Addiction

"to surrender oneself to something obsessively or habitually."
Most of us either know someone or ourselves have an addiction. Addictions aren't always what you immediately associate them with. We can be addicted to so many different things such as smoking, shopping, drinking, playing video games, people's attention etc. There is a whole list of things that we "surrender ourselves to" and possibly don't even realize it. If you have ever said, " I have to have this or that, chances are you're addicted to it. The bad part is that in the respect that we don't realize it or realize that it controls us one way or another is really actually dangerous. What is interesting is that it is easy to become addicted to something like smoking, drinking, drugs, pornography, food or etc. we don't realize that simple addictions that we don't see as bad are actually hindering us from a better quality of life.

       A lot more people than you thing struggle with addiction each and every day. The high of getting what you crave and eventually the low of remorse and guilt of letting something control you. To break an addiction, it takes a strong desire to change. It takes admitting that you are addicted, and finally taking the steps to change. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does, we go through the same steps to achieve our salvation. We admit we're a sinner, ask God to save us, and take the steps to change our life. It is no accident that breaking addiction is done in this way. You see, we're naturally enticed by sin. Each and every day we struggle with "breaking the addiction" if you will to stay from it. I have talked with quite a few people that have broken major addictions and they have all said the same thing. As a step in breaking it, you must first put it as far away from you as possible. It is simply too easy to be drawn back into it. Whatever it is, remove all traces from it in your world and don't associate with anything the makes you think of it until you're strong enough to resist the urge to pick it up again. It is not easy, matter of a fact, it's the hardest thing most people will have to over come.
    Addictions are automatically put before God so of course he hates them with a passion. Which, if you think about it is good and bad. It's good because he's even more motivated to help you overcome it, bad because until you go before him and give it to him and trust him with it, you won't break it. So, being so easily distracted and drawn back into it, put it away from you. repeat in your head when the thought or the urge comes up, God deliver me.
The most important thing to remember when it comes to addictions is, God loves you anyway. He knows that you are going to fail, but he's always there to help you get back up. He doesn't hate you because you are struggling with something so intense it overcomes you. He wants to help you, and with that in mind, remember, you must have the desire to change, to end the same old cycle. To achieve greatness we must first build our foundation in meekness. You can overcome the odds. You can change. You can overcome.


1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.