Christian Recovery: How to Stay Clean and Sober Forever

No one ever said that getting clean and sober was easy. If removing the chains of addiction was, then more people would probably do it. On the other hand, there is no doubt that some addicts love their drug of choice more than anything else and though they say they want to be get set free, they don't intend on it.

Many Christians in addiction ask God for help, but then expect Him to completely alleviate all the suffering related to getting off of drugs and/or alcohol. When such a miracle doesn’t happen, they often add God to their blame-shifting list and excuses. 

While God can and will deliver people from their addictions, He doesn’t always use that method. It’s His choice. He has the power to deliver anyone anytime, so when He doesn’t exercise this power, we must believe it’s on purpose. Sometimes God wants the addict to persevere – to want sobriety so much that he or she will do anything to get it.

God has also made it possible for Christians to resist temptation and escape from the snare of addictions that the enemy has put in our way. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is just one example that shows God understands the addiction problem and has the solution.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 

In one version of this Scripture, it states that God gives us a “way of escape.” In other words, God isn’t doing away with the temptation, He is instead offering us a way to separate ourselves from that temptation. This Scripture also indicates that we have the capacity to say “no” to our drug of choice, and if we trust God and get His guidance, He will show us how.

As a Christian addiction counselor for nearly 12 years, I believe that the way of escape is to put yourself in safe surroundings. Another way of saying this is, don’t hang around anyone who uses drugs or drinks alcohol, and don’t go anywhere where you will be tempted. You also must allow yourself to feel the yearning for the substance you crave, but to stand your ground and refuse to give in to it. Do this every day for the rest of your life and you will be set free of drugs and alcohol forever.

I know this works because I did it. When I first got clean and sober, my husband did not, and so alcohol was in my refrigerator nearly every day. Since I was married, I could not just leave the premises. Therefore, I had to white knuckle my sobriety. I fought the temptation because God said He would help me, and He did. As I resisted, He gave me the strength to continue to stand my ground and to say "no' to my own mind that was telling me it was okay to have just one drink.

It was a victory every day that I resisted and suffered through. And I have resisted for nearly two decades now. That's a whole lot of wins, and my life today reflects that!

God doesn’t mind asking us to suffer, especially in light of the fact that Jesus suffered all the way to death. He was beaten, disfigured and hung from a cross so that we would have what we needed to overcome strongholds, addictions, and anything else negative in our lives.

You can do it. You can quit doing drugs and alcohol forever with the help of our mighty God who will give you strength when you need it.

To learn more about Christian recovery and The Solid Rock Road Christian recovery ministry, visit www.thesolidrockroad.com. Our Christian recovery book is found on Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Follow-The-Solid-Rock-Road/dp/0615337899/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1376656401&sr=8-1. You can also find the program on Facebook and Twitter. If you have questions, call 541-778-8680.

Freedom from Addictions God's Way

I have not always been a good girl. In fact, I've been very bad. But knowing this about myself doesn't make me feel condemned, it makes me grateful to be who I am today.

Gratitude is the reason I co-wrote the book "Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery." It's a way to show my appreciation to God for giving me back the life He originally intended. I don't live in the past, but I acknowledge it so I won't forget the pain, the confusion and the hopelessness I felt in my addiction.

I love being clean and sober. And I love that the Bible provided the truth that set me free, and answers every question I ask about life.

Christian Recovery: Your Temptation and Your Testimony

You can't have a testimony if you haven't had a test that you have passed. The reality of relapse is that you continually have to retake the test of temptation. Therefore, if you're sick of taking the same test over and over, then you have to study and commit to passing that test once and for all.

Can you imagine taking the same spelling test for years and years? Wouldn't you be determined to pass it so you can move forward and get smarter? And wouldn't your teacher make sure you learned the words you've already been given before she gives you another set of words to spell? If your school teachers won't let you fake your way through, why would God?

The simplest way to understand your chronic relapse is to see that God wants you to resist temptation based on HIS strength and the grace he's given. God expects you to change your pattern so that you can get out of the cycle of addictions. If He hasn't delivered you out, then you're test is to resist, resist, resist.

In the Solid Rock Road ministry, we teach you how to resist. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad, and look for our book "Follow the Solid Rock Road: Pathway to Radical Recovery

Resist the Temptation to Use Drugs and Alcohol

Most people who battle with addictions say they can't resist the temptation to use drugs and alcohol. This may be true for some individuals, but this should never be said by Christians. The Bible refutes that statement in 1 Corinthians 10:13 when the Apostle Paul writes, "No temptation (or trial) has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (or tried) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (or trial) will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."

That's an amazing scripture and one that Christian addicts should get in their hearts. If you are a believer, then you know that all scripture is by inspiration of God. Therefore, He is speaking directly to addicts in 1 Corinthians 10:13. He says He has made a way of escape. That means you CAN resist because God is faithful to give you a way out.

The question is, are you faithful? Do you have faith that God is enough?

You can follow The Solid Rock Road on Twitter at www.twitter.com/solidrockroad