The problem with addiction is that you become its slave and it becomes your master. Any addiction will master you to the point that you’re eager and willing to put that item before anything else in your life.

Before your family, your work, your finances, and your faith. This is the end game for all addiction -- it wants to possess you and take over your life. But take heart! You may have become a slave to your addiction, but Jesus came to make you free. He offers truth, hope, and freedom.

If you submit yourself to Jesus instead of your addiction, you will become free in Christ. Jesus wants you to trade your addiction for freedom in Him; this post explains how.

"How to Break the Power of Addiction" by NewSpring Church

It may not be your past that keeps you from knowing that God loves you, but your present. Maybe your current circumstances fuel your doubt. If you're stuck in a rut of sinful behavior and a lifestyle of addiction that you feel like you can't escape, God wants more for you.

Addiction is much broader than just drugs or alcohol. Addiction can happen with any substance, behavior, or experience that becomes an unhealthy priority in a person's life. It masters them to the point that they are willing to put the addiction ahead of their family, friends, responsibilities, health, or even their relationship with God.

1 Peter 2:19 says, “People are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” Addiction makes you a slave, but Jesus offers the hope that if we submit ourselves to Christ, He will free us from slavery to sin and addiction. Galatians 5:1 tells us, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." If an addiction is causing problems in your life, know that God loves you and offers freedom and hope for a better future.

Here are some practical steps to help you walk towards Christ and into freedom:

1. Ask God for help.

If you admit you need help, God will help you. Confess to God that you have a problem. Ask Him to forgive you and fill you with hope. Jesus promises in Philippians 1:6 that He will begin the process in you and carry it out in His power. Your role is to say yes to Him and trust Him to guide you forward. Because Jesus is the one who sets us free, spending time in scripture and listening to His voice for direction is very important. We can begin walking in freedom as we repent of choices we have made and things that have controlled us.

2. Confess this struggle to other believers.

James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” There is freedom that comes through confession and power through prayer. Both will help you walk forward into healing. Walking in consistent freedom cannot be done alone and will take time. You are going to need help. You need people that can hold you accountable and be there for you.

3. Set up wise boundaries.

Avoid the places and times that you are weak. Being wise about not putting yourself in those situations is a part of moving forward. Boundaries do not grant you freedom, but they protect the freedom that God has given you. Boundaries are a first step, but they do not change a heart. God will do that.

4. If you are chemically dependent on a substance, stopping without medical help may not be wise.

Regarding substance abuse, some people start with a detoxification program for the first days as a safe way to overcome withdrawals. Others work through addiction recovery programs at in-patient or outpatient treatment centers to help get them and keep them on the right path. If you are unsure what level of care you need, contact a licensed treatment program near you for an evaluation. Your life is precious and trying to overcome chemical dependency can be difficult and dangerous without medical help.

Read
John 16:33

Pray
Jesus, I submit my addiction to You. Only You are strong enough to defeat this. Help me find freedom in You. 

Reflect
How will my life be different once I submit my addiction to Jesus? 

Respond
Spend time in prayer submitting every aspect of your addiction to Jesus. Voice out loud the havoc that your addiction is creating in your life. Then say, “I trade that for freedom in Jesus.”

Jesus is here for you, ready to walk with you in this journey. He is willing to take on your chaos and give you freedom and peace in return. You just have to bring it to Him. You may think that you have messed your life up too much for Jesus to be willing to take you on, but you haven’t. You may think that your problems are too big for Jesus to handle, but they aren’t. Need proof? The next post will show you the Scriptural evidence that Jesus is willing to fight with you and for you so you can be healed from your addiction.