In Part 1, we looked up to see Jesus’ unconditional love for us. God’s free gift of salvation—by grace through faith in Christ alone—is the foundation for finding deliverance from addiction. Christ in us is our Hope! As we keep looking up, God helps us see the truth that makes us free…
What if you are like I was, already saved but still in bondage to a sinful stronghold? We go back to the same Cross, that same place of repentance to receive forgiveness, cleansing, and deliverance.
My addiction—sinning, repenting, and committing the same sin over and over again—became a horrible cycle that lasted many, many years. There were times when I contemplated suicide because I didn’t want to go on living that way.
I was experiencing what the Bible calls the sorrow of the world…
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
I was only sorry I couldn’t stop drinking and taking drugs. I didn’t see the sinfulness of my actions the way God did. I had no understanding of how devastating my sin was to my loved ones. I was only thinking of myself—trapped in the satanic hold of self-pity.
I didn’t see I was the only one responsible
for the choices I was making.
What I had been taught through man’s wisdom was that I could not help it…I was an alcoholic and addict. I had an incurable disease. So every one of my terrible sins done while under the influence was not really my fault. After all, I was the victim here.
By God’s grace, I finally saw the truth: Instead of a victim, I was a transgressor! Why? Because I was choosing my own ways instead of God’s ways.
When God helped me see the truth,
I accepted the blame and He removed the guilt.
“ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
”
The same Blood that the Lord Jesus shed for us on the Cross, is the same Blood that continues to cleanse us from our sins each time we see the truth about our sin, confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ”
Who we are at any given second, is who we are as His child at the foot of the Cross—the glorious place where we end, and Christ begins!
When the Lord opens our eyes, we begin to see His perfect supply for our great need.
So how do we finally
see the truth
that makes us free?
By developing a personal daily relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Life after God saves us was never meant
to be lived without Him.
Believing on Him and being born again is
the beginning of that relationship…
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Imagine having a personal daily
relationship with the Creator of the Universe!
What a concept!
What is the key to any relationship?
Communication.
God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. We have everything we need to have two-way communication with Him.
God speaks to us
through His Word by
the Holy Spirit witnessing
with our spirit as we read…
“…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ”
We communicate with God
through prayer and the help
of the Holy Spirit…
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ”
The “It’s Personal Daily Journal” helped me develop a daily devotion time with the Lord.
I encourage you to begin reading in the book of Proverbs and read one chapter each day. Pray and ask the Lord to show a truth from His Word that will help you that day.
Remember we are God’s work in progress. Clay in the Potter’s Hand. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
No longer are we victims of an incurable disease.
Now our focus can be on
the Victorious Christian Life…
even on our worst days, we can be
more than Conquerors through Christ.
The more we get to know our heavenly Father,
the more we will see the blessings of being His child.
O how He loves us!
Not only can God completely deliver us from addiction,
He gives us a life we never dreamed possible.
Oh our need, but oh His supply!
Need more encouragement?
Join me for Part Three of this series: “Trust Him.”
