How does a person overcome an addiction? This one can be very difficult, while on the other hand, it can be the simplest thing to do. Though an addiction may have control over a person’s life, there are several ways that we can overcome them. Some simply overcome an addiction by going to addiction groups, while others can seem to just drop the addiction. There were several addictions in my life that the Lord helped me get rid of instantly when I became a Christian. There were however, a few that he did not help me overcome immediately such as; smoking cigarettes and marijuana. Marijuana was an addiction I had to fight to overcome.
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the first and most important step in one’s life, when trying to overcome an addiction. Can a person overcome an addiction without the Lord’s help? There are many that do overcome addiction without knowing the Lord, however, most of these do consist of using programs based on biblical founding’s. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded by two men who used biblical principles for overcoming alcohol addiction. Though there has been some debate as to the relationship these two men had with the Lord, the overwhelming evidence shows, that Bill W. and Dr. Bob were in fact, Christian men at the time they formed AA.
Since AA has become less God oriented, many churches have felt it necessary to form their own addiction programs. These programs can be very successful in helping even a lost person overcome their addictions. Church oriented programs seem to stay more in the word of God, they also try to create a more trustworthy atmosphere. While Alcoholics Anonymous uses the term, “higher power, who ever you hold that to be,” church oriented programs use God, period. While bonding is good for both AA and the church, the church also uses the power of the written word of God. The 12 step program of AA can be very effective. However, as a Christian there is a phrase in the both the second a third steps of AA’s 12 step program, that needs to be corrected. The second step states; “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity,” and the third step states; “Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understand him to be.” These two steps need to be corrected when using a Christian addiction program. Instead of “a power greater” in the second step, it needs to be replaced with God, and “as we understand him to be” in the third step, needs to be completely removed.
Alcohol is not the only addiction this 12 step program can work on. There are many other addictions that can benefit from this program. Smoking, drugs, sex and over eating are just a few. An addiction can simply be defined as: anything that has control of your life. TV can be an addiction; work, sports, internet, video gaming or virtually anything, can be an addiction if we allow it to be. The key to overcoming these addictions is first and foremost, God. Find a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church, that has an addiction program and get involved in it. Many of these church related addiction programs use a version of the 12 step program Alcoholics Anonymous uses. The main difference with the church programs is, they use the one true God. They do not or, should not, use the terms, “a higher power”, or “God as we understand him to be.”
God can also be an addiction, in one sense of the word. God can, and should have complete control of our lives. If we will allow God to have control of our life, then there is nothing that we cannot accomplish through his strength and power. God will not take control of our life however, unless we ask and allow him to. God gives us the final decision as to what we do and how we live our lives. How will you choose to live yours? Will you ask God to have control, and allow him to lead your life in everything you do, or will you let something or someone else have that control? Whether you believe it or not, if you don’t allow God into your life through Christ Jesus, then satan has control. If you’re not living for God, then you are living for the world, and that is the same as satan having you right where he wants you. You have to make a choice.