Overcoming Addiction 2

Last time, we looked at some important issues in overcoming addiction. 

We talked about:

• Establishing motivation
• Managing urges

Christians may shy away from addictions trying desperately to control the urges, keeping up appearances that addictions is not something that affects them.  

They may feel shy to admit habits such as cigarettes, alcohol or drug abuse, shy to come out and seek help even though they want help in overcoming addiction to these habits.  They may even be leaders struggling.  Jesus has dealt with every habit and the church is not for throwing stones.

So today, let us continue our all important subject of overcoming addiction with the following:

 # 3 Controlling Thoughts, Feelings, & Behaviors

What we think about can feed or control our feelings.   Well, that is certainly my experience!

When I have dwelt continuously on certain thoughts, they propel me to action.  Those actions exhibit behaviors that have come from the thoughts and feelings I have nurtured.  These thoughts can be so overpowering with addictive behaviors.

Discipline is about denying ourselves of gratification; starving our feelings.

Christians, for example, fast in order to deny their feelings (their senses). Fasting is not something that is a walk in the park, not a true fast anyhow! Sometimes fasting can feel like starving.

When we fast, the body craves food; there are sharp hunger pangs.   At those times, it seems like our appetite for food is even more heightened. (Why is it always the case when you are fasting that your work colleague brings in some tempting cakes?).

Yet we don’t just don’t break the fast because we feel hungry or are tempted. Or do we, lol? Even if we do, we keep disciplining ourselves so that we get to the point where we can feel hungry, be tempted, and yet stay off food.

Now that takes good discipline, guys! To deny the feelings of our body. If we can exercise control over our spirit by engaging in spiritual exercises such as fasting, our cravings becomes easier to discipline.   Remember the spirit governs the flesh.

If you have never done a Christian fast, I would implore you to think about engaging in it. It will bring tremendous benefits in self discipline.

I would suggest you try the following other spiritual exercises:

1. Praying
2. Meditation
3. Attending church services regularly

Praying when you feel tired, takes discipline.  Meditation keeps our focus and thoughts on the Word of God instead of allowing our minds to wander. Attending church services come rain or shine, when the duvet is calling, takes a lot of discipline too.

Next time, we will look at our last and final point for this current series on Overcoming Addiction.

As always comment, send us an email, let us know how you have overcome addiction in the past.   Remember your story may help someone else.

About The Author

Zoe

Zoe met Eze (Chuck) in the 14th year of what turned out to be an 18 year ‘journey’ with mental illness. They got married less than a year of meeting with Zoe fully knowing Chuck had a diagnosis of mental illness. In the 18th year, Chuck defied the odds of mental illness. A consultant psychiatrist signed him off the mental health system with a bill of NO MENTAL ILLNESS. The consultant was so amazed by Chuck’s astonishing recovery that he even questioned how Chuck was diagnosed with mental illness all those years before, in the first place! Today Chuck is free from medication, its dependency and hospitalizations. Zoe’s award nominated book, DEFYING THE ODDS, chronicles the highs and ‘lows’ of this journey. Zoe, often writing from the standpoint of a caregiver, clearly understands that mental illness does not only affect an individual challenged with the disease, but also families, marriages and society as a whole.

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