Freedom from Addiction
Recently I was introduced to an assistant pastor in my capacities as a biblical counselor and physician. His wife had brought him into my medical clinic seeking assistance regarding a stronghold in his life. Several years ago he was introduced to hydrocodone which is a narcotic pain pill otherwise known as Vicoden, Norco, and Lortab. He was given one, by a friend, to help with a headache. The medication resolved his headache but it also gave him a sense of well-being that he had never experienced before. This sense of well-being is called euphoria and is a result of dopamine (a brain neurotransmitter) release into the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. He started taking one pill a day for the euphoria and justified it by telling himself he was taking it for his headache. Over a number of years the one a day habit became two a day which progressed to four a day then eight a day to sixteen a day ultimately climaxing at thirty narcotic pain pills a day when I met him in my office. Down deep in his soul he knew he was on a slippery slope downward. He attempted multiple times to quit but to no avail. The addiction to the narcotic pain pills was disrupting his life, his marriage, and his ministry. He found himself at his wit’s end when his wife intervened and brought him to me.
Psalm 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Upon evaluating his condition, we embarked on a program to stop the use of the narcotic pain pills and set course to find freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
After a two-week period of withdrawing from the medication we instituted in his life twelve core biblical truths which would lead him to a dynamic and intimate walk with his Heavenly Father Who is able to break the chains of addiction. The following twelve core biblical truths implemented in his life by the power of the Holy Spirit of God is how he found liberty!
#1 My recovery depends on my relationship with God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
#2 I will never make progress until I become honest about my struggle.
Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
#3 Victory begins with surrender.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which isyour reasonable service.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
#4 In Jesus, I can have freedom and forgiveness.
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
#5 Meditating on God’s Word will help me find victory and freedom.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
#6 Fixing the root will change the fruit – genuine change comes from the inside out.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 2Corinthians 10:5 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;
#7 The priorities in my life dictate the progress of my life.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
#8 Life is not made by my desires but by my decisions.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
#9 My past does not need to determine my future.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
#10 True success is not achieved by keeping rules, but by maintaining a right relationship with God and others.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
#11 My choices affect me and also those around me.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
#12 My friends will affect my future.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
These twelve core truths founded on biblical principles points the individual to the One Who makes free and that is Jesus Christ. We find that in the deep, dark hole of addiction God is able to restore.
This assistant pastor is now walking in freedom with a deep abiding fellowship with his Heavenly Father. His marriage has been restored and he is faithfully and fervently serving the Lord. In our last counseling session, he made reference to the following two verses:
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
There is hope and there is help, for our God, El Shaddai is able!
