Addiction?

 

I have never had an addiction problem with alcohol, drugs, or any of the other common vices of this world. I praise God that I have not had to deal with that fight. I have walked alongside many who have and continue to fight that battle. I am not better than them. I have my own issues. I have many sins that consume my life. 

I was thinking about this as I was studying Isaiah 5 this morning. Here is what I was reading:

"What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties -- lyre and harp, tambourine and flute -- but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing." (Isaiah 5:11-12, NLT)

I noticed something interesting about this message from Isaiah. First, let me say, alcoholism and drug addiction is a REAL and HEARTBREAKING ISSUE. I have seen it totally consume people. Alcohol and drugs can interfere with all aspects of life. But the emphasis in this scripture is focused on one problem. Isaiah says, the greatest problem with letting alcohol consume us is that there is no room in our day to THINK ABOUT THE LORD! I have heard recovering alcoholics and addicts explain how every thought is filled with getting drunk or getting high. Those thoughts leave no room for THE LORD.

But, let me ask those of you who are not alcoholics or drug addicts something. 

How much of your time is spent THINKING ABOUT THE LORD? 

You might not be consumed with getting high or finding your next drink, but you might be addicted to work. You might be addicted to your family. You might be addicted to your money, your possessions, recreational activities, sex, sports, golf, cars, motorcycles, or a hosts of other things. Some of those things are not bad in and of themselves. They may not be as deadly or as physically devastating as alcohol and drugs, but how they affect our relationship with the LORD is equally devastating. 

WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM THINKING ABOUT THE LORD is an addiction that needs to be removed from our lives. 

My DRUG of CHOICE has always been my work. WORK, can be just as devastating as drugs or alcohol when it SEPARATES us from GOD. I know of WOMEN who are ADDICTED to their families. And you might say, well how can that be a bad thing. Does FAMILY TIME interfere with their relationship with the Lord? Do family activities keep you from PRAYER time? Do family activities keep you from taking time to STUDY GOD'S WORD? DO YOU EVER THINK OF GOD? Do you ever STOP to notice what God is doing in the world around you? So many things in life can draw us away from the Lord and if it is the same activity over and over again, that is addiction. Get clean!

Heavenly Father, I come to you again, seeking forgiveness. Please Lord forgive me for my addiction to work. Please forgive us all for not taking time out of our day to PRAISE YOU, to sit with you, to seek you, and to watch you work. I pray, Lord, that you will not only walk alongside those fighting the battle of addiction to alcohol and drugs, but that you also walk alongside those who are battling many issues that keep them from turning to you. Please, LORD, fill US with your spirit. Fill us with your Grace. Fill us with yoru mercy, and most of all fill us with Love overflowing. Help us to fill the cups of others as they need encouragement to keep on striving for your perfect LOVE. In you precious name I pray, LORD JESUS, AMEN!

(For those that are fighting the never ending battle with addiction, turn to a professional for help by contact the number below: 

There are many ways to find affordable and free faith-based rehab programs available to you. Depending on your personalized needs, all, or at least part of the cost of rehab may be covered by state-funded programs or insurance. Call American Addiction Centers (AAC) at 

(888) 572-9840