New in September 2016 Accept instruction
Our attitude towards instruction and learning is vital. We need to listen to Preachers/Priests/parents/addiction group leaders. Not only listen but take notes and review them. Proverbs 4 13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. All verses in this article are New International Version (NIV).
Satan wants you to do things your way – he knows the results. God wants you to #1 repent before Him, #2 submit to people who want to help you and #3 focus on what they say, review it often and “do it”.
On the other hand we need to stop listening to sinful people. This week I discovered that my favorite is about getting high. I just love the music, so catchy and beautiful. Now that song is running through my head 30 times a day. I am getting advice from someone who is at best a mixed up rock star. And since I keep getting the instruction over and over again my temptation has increased mightily. So today I am going to be listening to some good Christian rock music to try to get some good instruction.
Another way to get instruction is from the wisdom of Solomon (the wisest man to ever live). Proverbs One says: 22 How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
One concept I repeat always is that all sin always leads to destruction. Solomon talks about the results of sin in Proverbs One:
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
29 since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord.
30 Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
In Proverbs two we look at those who do things God’s way:
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
I often talk about how all sin may lead back to addiction.
Proverbs two says:
16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.[a]
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
I was attuned to the fact that the wisest man to ever live felt lust was such a problem that he talked about it more than any subject in the first 7 chapters of Proverbs. Pray: Lord, help me to turn aggressively from looking at sin and from falling into fornication or adultry.
Proverbs 3 also has great teaching:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.[b]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs 4 says:
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[f] paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.
When we are by ourselves we have the mistaken impression that we can do what we want to. But Proverbs 5 says
21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
Warnings Against Folly
Proverbs 6 verse6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
If you are short on money you either need to spend less or make a higher priority of working. Pray: Father, take away my spirit of _____________ and help me to focus on improving my finances (if needed).
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Doing things that God hates makes our lives a mess. Focus on avoiding these things, focus on doing things Gods way. Maybe a little bit of blessing will start to come your way.
If you like the way I used Bible verses to learn to overcome addiction, try my book. The whole book is like this based on the entire New Testament. Click here to access it. Please leave a good review if you like it.