. There is no logic to this thinking or lifestyle, and yet millions of people are living in a form of addiction every day. Somewhere along the path of life, the desire to escape reality became the better option, and enslavement to a substance was the vehicle to leave the present reality. The consequences followed, and addiction became the master of their choices. Isa. 59:7a Their feet rush into sin. Breaking the ossification of their predicament is an uphill battle and will take courage of heart and mind to overcome.
To be fixated on a lifestyle that is lived in addiction is a vicious circle and a never-ending story of failure after failure. Isa 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of beer, who linger into the evening, inflamed by wine. A person cannot win a race when every limb is shackled to a form of substance abuse. It does not matter what the craving or obsession is; if a person is waking up to the craving of whatever it is that has control of their mind, body, and spirit, that is outside of an honest relationship with God, then they have a mighty battle on their hands to become an overcomer in this life. Isa. 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, who are champions at pouring beer, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice. This lifestyle will always bring out destructive behaviour within a person when there are no guidelines or guardrails in place. This causes the inner voice of reason to be silenced when the lines of too much consumption of drugs, alcohol, gambling, and risky lifestyles are crossed.
We have to live with the anxiety that our beliefs and choices have brought into our lives. Whether the beliefs are spiritual or secular, we live with the results of our choices. If someone votes a certain way, then they have to own up to what they voted for. If someone believes in erroneous doctrines and their lives are affected by the results of acting out of those beliefs, then the suffering of the mind and emotions will be the consequence of those choices. The result of these inaccurate choices will bring people into a place where they cannot deal with the stress it causes in their lives, and thus, they turn for a release of pain in an obsession or addictive substance. These choices brought about the destructive behaviour they now live with. Addiction to substances or obsessions with certain practices bring their own anxiety; therefore, the cycle does not end until extreme intervention comes into these people’s lives.
We cannot escape the realities of life; we can only face them with the strength we have. Unfortunately, human strength is limited to the resources available to them, which in most cases is an overprescribed medical system that exchanges one drug for another. We need the Lord’s resurrection strength. 1Cor. 15:54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. This resurrection strength overcame death itself, and this same strength within a person can turn being a victim of substance abuse into living a regenerated life to the fullness of what is wonderfully possible. However, these addicted souls have to want the victory and be willing to pay the full cost of becoming whole again.
The first step to becoming healed and well is to admit being addicted or obsessed with that which controls thoughts, body, and feelings. The next step is to realize that there are two addictions at play within the enslavement. The next step is to ask for help. Nothing can be healed that is not admitted to. Hopefully, those who need deliverance go to God for the help they need. God has all the answers to anyone’s particular hurt, need, or anxiety. There is a reason God says to come to Him if we are heavily laden with every weight of life. Matt. 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. The Lord can carry the mess anyone has made of their lives. Stop pretending you have it all under control, as this is impossible in this shifting, neurotic world. Only Jesus Christ has our number written correctly on the palms of His hands. Get real and get healed in Jesus’ name!
I love how this reminds us of Matthew 11:28 and that Jesus invites us to bring Him every burden. We don’t have to have it all together; we just have to be willing to lay it down at His feet and let Him carry it. 🙏✨ Such a powerful reminder to stop pretending we’re in control and trust Him with it all.” ❤️🦅🙏
I agree with your writing this morning as I lay in bed preparing for my day. I’m in the last week of my 90-day men’s treatment program for addiction. I wouldn’t be where I am today without fully surrendering and making a hard effort every day to learn and grow, as well as putting my faith in Jesus and turning my will over to the Lord each day. Thank you, Norm ❤️
Congratulations Nicholas. May God’s face shine on you and give you the strength and ability to walk the clean life you desire.In Christ, we can do all things. Keep choosing His ability in your heart.