Breaking Free - A Christian's Guide to Overcoming Addiction

Bible Verses

For this chapter, I just want to take a break and gift you all with some bible verses.

God does talk about temptation, addiction, and slavery in the Bible. He has words for you and I. And I just wanted to share with you some of what I've found.

1 Corinthians 10:13-14

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry."

Temptation is normal. Everyone experiences it. But do you also hear what else is said? God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He provides a way out so you can endure it.

Friends, there is a way out from addiction. Do not be fooled into thinking it's not something you can beat.

1 John 2:16

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

We have desires that aren't from our Lord. They're in us because of sin. God didn't give you the desires you have, the desires that got you into and are continuing your addiction.

But He will help you.

Psalm 50:15 

and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

God is always there to help you. He will give you healing, He will restore your strength, if you only come to Him. He's your Father. He loves you and wishes to comfort you and be there for you. You only need to ask Him and He'll be there.

1 Corinthians 6:12

"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

God gave us free choice, yes. We can do anything we want to. But just because we can, doesn't mean it's good for us. And being mastered by something...that's slavery. That's us being a slave to a certain thing whether it be a TV sho

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Sometimes we forget that Jesus was a human. He experienced temptation just like us, and yet he overcame it completely. We don't have to be ashamed to talk to Him about our addictions. He understands.

Matthew 26:41

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Prayer is a powerful thing. It's how we, mere humans, can communicate with our creator: the God of the universe. It is also a weapon.

Use it, my friends. Use it.

The flesh is weak, that's why we sin. We're weak humans with an innate desire for sin. But God is stronger than that.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Do you hear that? Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. He will flee from you.

Resist him. I know you can. Resist his hold on your life.

I want to end this chapter with this verse.

Romans 8:35-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing will separate us from God's love. Not addictions, not problems. Nothing. God will always love you, even if you don't love Him.

I want to leave you with this.

God loves you unconditionally. You can't earn His love, and you can't lose it.

No matter what you are doing with your life, no matter what, He loves you. He will always love you.

You are loved and you are worth more than being a slave to addictions.

Keep on fighting to break free.

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What's something you've done that you are proud of?

I'm proud of myself for making it to where I am in life now—mentally, physically, and spiritually.