When you choose to let go of your addiction not just with your mind but with your heart, that’s when you are ready to move on. The moving on part is probably the most difficult task you will ever face. As anyone can tell you, letting go of addiction is not simple. You have a long road in front of you, and if that is hard to hear, well – get over it. It’s the truth. I do not sugarcoat a thing. However, if you’re willing to move on from your addiction, if you’re willing to leave behind what is old, dusty, and dingy and look ahead of you to a new promise land of hope and a destiny that God wants you to have, then you’re ready.
I always provide everyone I speak to with a process to break the addiction. It’s three simple steps to overcoming any and all temptation. A great way to remember – it is G.O.D.
1. Go with Goals.
Proverbs 16:1,9 illustrate goal setting perfectly:
1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.
I think it’s important to see that there are two references to this in the same chapter. God obviously wanted some emphasis on goal setting. So set goals and plan with your heart, not with your flesh. Listen to what your heart is saying and what you know is right for you to feel. Then go with God and let Him plan and establish your steps. Let Him lead you and wherever it heads, go there, even though it may seem frightening, follow.
2. Operate in Favor.
Proverbs 11:27 says: “Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.”
We have to realize that with passing the addiction on and throwing it away we are able to live a better life. A life that God wants us to have and as long as we seek good. Not search for good but seek it, then we will find favor. The word “seek” here means to look for and long for with your heart. When you go to God with a pure heart He will find favor in you. That doesn’t mean you will ever make a mistake, you will. Just remember, God judges your heart not your performance.
3. Do Away With Clutter.
We cannot have victory when we are full of ourselves. We have to clear some of the old to make room for the new that God wants us to have. That can mean many different things however. People, thoughts, actions, and words all need to be re-evaluated. You may have to get rid of some people that are doing you wrong. You have to change your thoughts from negative to positive. You have to choose to act in a righteous way knowing God is watching at all times. Finally we need to speak only positive statements, about ourselves specifically. If you say you will fail, you will fail. If you say you will succeed and truly believe it, you will succeed.
Anything can be overcome if you choose to follow these steps and you stick to them. If you believe and have Faith in yourself and the steps above you can overcome any addiction whether it be porn, promiscuous sex, sex outside of marriage, lying, or any other sin that is possible to become an addiction. Malachi 3:10 teaches us to “prove Me (God) now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Try God……see what He does for you and to you. Just try Him.