Vacations are good but can you imagine living everyday with a recreational mindset? No responsibilities, no limits, no lane lines or guardrails? While it might sound appealing, those who have lived such lives see it as vanity (see the book of Ecclesiastes).
Instead of approaching life with a recreational mindset the Bible seems to paint a picture of a wartime mindset. When you’re at war you are diligent, disciplined, engaged and you are mindful that everyday and every decision has a life or death weight to it. Have you considered that when you fight for your sobriety you are actually engaging in Spiritual Warfare?
Who We Fight in the Addiction Battle
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers over this present darkness.”
-Paul Ephesians 6:11-12
We’re not just simply “fighting addiction”. The alcohol, drugs, porn and other temptations are an embodiment of a system, a world against God. When we fight addiction we actually fight Satan and his cosmic powers that are at work in the world.
If we were to be able to see the unseen powers at work we would not (even for a brief second) ever be attracted to our addictions again. We would see the evil behind the behavior and the clarity of what we’re actually doing would cause sin to lose all it’s appeal.
How We Fight Against Addiction
Paul is so clear in his description… “For we STRUGGLE”. How do we fight? We struggle. It’s hard. Isn’t it reassuring to know that Scripture acknowledges that sin (and mastering sin so it doesn’t master us) is actually hard! We don’t just decide one day to be drug free….we STRUGGLE to achieve that. We don’t just say to ourselves; “I’m done with booze”, we STRUGGLE.
The other thing Paul says later in 2 Corinthians 10 is that we don’t labor with natural power but our power (PRAYER) has divine power to destroy strongholds. We struggle through our process with prayer (connection to God) as our power source. This is how the Christian fights for his/her sobriety.
Why We Continue the Fight
We fight because we want to get done with life and say before God; “I have no regrets”. Like Paul said; “I have run the race, I have finished the course”. We want to fight so we don’t miss the joy of family. We want to fight so our children have an example to emulate, we fight so we don’t get done with life and say; “I loved alcohol (or drugs) more than God and my family”. You fight for your joy, freedom and sanity!
Community Discussion – Share Your Thoughts Here!
What has encouraged you in your fight against addiction?
About the Author:
Ryan Moffat is the teaching pastor at Vast Church in Sisters, OR and is currently working on his Masters in Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR
Ryan received his BS in Bible and Theology and a minor in counseling from Multnomah University. He has pastored students, families and is passionate about Christ-centered recovery and healing. He’s been married to his beautiful wife Michelle for 13 years and they enjoy raising four crazy, unique and special kids together.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addictions. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Addiction Hope understand that addictions result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 2, 2016
Published on AddictionHope.com