Overcoming Addictions

Learn what the Bible says about overcoming addictions. God wants to help us be free, and receive our comfort and identity from Him.

Our Hearts’ Focus

Many people have been affected by addictions either in their lives or in the life of someone close to them. Addictions are not just illegal drugs, alcohol, gambling, or sexual addictions. They can be anything: shopping, entertainment, prescription drugs, relationships, attention, exercise—even serving in church!

Colossians 3 addresses this subject by telling us not to set our affections on things on the earth but to set our affections on things above. Whatever we set our affections on can be defined as an addiction. Are we addicted to things upon the earth, or are we addicted to heavenly things? The only thing we should truly be addicted to is God. So why is there such an addiction epidemic in the world and Church today?

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2 KJV

The Source

The spiritual root behind all addictions is the need to be loved. God created us in His image for love and relationship. This need to be loved is built within us from creation. But when relationship breakdowns occur, sometimes we do not feel properly loved. So we may begin to look for all kinds of ways to try to satisfy this need—when, in reality, only God can be our source of love. Addictions indicate that a need for love has not been met within us. When we have no love, we have no peace.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:16-18 KJV

Our Heavenly Father wants to be this source of love for us. He tells us in His Word that He knows and loves us. When we accept this truth, fear is broken, and we do not need any counterfeits in our lives to try to fill the gap. We can be free to give and receive love in relationships with God, ourselves, and others as He intended. Being properly connected to the true source of love is the first principle of getting an addict free.

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Psalm 139:1-5 KJV

Sons and Daughters

Addicts often also struggle with knowing their identity. Identity can only be found as we embrace how God sees us—as His sons and daughters. As His children, we are valued and no longer need to allow rejection and self-rejection to form us. This internal conflict can go so that we no longer seek to find relief from pain. As we learn to accept our place as sons and daughters of God, learn and receive His love—the desire for alternative fulfillment is dispelled.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 8:16 KJV

Not only are we the sons and daughters of God, but the Word says we are accepted. We do not need to perform or try to earn love and approval. When we know we are accepted, we no longer have to fabricate our personalities in order to fit in—we can be our true selves as God created us to be. God fully accepts us; if anyone else does too, it is just the cherry on top!

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:4-5 KJ

Renew Our Minds

To be free, we must choose to live by the truth of the Word of God. As we align ourselves with God’s thoughts, we have the mind of Christ. This is how we have sanity and can live the abundant life He intended for us.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV

We can come into agreement with God’s Word as we read and renew our minds with it. We do not just read His Word—we also become doers of His Word! We must understand the importance of the Word, and our obedience to it, to defeat our enemy through the truth.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22 KJV

Any thoughts not lined up with the Word of God can be cast down. He has given us the ability to rid ourselves of anything that opposes the knowledge of God. This is our obedience to Christ, and blessings come with obedience. Our thoughts can be captive to God’s Word and His thoughts toward us.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 KJV

Faith Over Feelings

As we renew our minds, we can exercise our will and resist the devil. God gave us the ability to use our will; it is part of our creation. It is part of our sovereignty that He built into us that makes us a free agent, which gives us the ability to choose. Our wills are incredibly powerful, and the enemy does not want us to know we have a will. He wants us to be a responder to stimuli because he wants to control us. We do not need to be ruled by our feelings and emotions or any artificial comforts. Feelings of withdrawal do not need to control us. The Bible says we can use our will to submit to God and resist the devil—and he will flee from us.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV

We do not need to have an altered state of consciousness that causes us to avoid the responsibility to establish and have dominion on the earth. We can choose to act like sons and daughters as we should. This is the beginning of being led by the Spirit of God, not our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We can take responsibility for our lives whether we feel like it or not because it has nothing to do with our feelings—it has to do with our faith. We can hate sin and make no provision for it in our lives. The Holy Spirit will help us; this is not a work of the flesh. He brings conviction and guidance to our lives, and can help us to resist temptation.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14 KJV

If you are struggling with addiction, God wants to meet you in the middle of the battle. He wants to give you real peace from within, not synthetic peace from another source. We can take His peace and choose this day whom we will serve. God wants to work with us so that we can overcome all addictions.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV

We are supposed to move our circumstances rather than be moved by them. We do not have to run from circumstances; we can choose to trust God in facing and pursuing a solution with Him according to the Word instead. We must face the situations that make us uncomfortable rather than attempting to avoid them. We cannot do this by ourselves. He will join us and help us to be overcomers. We do not need any external dopamine rushes or anything else that artificially stimulates our biology; we can let the joy of the Lord be our strength.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 KJV

If you are struggling with substance abuse or drug abuse, mental health issues, or alcohol addiction—there is hope for you! You can overcome addiction and withdrawal symptoms with God’s help. We have many testimonies of people who got free from drug addiction and mental illness.

Additional Resources for overcoming addictions:

Would you like to learn more about overcoming addictions and the other Spiritual Roots of Disease®?

In addition to the Addictions teaching, we present over twenty other life-changing classes in the For My Life Retreat®. These teachings will lead you to the truth you need to find healing in God for your spirit, soul, and body.

The Be in Health Team invites you to join us on this life-changing journey of healing and restoration that we call the Overcomers’ Journey. We want to help you regain your life, overthrow the enemy’s works in the world, and be a successful overcomer.

If you struggle with addictions, maybe it’s time to take some time out for your life.

The For My Life Retreat is a five-day, intensive healing retreat. It is a safe place to take time out for your life to be renewed in your mind, spirit, and body by the truth from God’s Word.

There is also a For My Life Online Course available, where you can participate with us from the comfort of your own home.

Blessings,

The Be in Health Team

This is a sound bite from the For My Life Online Overcoming Addictions teaching:

This article is part of the For My Life Sound Bite Series.

Check out these articles to learn more about the other teachings we offer and get more insights into spiritual discernment, the power of God’s love, and how He can heal you and help you become an overcomer!

Foundational Insights – This is the core foundational teaching that encompasses the heart and mission of the For My Life Retreat. On this foundation, the whole Retreat is built.

The Father’s Love – The number one most important thing for every person’s Overcomers’ Journey is to be restored to Father God’s Love. Without a relationship and trust with the Father, it is very difficult to move forward as an Overcomer.

8 Rs to Freedom – 8 steps to recognize and overcome the enemy’s influence in your life.

7 Steps to Sin – Discover the enemy’s strategy to lead you to sin and learn how to stop him at his game.

Godly Order – God has established an order of authority in His Kingdom. Discover how Godly Order will help restore you to peace in God and in your life.

Spirit World Realities – Learn how the enemy’s kingdom can operate in the earth and the Biblical origins of our spiritual enemy. This understanding will demystify Satan and his kingdom and help you defeat the fear of evil.

Separation – Learn how to recognize the enemy’s strategy to divide and destroy relationships and get smarter than him. You can recognize and hate the sin but still love the person just like God does for us.

Pathways of Thought – How can a spiritual kingdom influence our thoughts? Discover the pathway of thought from the spiritual through thoughts, feelings, and emotions to its effect on our physical health.

Disease Profiles – Discover the possible spiritual roots that can lead to specific disease classes.

Water Baptism– Water Baptism is one of the sacraments of our faith. Discover why Water Baptism is an essential step in your Overcomers’ Journey.

Blocks to Healing – The Bible tells us that there are certain things that we can agree with that will get in the way of healing. Learn how to recognize and overcome these spiritual blocks to healing. And discover the surprising #1 Block to Healing.

Self Pity – Dr. Henry W. Wright often said that Self Pity is the superglue to hell that binds us to our past and prevents us from moving forward in our future. Learn how to discern this evil spirit and overcome it in your life!

Accusation – Accusation is a tool that the enemy uses to twist the truth and lead us into bondage to sin. Learn how to recognize and overcome the spirit of accusation in your life.

Bitterness – Learn the seven steps of bitterness, including unforgiveness, anger, violence, and murder. With these insights, you will be able to defeat this stronghold and operate in God’s forgiveness and peace.

Envy and Jealousy – How envy and jealousy keep your eyes on the object of your desire to prevent you from trusting God and receiving His best for you.

Rejection – Learn how to overcome rejection in your life.

Occultism – Understanding Occultism and why we need to be free from it.

Unloving – Learn how to give and receive love in relationship to God, yourself, and others.

Fear – Fear is something that most of us have had to face at some point in our lives. Discover where Fear comes from, how to recognize it, and how to overcome it!