I desire You more than anything on earth. Psalm 73:25

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall want for nothing… (Psalm 23)

Hardly anyone escapes the trap of addictions. Some addictions are more insidious than others, but from heroin-addicts to coffee-aholics, all of us with addictions stand together on level ground surrounding Jesus and the Cross He died on. Some of us hide our addictions and even manage to hide them from ourselves. Addictions can be polite and appear well-bred, but all addictions, whether culturally acceptable or not, are sinister and are sent and meant to take us off our game, disabling our destinies.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Jesus invites us to live in the light, to bring ourselves and our addictions into the light. Picture doing whatever it is you’re addicted to in Jesus’ presence. What response do you imagine He would have?

Do you think He’d be ticked? Annoyed? Scandalized?

I don’t think He’d be moved a bit. I don’t think He’d flinch. He would just quietly wait for you to finish and then He’d take His leave or engage in conversation with you if You seem interested.

Jesus is comfortable with people who are accustomed to “sin”.

What is sin?

The definition of sin is, “To miss the mark,” to wander off the path God has chosen for your life. Other paths offer immediate gratification. God’s path often isn’t alluring, but it offers so much JOY!

What if the only thing we were addicted to was Jesus? Why not give it a try? Start by fasting the things you’re addicted to, as a way of humbling yourself before God. We invite you to pray this plain and simple prayer.

Father,

I have missed the mark. This addiction has ruled my life long enough. I’m laying it at your feet, and I am setting aside time without it as a fast to humble myself before You. Free me from these chains.

Help me become so focused on You, Your presence in my life, and Your love for me that I want for nothing else. May You be my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night. Help me to lift my face to You throughout each day to receive the love I’m trying to find in all the wrong places.

You are love. You are love. Jesus, You are the very embodiment of what love is, looks like, and acts like. I receive Your love today.

Give me wisdom to know where to go for help. Help me live in complete honesty and transparency, sharing with those I trust, so they can hold me up and affirm me and encourage me in my struggle for sobriety.

How good You are to me!

You are all I ultimately want out of this life! You alone!

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen!

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. (Matthew 6:33)

 

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