New in March, 2016
We are made of Spirit, Soul and Body. But it is often the Spirit portion that gets us stuck in addiction. You see, the Bible tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But most Christians only get a partial filling – 5 or 10% filled. This is a big problem because the Spirit portion of us is 100%. What Spirits are filling the other 90%? With every person it is different but often things like a Spirit of lust, greed, pride, sloth, anger, intoxication or depression often fill us.
These negative things (often sins) many times lead us straight back to addiction. It is therefore extremely important to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit because when we are only lightly filled we leave plenty of room for the wrong things.
Pray for the fruits of the Spirt to be full in your life.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
I spend a lot of time praying to be filled with the Spirit of love because it is the most important fruit. Regarding joy – in God’s presence is fullness of joy.
Spend time praying over each of these fruits. I also pray to be filled with the spirit of soul-winning, purpose, forgiveness, humility and toughness. Here is a 2nd version.
Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Remember, sin always lowers your % of being filled with the Spirit at the very least, at worst it chases the Holy Spirit away (at least temporarily). If you sell out 100% to be filled with the Spirit, your life will change and be better forever.
Have a time and a place to pray about being filled every day.
The more you are filled with love, faith, purpose, peace, self-control and joy the less you need or even want any addiction.
What to think about
Philippians tells us what we are supposed to think about. When we veer away from what it says to think about we are starting our slide back down that slippery slope towards addiction. We are to think about pure things, not smut, not greed – write down what un-pure things you think about.
Now start to practice thinking about what is true, what is right, what you can thank and praise God for. Think about ways to help other, having love for others. Practice being positive, from now on be “the glass is half full instead of the glass is half empty person.” Write down what you should be thinking about.
The Bible commands us to rejoice in the Lord “always.” If you want joy in your life and if you want some power over satan – make rejoicing a habit.
Philippians 4 New International Version (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
What prayers do you think God will answer first? He loves prayers like “Help me to turn aggressively from sin.” Think about the things you do that often cause you to go back to your addiction. Praying about things like not being content, or anger, lust, or sloth might be prayers God will answer quickly.
Pray for positive things as well. God loves to answer our prayers to be filled with His love. Prayers to have wisdom how to kick this addiction. Prayers like – show me how to help and build up others today. Pray, “Father, teach me how to pray.” Pray, Father help me to put into practice the things I am “studying in the Bible.”
Memorize Galations 5