Gambling Freedom in 60 Days: Day 35
Robert Perkinson in the Gambling Addiction client workbook said the following:
“Some people gamble to test whether they can gamble safely again. They fool them-selves into thinking that they might be able to gamble normally. This time they will only gamble a little. This time they will be able to stay in control of themselves. People who fool themselves this way are in for big trouble. From the first use, most people are in full-blown relapse within 30 days.
Testing personal control begins with inaccurate thinking. It takes you back to Step One. You need to think accurately. You are powerless over gambling. If you gamble then you will lose. It is as simple as that . You are physiologically, psychologically, and socially addicted. The cells in your body will not suddenly change, no matter how long you are in recovery. You are addicted in your cells. There are physical highways in the brain that will always think inacccurately that you can gamble safely.”
Continue to read the Purpose Driven Life.
Some of you feel like your life has been ruined. If this is you read the book of Job from the Bible. Job is the story of a man who lost everything and still he did not sin or blame God.
Responsibility: Do we blame our past or other people or God for a willingness to do wrong? Do we mistakenly think we are not required to work, do chores, follow rules, be disciplined and be structured? Do I blame basic human desires for choices I willingly made? I must reject the lie I believed that I could go on living irresponsibly and ________ or __________ without consequences. The truth is that there are consequences to sin and rewards for doing things Gods way.
We are held responsible for our words, thoughts and actions by God. If we mess up we don’t blame others or our genetic makeup. We look in the mirror and ask ourselves: did I put in the work I need to put in to stay free –am I praying urgently? Romans 12:2 says we are to transform our-selves by the renewal of our mind. By reading the Bible we let Gods Word take up residence inside of us so much that it permeates all that we do.
If you feed the flesh you will fall. The best way to feed the Spirit is by reading the Bible. Saying yes to God gives us positive emotions like peace, hope, joy and improved self-control. Read your Bible to replace your thoughts with Gods thoughts.
Read a Bible chapter then meditate on the key points for 10 minutes. Give the Holy Spirit some time to change you. Do this for each of the 3-5 chapters you read each day.
Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Get rid of gambling with Prayer: Pray, “Father give me wisdom to know what to say and do so that I can help other people. Pray: Father help people to be delivered from addiction and to be saved today.”
Read Matthew 7, Proverbs 30 and James 3
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Their are many habits we need to learn to have the skills to quit gambling. One great skill is to learn how to turn around a bad day. Work was terrible and you come home and things go from bad to worse.
You must have activities ready and written down to combat situations like this. One activity I recommend is prayer. Pray several times per day “Father keep me from temptation”. Pray that God will show you your purpose and that He will help you to keep the sin out. Pray the Lords prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
King James Version (KJV)
These are the words from the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, taken from the King James Bible (Authorized version of the scriptures):-
9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We gloss over the words “Thy will be done”. If we are not at least trying to do His will, are answers to our prayers likely? I don’t think so.
I saw a lady on TV who along with her husband had been conned. A neighhood con man pulled the old give me 100 and in 6 days I can make 150 for you. This guy was really good and the con ended up being 100’s of thousands of dollars.
The lady said every day I pray that things will be back to normal but they never are. All of our retirement money is gone.
Now I can’t speak for God but will she likely ever get her money back? No! They commited the sin of greed and you can read for yourself in 1 Corinthians 6 how God treats the greedy. It is a deadly sin. If you have a problem with this sin pray about it every day of your life. You may need to pray 5,10,20,30 minutes or more each day but you have to get this sin out. It is deadly.
Make a habit of praying every day to start to learn what God whats you to do and what He does not want you to do.
Learn what prayers God will answer. If you are deciding whether or not you will go to the casino with your friend, don’t pray God keep me from temptation. You already have messed up just by not telling her no in the first place. On the other hand if you told her no. Now you want to call her back and go. Now this prayer can be prayed with a little more faith. You did the right thing by saying no. Now you can ask God for His help.
If you also ask God how many people are around you that are in pain. Which of them does He want you to help? Now you have a couple of prayers that may both be answered. And you may find your joy in the process.
Read 1 Corinthians 1
Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Write out a plan with new places or people or activities that will help you avoid relapse. Have a list of people that you can reach out to for support when times get tough.
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Thank you for reading day 35 of this program to get rid of gambling.
Index
Day one: Quitting addiction exercises
Day two: It is important to admit you are powerless
Day 3: Learn the right way to live
Day 4: Getting rid of negative emotions
Day 5: Remember – money lost is not yours. Don’t try to get it back or you will lose more.
Day 6: can you increase your pleasure by gambling?
Day 7: Staying clean in all ways helps you quit the addiction
Day 8: Decide what pain and pleasure you want
Day 9: Analyze what leads you back to your addiction
Day 10: Change your emotions and your mindsets. Stop believing that your big score will come in.
Day 11: Where the Spirit of the Lord is – there is liberty
Day 12: Learn how to worship God. Also try to develop positive addictions.
Day 13: Write out a letter saying why you want to quit
Day 14: Overcoming cravings and negative emotions
Day 15: You have some self control
Day 16: Have a list of coping statements. Have a list of substitute activities.
Day 17: How to find living water that will always satisfy you
Day 18: Do not have faulty beliefs abourt gambling odds
Day 19: Interview with a professional poker player
Day 20: What we can learn from Adam and Eve’s mistakes
Day 21: more great stuff from Adam and Eve’s mistakes
Day 22: Self control
Day 23: What to think about to develop self control
Day 24: What are your values?
Day 25: How to pray to fight addiction
Day 26: Which prayers are answered quickly – which prayers time more time and persistence
Day 27: How to fill the vacuum that addiction caused
28: Finding a good church
29: Knowing why you can’t quit can help you plan how to quit
30: How to eliminate the vacuum created by quitting
31: Tripping your addiction trap. Overcoming sloth
32: You need clean people around you if you are going to stay clean
33: Use real math not gambling math
Day 34: Don’t condemn yourself