Addictions are a common problem for which people seek
counseling. Some of the addictions
people have brought to our counseling office are:
counseling. Some of the addictions
people have brought to our counseling office are:
Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Love, Exercise, Sleep, Nicotine, Pain,
Food, Shopping, Cocaine, Chocolate, Work, Sugar, Sports, Lying, Shoplifting, Stealing,
Nose drops, Sex, Caffeine, Television, and the internet.
Food, Shopping, Cocaine, Chocolate, Work, Sugar, Sports, Lying, Shoplifting, Stealing,
Nose drops, Sex, Caffeine, Television, and the internet.
So, what is yours?
We all have them, you know. Some are as mild as spending all day on the
internet at your favorite social networking site, and others are as severe as
losing the mortgage payment at the casino. Life dominating sins are also known
as addictions.
We all have them, you know. Some are as mild as spending all day on the
internet at your favorite social networking site, and others are as severe as
losing the mortgage payment at the casino. Life dominating sins are also known
as addictions.
All the things on
the list above have a common bond in that they can bring pleasure and evoke
emotion. They deliver an experience to the senses and we find many of them very
pleasurable and desire to have them frequently. Several of them provide a
full-body experience, affecting your whole being. Not all of those things are
sinful by themselves, but they all could be sinful if they become a larger part
of our lives than is appropriate.
the list above have a common bond in that they can bring pleasure and evoke
emotion. They deliver an experience to the senses and we find many of them very
pleasurable and desire to have them frequently. Several of them provide a
full-body experience, affecting your whole being. Not all of those things are
sinful by themselves, but they all could be sinful if they become a larger part
of our lives than is appropriate.
Our culture sure
encourages self-indulgence, doesn’t it? A person with a life dominating sin
experiences many conflicting emotions as a result of their desires. They
express feelings of being trapped, out of control, desperate, in bondage,
stuck, enslaved, controlled, and will often express being hopeless. At the same
time they will describe feeling more alive and alert when they are indulging
their desires. Things that bring us such intense pleasure feed our flesh and
cause us to want more and more of it.
encourages self-indulgence, doesn’t it? A person with a life dominating sin
experiences many conflicting emotions as a result of their desires. They
express feelings of being trapped, out of control, desperate, in bondage,
stuck, enslaved, controlled, and will often express being hopeless. At the same
time they will describe feeling more alive and alert when they are indulging
their desires. Things that bring us such intense pleasure feed our flesh and
cause us to want more and more of it.
Ed Welch, in his
excellent book, A Banquet in the Grave, makes the following statement:
“The basic theology for addictions is that the root problem goes deeper
than our genetic makeup. Addictions are ultimately a disorder of worship.”
excellent book, A Banquet in the Grave, makes the following statement:
“The basic theology for addictions is that the root problem goes deeper
than our genetic makeup. Addictions are ultimately a disorder of worship.”
Thanks Ed, for
saying what I have been saying for years! The truth is that when our desires
conflict with Scripture, we do not always live according to what we say we
believe. We say we believe, yet our behavior betrays us, and it reveals the
real love of our heart.
saying what I have been saying for years! The truth is that when our desires
conflict with Scripture, we do not always live according to what we say we
believe. We say we believe, yet our behavior betrays us, and it reveals the
real love of our heart.
We know that we
have a problem when we are denied one of those things or we can’t get enough of
them. People who are considered addicted are seemingly unable to let go of that
substance or person even when having it (or them) as a part of their life
causes pain and problems. They seem to not be able to let go, even when the
pain of the pursuit and the consequences are very costly.
have a problem when we are denied one of those things or we can’t get enough of
them. People who are considered addicted are seemingly unable to let go of that
substance or person even when having it (or them) as a part of their life
causes pain and problems. They seem to not be able to let go, even when the
pain of the pursuit and the consequences are very costly.
Christians who
struggle with addictions have managed to compartmentalize their hearts and
minds. They have a “Sunday heart” that worships God, can sing and
praise and really mean everything they do in worship- because at that moment
they are really engaged in glorifying God. They also have the “everyday
heart” which is what takes over the rest of the time. They worship
themselves and they obey their desire to be independent from God and become
their own god, living by their own rules and making up their own theology.
struggle with addictions have managed to compartmentalize their hearts and
minds. They have a “Sunday heart” that worships God, can sing and
praise and really mean everything they do in worship- because at that moment
they are really engaged in glorifying God. They also have the “everyday
heart” which is what takes over the rest of the time. They worship
themselves and they obey their desire to be independent from God and become
their own god, living by their own rules and making up their own theology.
Often, these folks
don’t see this conflict in their lives. Our propensity toward self-deception is
so huge that we often don’t see our dual lives. A counselee may not understand
she is attempting to hide a part of herself from God. Psalm 139 reminds us that
it is impossible to hide from the One who is omnipresent and all knowing.
don’t see this conflict in their lives. Our propensity toward self-deception is
so huge that we often don’t see our dual lives. A counselee may not understand
she is attempting to hide a part of herself from God. Psalm 139 reminds us that
it is impossible to hide from the One who is omnipresent and all knowing.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your
presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the
depths you are there. Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)
presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the
depths you are there. Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)
What about you?
Are you able to admit whatever your secret sin or life dominating sin is? I
find myself extremely convicted in some areas as I meditate on God’s Word and
He lays my heart bare. It grieves my heart to know that I still find ways to make excuses for my sin.
Are you able to admit whatever your secret sin or life dominating sin is? I
find myself extremely convicted in some areas as I meditate on God’s Word and
He lays my heart bare. It grieves my heart to know that I still find ways to make excuses for my sin.
I love God’s Word- it rips the blinders off my eyes and causes me
to see clearly what God wants me to see. I have the opportunity see parts of
myself I choose to overlook and to repent.
to see clearly what God wants me to see. I have the opportunity see parts of
myself I choose to overlook and to repent.
The changes we
experience will come from an understanding and application of the Bible As you realize what the Bible says about
your thoughts, beliefs, and desires and you internalize those truths you will
begin to live them.
experience will come from an understanding and application of the Bible As you realize what the Bible says about
your thoughts, beliefs, and desires and you internalize those truths you will
begin to live them.
You were
taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which
is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which
is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
Put off the old attitudes of the heart, renew your mind, and put
on the new attitudes of the heart.
on the new attitudes of the heart.
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we all have different kinds of addictions.we need to make sure that we can handle it..having addictions is not good specially if you are addicted to drugs or to alcohols,it will really ruin your life.we need counselling so we would know what is the best for us..