Gambling Freedom in 60 Days: Day 39
We need to want” new things to do in life to replace gambling. To understand why it is so important to want new things let us take a look at people who get what they want (even though what they want is all wrong). Movie stars always get what they want. The question we all ask is – why do so many of them get completely hung up on drugs or alcohol? Why is their divorce rate 10 times higher than the national average? It is because they want the wrong things. The few Movie stars who don’t completely ruin their lives often do want some of the right things. They want to make the world a better place. They want a healthy lifestyle just as much as they want fame.
Gamblers often want the wrong things. Lots of money is a common goal. Excitement or just having something fun to do are often reasons for gambling. It is important to understand you motives for gambling. If greed is one of them, then it is good to examine what greed does to people. I am not catholic but they list greed as one of the seven deadly sins. They say greed destroys the life of grace and charity within a person.
We have all seen many cases of greed destroying people outside of gambling as well as people who do gamble. Most of us have seen the lotto winners TV shows that document where they are now. A lot of the winners blow it all and are broke within a few years or sometimes sooner. People who are playing out of greed have to take their winnings and try to double them up again at the track or casino. When greed has taken over the win is what you want but really what you have to have is more. More money, more winnings, twice as much.
We all have heard of people who made and saved a million dollars and then out of greed lost it all in the stock market or in a risky business venture. If greed is a big problem for you the end of the story can’t be good. Either you will struggle to make it all you life and never make it. Or you will make it, and just like the movie stars; things will be even more messed up when you make it than they were before you made it. Stu Ungar was considered by some to be the greatest poker player ever. He made and lost millions and he died in a cheap motel room having worn out his body with drugs. He accomplished all his goals and things got even worse.
Many people still get involved in things that are an abomination before God. Today I will list out most of the Biblical abominations. Fighting against these activities will be of great help in fighting your addiction. It will be an even greater help in allowing the Holy Spirit to work with power in your life.
Bible verses related to Abomination from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance
Proverbs Chapter 6
16 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Devising wicked imaginations (sinful thinking) will keep you in addiction. Focus on finding your purpose and thinking about good things at all times.
“Feet that are swift in running to mischief.” Yesterday I spent way too much time gaming (see stoptheaddictions2 if you have this issue). What mischief do you run to that probably (or for sure) upsets God? This bring us to a question: does God appreciate us fighting to avoid our addiction triggers? I think He does. Fight running to mischief with all your might. Remember the destruction it brings.
Other verses on abominations:
Leviticus 18:22 – Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination. Almighty God will reach out with great power and might to those who change and adopt a heterosexual lifestyle. Remember He came first. He made the rules. It was satan who conned people into breaking God’s rules. You are not being picked on if you are gay – we heterosexuals have plenty of things to repent about just like you do.
Proverbs 17:15 – He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
Deuteronomy 22:5 – The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God. Don’t wear clothing that is specifically only for the opposite sex.
Proverbs 15:8 – The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.
Proverbs 16:5 – Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished. If you need help with your addiction spend time working at getting help. Be humble – get help.
Proverbs 28:9 – He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination. You can’t overestimate how important Bible reading and Bible study are!
Proverbs 11:20 – They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight. God resists the proud (James 4:6) and the froward of heart and mouth is a proud heart and mouth and God is opposed to such a person or people. Anyone who is froward is constantly backsliding, twisted, distorted, or crooked and God will not accept such a person.
Proverbs 20:10 – Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD. Don’t cheat and steal.
Print out verses which point out abominations you struggle with. Study these often. Abominations hold you back, hold the Holy Spirit back and they keep addictions closer. Get them out.
If greed is a problem for you pray morning noon and night: “Father take this greed out of me and replace it with your Spirit and Love.” If you need to, pray it 3 times a day for the next ten years.
Read Matthew 11, and 1st John 4-5
Continue to read the Purpose Driven Life.
If you are struggling complete the exercises from day 4
Matthew 5 is about how we can change so that we will start to be blessed by God. www.relijournal.com noted the following
The Second Beatitude v4
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Now the person that mourns is the person who becomes poor in spirit and repents. It isn’t necessarily talking about mourning over the death of somebody. It is talking about recognizing that we are sinners and understanding how much those sins hurt God and others.
None of us can mourn like this unless we have the Holy Spirit within us because it is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin. When we sin we bring dishonor to God’s name. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to do wrong and just take forgiveness for granted.
When we want happiness at any cost the lines between right and wrong can become blurred and we stop seeing how far from Jesus we have come. That is when we stop mourning over our sin. But when we do mourn God will comfort us.
Pray: Father help me to have toughness to be able to say no to my habit.
Fulfill your purpose – do something to help. Pray “Father, bring people to this website and give them a chance to overcome addiction, find your love, start to find their purpose and to start to find joy again.”
Index
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Thank you for reading day of this program on how to replace gambling.
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 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
Day 35: Don’t test yourself to see if it is safe to gamble a little bit
Day 36: Knowing why you can’t quit can help you quit
Day 37: Do not chase pipe dreams
Day 38: Getting the anger out