Contributor: Ryan Moffat, B.S. in Bible and Theology from Multnomah University. Pastor of Vast Church.
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
– James 4:8
The role of prayer in your recovery process is a critical tool to re-orient your whole life around the central realities of who God is. Unfortunately for most addicts, one of the most dominating emotions is SHAME, which leads hiding, performing and pretending, which are all antithetical to grace! Prayer is about re-rooting your belief in who God actually is and the after-effects of knowing the true God is better than actually knowing yourself.
Your Perception Of God
A.W. Tozer famously said:
“What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you.”
If God is angry, judgmental, irritable, bothered by your problems, and kind of like your cranky dad, then who is going to actually inconvenience Him with your problems? Problems such as:
- Emotional/relational stress and worries
- Loneliness
- Addiction
- Pain
But, if God is kind, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness (Exodus 34:6), then maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance that in prayer you’ll find the deepest comfort and intimacy to aid your recovery. This is better than finding the deepest fear in God, which would cause anxiety and pressure in your recovery.
Using Prayer Correctly
I used to try to impress with God with dutiful obedience and sanctified appearance. Now I just want to be with Him and let him change me from the inside out.
I use to want to use prayer like a genie in a bottle to get what I wanted. Now I just want God to meet my deepest relational needs and heal the deepest aches in my heart!
I use to want to God to give me presents. Now I just want to know HIS PRESENCE.
Benefits Of Prayer: An Irresistible Invitation
Instead of being threatened by the character of God (and believe me, the God of Scripture is POWERFUL, MIGHTY and SERIOUS), we are instead offered an invitation we should seriously consider:
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Our part: Draw near to God.
His PROMISE: He will draw near to you!
I hope and pray that you find the invitation to know God, and find being known by God, incredibly compelling this week!
Community Discussion: Share Your Thoughts Here!
Which Bible verses have you found as a source of encouragement in your walk to recovery? Please share below.
About the Author: Ryan Moffat received his B.S. in Bible and Theology and a minor in counseling from Multnomah University. Ryan is the teaching pastor at Vast Church in Sisters, Oregon and is currently working on his Masters in Theology at Western Seminary in Portland.
At Addiction Hope, we understand that addictions result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one is suffering from the disease of addiction, please know that there is hope for you, and seek reliable professional help.