Have you ever tried to break a bad habit? It could be anything. Overeating, biting your nails, something more serious like drugs, or just something small. Whatever it is, have you noticed that while you're trying to break that habit, you end up setting unrealistic goals for yourself? I know I'm guilty of that. I'll try to break a habit and tell myself that I (by myself) will stop doing this..FOREVER! Well after about a day or two, I find myself breaking the habit. You see, my first mistake was that I put it in my mind I'll never mess up again. The second mistake was that I tried to do it by myself!
I love Twitter. I can get retweeted or tweeted by celebrities (if I get lucky), meet new people, see interesting tweets, say whatever is on my mind, and just have fun. One night, while I was on Twitter, I saw a tweet someone posted. It was something along the lines of, "God wants to fix it, you just have to give Him ALL of the broken pieces." That spoke to me. And right then and there, I prayed to God and told Him that I truly wanted to break my bad habit. And in my mind I pictured myself picking up every broken piece of me and handing it to Him. In my heart I truly believe I gave it over to God that night. And I haven't gone back on it yet. It hasn't been very long since that occurred, but I believe I am delivered from it!
One of the biggest things I'm learning right now, is that I have to take it day by day. Every day that I go without going back to that habit is an accomplishment for me. I no longer say that I won't EVER do it again, because we all sin. However, I do believe that I am done with it. I can't think TOO far ahead on it, because that puts pressure on you. And when you have too much pressure, you end up losing sight of what's really important: your connection with and faith in God. When I make it through a day without going back, I thank God for that from the bottom of my heart. I say, "Whew, thank you Jesus for helping me with that today. Thank you Father, for keeping me on track and keeping me close to you." Now, do I get tempted during the day? Of course! There is always that little voice nagging at me, trying to convince me that one time won't hurt. But every time I hear that voice (which we know is the enemy), I feel God tugging at my heart, saying "Hey, remember when you gave this over to Me? I've got it. Don't go back. I love you enough to help you through this. You gave EVERY piece to me. Keep moving forward." And I immediately feel better, and I gain the strength I need to resist temptation.
My point is, yes, it takes time to completely break a habit. And yes it also takes time to completely give something over to God. Although it only took me within a few minutes of seeing that tweet to give my problem to God, it also had been years since I picked up this habit. That tweet came after years of stubbornness and many failed attempts at fixing it on my own.
Give your problems to God and you will gain peace. Our Father truly does enjoy taking our problems from us and helping us out. He loves us just that much to do that for every single one of us. He just wants us to come to Him.
I hope this helped someone out there today. If I can do it, you can too! No scriptures today, just a little honesty. :)
Until next time,
Peace, Love, and Truth
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
I Have An Addiction...How Do I Get Rid Of It?
Addictions can be scary little things. Almost like a bug that is crawling through your house. Sometimes you just leave the little bug there, knowing that it will die eventually and you'll clean it up later. Sometimes you charge towards the bug with every intention of killing it, and right when you make up your mind to do such a thing, it scurries away back into hiding. So there you are, with a little bug in your house. You know it's there, but you can't see it, and it only comes out at the most random times. Addiction is the same way. You have every intention of stopping, but right when you decide to take that thought captive and eliminate that addiction, it scurries to the back of your mind causing you to lose focus, and giving you false hope that you're over it. And right when your heart rate returns back to normal, and you begin to get comfortable, just like that bug, addiction slowly creeps back out into the open and grabs your attention. Like a never ending cycle is trying to kill that bug called addiction.
Now of course I know addiction is nothing but a trick of the enemy. And you know it too. Giving you false hopes and Satan will even go as far as to give YOU an excuse to give God when you go repent. Think about it. "Oh God, you know I didn't mean it," or "There's not even a real specific scripture that tells me this is a sin, so how could I know?" But...you know. You know you're wrong and you know you're addicted, because of that dirty little feeling you have after every time you commit a sin. You feel guilty. Conviction is no joke. So, what do you do for addiction? How do you fix it?
Addiction is defined as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma." Now, before I go on, please know the difference between a bad habit, and an addiction. A habit is "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary." While addiction and habit are extremely similar terms because of their meaning, the trauma that addiction can cause separates the two. Now, do me a favor. Look back over the definition for an addiction, and choose to read it from a spiritual point of view. Addiction is the state of having your spirit enslaved to ungodly things that are psychologically and physically habit forming, similar to narcotics in that it can severely damage your spirit, and so much in that it takes your focus away from God, and to such an extent that its cessation can cause extreme spiritual warfare. As I stated, addiction is nothing more than a trick of the enemy that people fall subject to daily. Habits are broken, but addictions must be completely destroyed.
If you know someone who is dealing with an addiction, or you yourself are dealing with an addiction, ask God to help you. Addictions can be to alcohol, drugs, sexual, or just simple things that you never considered addictive. Addictions can be, but are not limited to narcotics. Addictions can be anything that causes you to lose focus on God and living your life right. They cause you to lose such focus that you feel as if you cannot live without it and will simply die if you lose it. Addictions are what cause you to become afraid at the very thought of quitting. Addictions are what you feel is apart of you and what you feel you are apart of. Every time you try to quit, you hear this little voice telling you, "You'll be back." Yes, addictions are extremely scary and whatever your addiction may be, know that God can help you. You cannot destroy it. You can't do it by willpower. It's impossible. You must call on God and depend on Him, trust in Him to help you with your addiction. Your flesh will crave it, and you may even cry. It will hurt! But you have to press forward. Addiction is such a strong word and even stronger thing. And most times, people don't even realize that they have spoken addiction into their lives. They say how they are addicted to shopping, addicted to certain foods, or addicted to a person. When they do such things, it really and truly happens! You become addicted, slowly but surely. Pray about it, and truly try to change. God is there with you every single step of the way. He knows you way better than you do.
Now, I know I haven't written on here in FOREVER (I'm scared to even say how long) but I felt led to post about this. I myself am overcoming my own addiction. I am praying and sometimes I fall short and give in to these strong temptations. But, God is an extremely loving and forgiving father who will NEVER hold my mistakes over my head. God is able and God is helping me every day. I will pray for you, that you hear God's voice and answer to His call to return to His loving arms and let Him take the burden away from you. I have NEVER met a person who wants to love on me and take my pain away and actually wants all my burdens. That's true love that only God can give. I know this post was a little lengthy, but if you have made it all the way to the end, I pray that you walk away feeling a little lighter knowing that someone out there is like you and is going through something similar. No matter the addiction, God can heal. I don't have a song to post at the end like I normally do, but I will have a few scriptures. Be blessed and until next time,
Peace, Love, and Truth! :)
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" - Romans 6:16
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of sinful nature." - Romans 13:14
" 'Everything is permissible for me' -but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' -but I will not be mastered by anything." - 1 Corinthians 6:12
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, when it is full grown, it gives birth to death." - James 1:12-15
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
Be Blessed!
Now of course I know addiction is nothing but a trick of the enemy. And you know it too. Giving you false hopes and Satan will even go as far as to give YOU an excuse to give God when you go repent. Think about it. "Oh God, you know I didn't mean it," or "There's not even a real specific scripture that tells me this is a sin, so how could I know?" But...you know. You know you're wrong and you know you're addicted, because of that dirty little feeling you have after every time you commit a sin. You feel guilty. Conviction is no joke. So, what do you do for addiction? How do you fix it?
Addiction is defined as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma." Now, before I go on, please know the difference between a bad habit, and an addiction. A habit is "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary." While addiction and habit are extremely similar terms because of their meaning, the trauma that addiction can cause separates the two. Now, do me a favor. Look back over the definition for an addiction, and choose to read it from a spiritual point of view. Addiction is the state of having your spirit enslaved to ungodly things that are psychologically and physically habit forming, similar to narcotics in that it can severely damage your spirit, and so much in that it takes your focus away from God, and to such an extent that its cessation can cause extreme spiritual warfare. As I stated, addiction is nothing more than a trick of the enemy that people fall subject to daily. Habits are broken, but addictions must be completely destroyed.
If you know someone who is dealing with an addiction, or you yourself are dealing with an addiction, ask God to help you. Addictions can be to alcohol, drugs, sexual, or just simple things that you never considered addictive. Addictions can be, but are not limited to narcotics. Addictions can be anything that causes you to lose focus on God and living your life right. They cause you to lose such focus that you feel as if you cannot live without it and will simply die if you lose it. Addictions are what cause you to become afraid at the very thought of quitting. Addictions are what you feel is apart of you and what you feel you are apart of. Every time you try to quit, you hear this little voice telling you, "You'll be back." Yes, addictions are extremely scary and whatever your addiction may be, know that God can help you. You cannot destroy it. You can't do it by willpower. It's impossible. You must call on God and depend on Him, trust in Him to help you with your addiction. Your flesh will crave it, and you may even cry. It will hurt! But you have to press forward. Addiction is such a strong word and even stronger thing. And most times, people don't even realize that they have spoken addiction into their lives. They say how they are addicted to shopping, addicted to certain foods, or addicted to a person. When they do such things, it really and truly happens! You become addicted, slowly but surely. Pray about it, and truly try to change. God is there with you every single step of the way. He knows you way better than you do.
Now, I know I haven't written on here in FOREVER (I'm scared to even say how long) but I felt led to post about this. I myself am overcoming my own addiction. I am praying and sometimes I fall short and give in to these strong temptations. But, God is an extremely loving and forgiving father who will NEVER hold my mistakes over my head. God is able and God is helping me every day. I will pray for you, that you hear God's voice and answer to His call to return to His loving arms and let Him take the burden away from you. I have NEVER met a person who wants to love on me and take my pain away and actually wants all my burdens. That's true love that only God can give. I know this post was a little lengthy, but if you have made it all the way to the end, I pray that you walk away feeling a little lighter knowing that someone out there is like you and is going through something similar. No matter the addiction, God can heal. I don't have a song to post at the end like I normally do, but I will have a few scriptures. Be blessed and until next time,
Peace, Love, and Truth! :)
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" - Romans 6:16
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of sinful nature." - Romans 13:14
" 'Everything is permissible for me' -but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' -but I will not be mastered by anything." - 1 Corinthians 6:12
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, when it is full grown, it gives birth to death." - James 1:12-15
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7
Be Blessed!
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