There is a song by Casting Crowns called "Waiting on the Night," which tells the story of an Old Man who represents the old nature and addiction. The song relates that this Old man waits until the "night to fall" and is content with Christians going to Church and cannot take their souls, but he will take everything else: family, funds, and full health.
The power of addiction should not be underestimated. It is like a devil, it runs deep and seeks to keep us slaves. There are groups and programs like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), Al-Anon, and etc. All of these are helpful, but ultimately addiction must be faced with our faith in Adonai (Lord) Jesus Christ. We cannot with good behavior and habitual meetings make addiction die. To crucify the Old man, we need The Crucified Jesus. There on the cross Christ nailed our sins to the cross, including the addictions and if we are to prevail against them, we need to put away the add-afflictions and add Jesus back into our hearts.
We can slay these lusts and skeletons in our closets. It will take a battle and it will rage for a different length of time for each individual. Some miraculously can move past their old addictions and trust Christ with this new strength, while others have breakthroughs and then fall back into the pits throughout their lives. Some have a quick victory and no longer struggle, while other suffer the constant battle for the rest of their lives. Why? Why can't everyone get over the addictions as quickly as those miraculously dead to their old nature. The answer is twofold: God knows best because each person is different and has issues, pain, and hurts that must heal before the addiction dies, while other is that the addict doesn't want to get well, they have too much of their identity of shame in the substances.
Jesus wants asked a cripple man something odd to many readers. He asked, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6). This question is what each addict must ask themselves. Do you really want to be set free or do you enjoy the cycle of feeling like you defeated the addiction and yet fall back into it and enjoy the shame and suffering it brings? You have to hate the cycle and this requires Christ. You have to surrender it and stop no matter how you feel or what happens from repeating the process. Those who are addicts must resist one day at a time, get through the day and night with Jesus' Grace. It is a choice and once you decide to stop feeding this Old Man and adding this affliction to your life; be prepared for the demons and devils to assail with every weapon in their arsenal. They want you to backslide and to be in chains for the rest of your life. So take a stand now (on your knees)! While there is a chance to kill the Old Nature.
For each person the process will be different. There will be those who have an instant testimony, that addiction died exactly at the moment they choose Christ and gave it up. Then there are those who will have to deal with the issues, broken heart, pain, and abuse they suffered at the hands of other people before they can even start to have breakthrough. Then there are those that each day, until they go to be with Jesus Christ, they will feel they are in a uphill battle, where they cannot for one minute rest from resisting the addiction, they will have to take measures like locking liquor cabinets at hotels, having their TVs turned off at the desk and making sure to not shop in the gift store.
I say be prepared to be in that third group, to daily resist the temptations to resurrect your addiction. Then I say you should also deal with the issues and hurts that helped lead you to addiction, if you heal them with the help of Jesus Christ, then you will eliminate that piece that pushes addiction into your life. Finally, it is my hope you can reach the miracle of freedom, that you stay free from the addiction. This may not be instant or maybe it never is. The point is to take back your life and then give it to Jesus Christ! Remember that Jesus came to set the captives free! The Scriptures say,
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to bind up (comfort) the broken hearted, give sight to the blind, to set the captives free, and release from the darkness the prisoners." (Combination of Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18). The Prophet Isaiah prophesized this about Jesus Christ and Jesus in turn quoted it about Himself. So this plan to set people free was long in the making! This is a promise from the Almighty and thus we can have trust (faith) that He can set all captives to addictions free!
Become an Addeliverer and once you are delivered consider helping others get on the road to recovery. But beware of those who would seek to bring you back down into the myre and pit of addiction. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to those who truly want to be set free and need support.
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