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Untie from Your Addiction, Be Tied Together to GodUntie from Your Addiction, Be Tied Together to God
February 19, 2013
Transformational Thought
According to the latest statistics, compulsive addictions torment tens
of millions of people in the USA. Taking into account caffeine addiction
and overeating, 40-50% of the U.S. struggles with compulsive behaviors
that are harmful. An addict’s primary relationship is with a drug or a
behavior, not with himself or any other person. That drug or behavior is
the path to the supposed relief they deeply desire. To a large degree,
our society denies the addiction problem. Many of you might even scoff
at the numbers. The walking wounded are usually on their own to get help
for themselves or their loved ones as treatment centers and state
hospitals close, program funds diminish, and insurance reimbursements
for treatment decrease.
Physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological disabilities
brought on by addictions are rampant. Addictions are the number one
killer in the U.S. High blood pressure, heart disease, lung cancer,
headaches, sleep problems, liver disease, impaired immunity, infections,
irritability, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, poor frustration
tolerance, loneliness, poor motivation, disconnected from God, lack of
purpose, no passion, and no peace are all common consequences of various
addictions (and this was just the start of the list!) Regardless of the
type of addiction, an addictive lifestyle causes a person to be only a
shadow of what God intended.
There. That’s the bad news. Now here’s the good news. Have you ever
noticed what a bad rap the word ”religion” receives? It’s no longer
regarded as the original word suggests. The Latin root of the word is
“ligio,” meaning to tie or bind together. An example is a woman having
her tubes tied, or a tubal ligation. To “re-ligio” means that something
that was once tied became untied, and it is now re-tied or bound
together again. There is no better example than the Garden of
Eden. Adam and Eve were in perfect union with God. Then they disobeyed
God, causing the original tie of perfect fellowship with God to become
untied. God’s plan of salvation, through Christ’s sacrifice once and for
all, re-tied us back together into relationship with God for eternity,
by His grace alone. He does all the work. We just need to accept His
payment for our debt.
Addiction is synonymous with idolatry. When we strongly desire
something as much as or more than we desire God, we have given ourselves
to a false god, a weak imitation. We become untied from God because of
our addiction. Where we invest our time, money, and energy becomes our
god. Then, like the object we worship, we become a cheap imitation of
what we were really meant to be. I am always amazed when I consider the
things I used to pursue, and sometimes continue to pursue, to soothe my
discomfort instead of going to God first. Sadly, I have endured dire
spiritual consequences for the sake of momentary thrills or escapes.
Today, God stands ready and willing to forgive and restore those who
have been carried away by addictions. If you have an overt addiction,
let Him in and trust His ways, not yours. Call the Lighthouse Network Helpline
to understand and find Christian treatment options. Becoming untied
causes us to disintegrate. But receiving God’s gift of healing allows us
to re-integrate, and be restored to what God intended in the first
place! If you don’t have an overt addiction, examine what you go to when
you are uncomfortable. If it is God’s word and prayer, awesome. If it
is anything else, then you have an addiction and need to wrestle with
that. Start to look at why you turn to those other items before God.
Don’t be embarrassed, just be honest. Your journey closer to God and the
Mind of Christ is your decision, so choose well!
Prayer
Father God, You are our source and our strength, and a very present help
in time of trouble. Deliver us out of the claws of addictions and
addictive behaviors. We need Your supernatural strength to overcome the
self-destructive effects of mood-altering chemicals and mind injuring
behaviors. Heal and restore us in body, mind, and spirit to what You
intended us to be. We ask this in the powerful, comforting, and re-tying
name of Jesus; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
“Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires
of a sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to
the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16-17
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