Gambling Freedom in 60 Days: Day 50
To quit gambling you need to understand how your mind works. On your way home from work you pass the Casino. You want to go in – that is the trigger. You think about how great it would be if you could get a big win today. The trigger leads to thinking about wrongs things. Now you start to crave gambing – your thinking about it leads to a feeling that you have to have it. You go in and lose money. The craving has led to behavior. Now you call your boss to try to get extra work to pay your rent. Your actions have consequences.
Know exactly what your triggers are. You have to develop the habit of instantly changing your thinking when the trigger starts you down a slippery road.
Do new things and find a bit of paradise and happiness.
Many people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Then they go their own way and become confused about everything. When we accept Jesus as Lord we receive goodness into our lives. Jesus went about doing good. If you are a Christian one of your goals is to live like Christ as much as is possible.
There was a little old lady who was struggling to mow her lawn every week. One day a young man came over and mowed her lawn for her. She began to cry. She had had such trouble trying to cut it. He was showing the fruit of goodness.
We were created to be good people. Adam and Eve were created to fellowship with God and live in paradise. How can you bring back a little of this paradise? Live right and do something good for someone. No matter how much you have messed up your life, God wants you to have a little bit of paradise. Even if you are broke and have nothing just turn your life over to God. I felt the presence of God in my life in the most wonderful way on one of my hardest days of my life. I had just left a stock brokerage firm that I was one of three partners of. I knew I had just left behind a million dollars. I had messed up everything.
I told God that I didn’t know what I would do but that I would try to do what He wanted me to do. At that moment I felt like Almighty God was in the car with me and I felt an incredible love. At my lowest moment I felt joy and I lived for a little while the way God intended for us to live.
Try doing some good in the world and see what happens
Read Matthew 16
Psalm 147:11
the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
At the end of this day I have listed the “top ten prayers to overcome addiction” and the top 10 items from the “checklist for avoiding relapse”.
How to live. Most people can’t quit an addiction unless they learn to help other people. If you have been clean from gambling for a while now it is time to help other gamblers. Help out at Gamblers Anon. Start your own local branch.
If you are improving but still struggling with gambling find an alternative way to help others for now. Help out at your Church or a shelter, or Big Brother, Sister type of program. The reason this is so important is because you were created to help others. This is why finding your purpose is so important. It always involves helping others.
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.”
Realize that until you have vibrantly found your purpose you will need to fight gambling. Some of you should start the 60 days again. You may not need to hear again about the destruction gambling causes, but you may need to continue to study how to build new habits.
There are great alternatives to gambling out there. God just wants us to act like He really is God and then we can start to build a real relationship with Him. He wants us to act like we really believe (and start to obey) the Bible and then we can start to be under His blessing.
The Bible is strict for 3 reasons. So that we can avoid trouble. So that we can find real joy. So that we can spread the Gospel. And yes the best reason to never gamble again is so that you can effectively spread the Gospel.
We live for millions of years. 60-90 years down hear and millions in eternity. You won’t win the lotto, but even if you do it will do you no good over the course of your real life time. The Bible says store up for yourself riches in heaven. These riches are the only things that we will have over the course of our life.
The following is a story about what usually happens to people who become rich.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Pastor Gregg Bitter said the following
“Now there was a rich man. He would dress in purple and fine linen, making merry day after day in the most splendid ways. A beggar named Lazarus was laid out at his gate, covered with sores and wanting to be fed from the droppings of the rich man’s table. In fact, even the dogs kept coming and licking his sores.
“It happened that the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s lap. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell he lifted up his eyes, tortured, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus on his lap. He called out, “Father, Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger into water and cool my tongue. For I suffer in these flames.
“Abraham said, “Child, remember that you received your good things in your life, but Lazarus similarly bad things. Now here he is comforted, but you suffer pain. And in all these things a great chasm is fixed between you and us, so that those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot, nor may they cross from there to us.”
“He said, “I ask you, then, father, to send him to my father’s house. For I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them in order that they too may not come into this place of torture.”
“Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them listen to them.”
“But he said, “No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead would come to them, they will repent.”
“He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone rises from the dead.” ” (Luke 16:19-31)
Dear friends in Christ, fellow saints washed clean in the blood of our risen Savior:
“He was loved and admired by his community. A model of success and a good family man. He cared deeply for his brothers who are with us here today. He loved entertaining people, and friends who visited never left disappointed. What a tragic loss as we mourn his passing, here today.”
I could imagine words like that spoken as a eulogy if the rich man in Jesus’ parable had lived today. What an elaborate funeral it would be! The finest casket and vault; the largest headstone, so many flowers; so many wanting to pay tribute. But what a tragic funeral! For we do not have those words of comfort that angels carried him to Abraham’s side.
But Lazarus, whose dead body may simply have been thrown into an unmarked, common grave with few if any mourners — what a wonderful funeral that was! For we are told: “[T]he angels carried him to Abraham’s side” (Luke 16:22 NIV). Which will your funeral be?
A. Beware the alternative
1. What’s wrong with focusing on earthly things for happiness?
That eulogy I started with, may not strike you as fitting the rich man well. It makes him sound too good. But sometimes to ease our own conscience, we like painting others as extra bad. That way we feel good by comparison. So maybe we like picturing this rich man as kicking Lazarus when he tries to beg for food or making him the butt of his jokes. Maybe we justifies ourselves by thinking, “Well, I’m not rich like he was, so I don’t have to care about helping the poor.” But those lines of thought harden our hearts to Jesus’ message.
Notice, how even in hell the rich man respectfully addresses Abraham, calling him father. No doubt, during this life he had learned his religion and carried out his religious obligations. He did his duty. And even though we’re not told whether Lazarus was fed, why would they keep bringing him to the rich man’s house if he didn’t get something? I’m not saying that the rich man cared about him. Maybe only the servants dumped the scraps by him. At any rate, the rich man seems to have fulfilled his social obligation. He did his duty.
So why then did he end up in hell? Let’s see how the parable answers that. Jesus’ description shows that the rich man focused on the earthly. How much could he get out of life? How much could he enjoy himself? “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen” (Luke 16:19 NIV), the designer clothes of those days. He knew what was fashionable. And he “lived in luxury every day” (Luke 16:19 NIV). He knew how to enjoy himself.
Also, listen to what Abraham says to the rich man as he suffers in hell, “in your lifetime you received your good things” (Luke 16:25 NIV). Yes, your good things — the things that you thought were good, so important — the things you looked to for happiness, joy, peace, security, and comfort. That’s where his life had been focused.
But, dear friends, that’s the opposite of faith. Faith looks to God as the Giver of all that’s good. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down for the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17 NIV). “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son” (John 3:16). Faith trusts God as the Giver of all that’s good; the rich man trusted his riches.
And you don’t need to be rich to trust riches. How easy for us to get caught up in thinking, “I’d by happy, if I only had the money to do this or buy that.” Or, “I’d have fewer worries then.” How tempting for us to trust the almighty dollar rather than the Almighty! But the dollar cannot carry you to Abraham’s side; rather, trusting in wealth sinks you into the torture of hell’s flames. Beware. Yes, we want the angels to carry us to Abraham’s side, but beware the alternative. Don’t trust wealth to bring you good.
2. How does faith regard God’s Word? How does that show in our lives?
There is a second aspect of the rich man we need to heed as a warning. Beware. And it has to do with this book right here.
At first we might be struck with his concern for his brothers. He wants Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead and warn them about the torture of hell. But how does Abraham answer him? “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them” (Luke 16:29 NIV). God used Moses and the Prophets to write his Word, the Old Testament. After Jesus ascended, he used his evangelists and apostles to write the New Testament. But even the Old Testament is filled with God’s promises to send the Savior, the promises Jesus fulfilled.
God’s Word, the Bible, that’s what changes hearts. That’s what works repentance. That’s the tool of the Holy Spirit. That’s what saves — not someone coming back from the dead or some other spectacle. Saving faith takes God at his word. Saving faith cherishes the Scriptures. Saving faith treasures God’s written message. Saving faith trusts what God Word’s says.
But notice the response of the rich man, “No, father Abraham” (Luke 16:30 NIV). He knows better than God. In fact, if God had sent someone back from the dead for him, then he would not have ended up in hell. It’s God’s fault. The Bible is not enough!
But, dear friends, yes it is enough. “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31 NIV). Faith accepts the Bible as God’s full revelation. The Bible is all-sufficient for our faith and life. We do not need anything more. For “[a]ll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17 NIV). God’s Word is all we need.
Do you hold the Bible in highest regard as the very word of God? Or is it boring, and we need to add excitement for it to really do its job? Music, sermons, Bible studies, books, rallies, art, and the like cannot add anything to the power of God’s Word. They’re beneficial only when they highlight the message that’s already there, revealed in the Scriptures. Faith, real faith, needs God’s Word not some sort of experience, excitement, or miracle, no matter how spectacular.
Do our actions shine with this high regard for God’s Word? How much time do you spend in a week reading God’s Word and reflecting on its message? Is it your comfort, your treasure, your hope? Do you turn to it for your strength? Does it shape the decisions and choices you make? Do you cherish its public proclamation so that you don’t want to miss a worship service? Do you gladly hear and learn it? How we fall short!
Take this seriously, dear friends, for there is no second chance after death. That chasm in the parable clearly pictures that truth. Those who die trusting wealth to bring them good will not be at Abraham’s side. Those who despise God’s Word or neglect it will not be there. Be warned. The angels do not carry everyone to Abraham’s side. Beware the alternative.
We live for millions of years. 60-90 years down hear and millions in eternity. When we spread the Gospel we store up treasures in heaven. The Bible says store up for yourself riches in heaven. These riches are the only things that we will have over the course of our life.
Read 1 Corinthians 6
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.”
Quitting addiction permanently is all about new habits. Feel free to take this course two or three times so that you can establish new habits
10 Prayers for Quitting Gambling
Pray: Father help me to continue to realize that 12 step programs and help from Pastors and sponsors are vitally important to my continued recovery.
- Pray: “Father help me to make it a habit to always plan my next few days. It is vital to plan because boredom is a trigger to relapse. Routine and concrete scheduling can be a lifesaver for an addict. A schedule, coupled with passion for a new hobby or sporting activity, allows people to successfully and happily break the cycle of boredom.
- Pray: Father help you me always to be balanced. Be balanced physically, emotionally and spiritually.
- Pray: Father help me to focus on the fact that gambling causes destruction. It always has and it always will.
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer several times a day (if you can do it each time sincerely) or as often as you can sincerely pray it.
The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
- Pray: Father help me to increase my toughness to be able to say no to my habit.
- Pray: “Father, help me to quit my gambling addiction, and to learn how to think about other things instead of lust and to learn what to do instead.”
- Pray: Father, begin to take away my gambling urges and help me to worship and praise you so that I will become more disciplined and stronger.
- Pray: “Father give me the wisdom to write a prayer that will help me to start overcoming my addiction.” For example – you feel like your addiction has hurt your ability to be a great parent. You might pray “Father help me to care more about my kid’s future than I care about lust/pleasure.” Once you have that prayer that really speaks to what will motivate you – start praying it in earnest. You can pray it as many times each day as you want as long as you are sincere in increasing your desire to change with each prayer. God is not counting how many times I pray my prayer. He is looking at how my heart changes as I sincerely pray it each time and how I allow him to lead me to better choices because now (because of prayer and extra effort) I am starting to see reality clearer.
- Pray: Father help me to be moderate in all things (being moderate in all things will help you stay away from your main addiction).
Checklist for avoiding relapse:
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Have an all consuming goal that will help other people and that will use up a lot of the time you used to spend on your addiction.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Even during times when you are succeeding, prayer urgently often each day to overcome addiction – to develop habits that you may very well need during seasons of difficult temptation.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Always practice moderation in all things and always try to identify what activities you tend to overindulge in which lead you down a wrong trail.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Write down what attitudes and beliefs led you into addiction. For me the love of pleasure was a priority. That attitude brought about a lot of pain and destruction. I am currently focusing on being very aware of how great things are when I worship God vigorously and pursue the correct passions and purpose. If I improve my awareness of how great things are when I am vibrantly living life God’s way, the next time I fall into heavy temptation I will have more bullets in my gun to fight back.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Write down places, people and activities that you need to avoid to stay off the slippery path that leads you back into addiction.
- 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.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Go to support groups – either to get help or to start to find your purpose by doing your part to help others.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Make disciple and structure and planning a priority. Both to keep your addiction at bay and to aggressively find your purpose in life.
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Realize that you have become stronger now. Your life may spin out of control for a bit and you start to slip up. You have crossed the line you know you should not cross. We know drinkers just can’t have that one drink, it leads to others. But you were not trying to set loose boundaries, you just honestly screwed up. You are now strong enough to stop and avoid destruction. Tell yourself and God “I am not trying to set loose boundaries, I am going to stop this relapse right now and fulfill my purpose and find joy”. You are stronger now!
- Checklist for avoiding relapse: Develop positive addictions. Exercise every day, pray every day, read the Bible every day, help others every day, fight to find your purpose every day, turn aggressively from smut and gambling every day, determine to treat people with love and respect every day, become more disciplined every day, develop more expertise in moderation every day, fight covetousness every day, learn how to love and worship God more every day. Develop positive addictions.
New book out on Amazon. How Gary Quit Gambling is 24 action-packed, fictional adventures Gary goes on, which teach him how to quit gambling. The Screwtape Letters story will take you on a journey from heaven, into hell and back to heaven. This dramatic adventure involving angels and demons will be life-changing.
At the end of each story, Gary talks to his mentor Gordon, who helps him learn from his adventure and learn about his Higher Power. The 24 adventures include: Titanic, Pearl Harbor, the Matrix, the Exorcist, Fear Factory, the Pleasure Principle, Escaping Reality and many others. Gordon teaches Gary his code at the end of every chapter. The code teaches you how to be unstoppable, how a true understanding of pleasure will lead to you never using gambling again, how to make current obsessions become minor temptations and how to fight until you are free.
This book teaches you practical techniques on how to renew your mind while having fun. These vivid stories will help you form new habits that will change your life. Click here to see more.
The key to quitting gambling is to establish new habits. You have the option to keep repeating this program until you have established enough new habits to quit your addiction and find joy.
Copyright 2015 © THR Publishing LLC
All rights reserved.
What The Bible Says About Addiction is my new 260 page e-book which is filled with new information about quitting addiction. My book is filled with a large number of ideas about quitting addiction and renewing the mind. It is amazing how differently we think when we do things God’s way. It is encouraging how focused we become when we do things God’s way. Writing this book completely changed my mindset – I believe that reading it will do the same for you. Click here to access it. Please leave a good review if you like it.
Copyright 2015 © THR Publishing LLC
All rights reserved.
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 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
Day 39: The vice of greed
Day 40: Specific planning helps break addiction
Day 41: Embrace the truth about gambling. Know your odds of hitting the big score.
Day 42: Quitting permanently
Day 43: Financial problems
44: Overcoming cravings
Day 45: The importance of helping others right now
Day 46: The devil is always campaigning for you
Day 47: Who or what do you worship
Day 48: Finding peace
Day 49: Be faithful in small things and God will promote you to bigger things