"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." - I Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
I won't say it's easy, but it does get easier... Some people say when you get tired of it, you'll leave it alone. Smh... What they don't realize is that we are tired, frustrated, disgusted, mad at ourselves, for hurting the people we love, always considering ourselves last, and not truly loving "us" as we should. We quit things, people, etc. but go back multiple times, and it becomes a vicious cycle. So just being "tired" isn't enough, we have to find a purpose, we have to know the truth, and follow it. I said this pertains to ALL things, from substance abuse to adultery, alcoholism, abusive relationships, as the Word states, "sexual immorality/inordinate affection" (commonly known as homosexuality/lesbianism,) and more for we're abusing ourselves in the process. Forgiveness and grace is available to ALL whom believe, and APPLY God's Word to our lives, abandoning those behaviors, choosing to walk by the spirit, being obedient to the Word. We should know that there's a difference between making a mistake & living a lifestyle, between falling & choosing to lie down, between going to purchase something & leaving our money in our pockets, between calling "that person," and not picking up the phone, a difference between "stopping by," and not going in "that direction" at all. If God's Word says it ain't right with Him, then who are we to say it's okay?... Each and every one of the issues we face has an underlying spiritual root, not exempting us from generational curses, yet through Christ and our obedience ALL can be overcome, for Christ has already ovecome the world. Yet the difference ischoice, just like we choose to believe the Word of God, we also choose to obey, or disobey it... Not saying that any of us live & lead perfect lives, we must like Paul, die to our sins daily, for we're not to compromise the Word to fit our choices. There's a quote on a picture I have that says it like this, "Jesus came to destroy sin, not manage it."... "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another,so that you do not do the things that you wish... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." - Galatians 5:16-17, 22-26 (NKJV)
The Word says that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, and the enemy will use that scripture to make you feel like that's an excuse. Keep in mind that he comes to steal (your hopes, dreams and your favor,) to kill (Y-O-U,) and to destroy (all that we love, and all that loves us.) But Jesus... He says that when we are weak, then he is strong, that he came so that we might have LIFE, and that we may have it more abundantly. The trip about that is the devil's so stupid he doesn't realize he's already been defeated. Yes... The flesh is weak, and that temptation will be ever-present, but God won't allow us to endure anything that we can't handle, and there's always a way out, always a way to escape. Again... "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
Take a note from James... "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing... Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." - James 1:2-4, 12-15 (KJV)
"Withdrawals" are another trick of the enemy, a trap so to speak. Yet when your body suffers withdrawal, (or goes through a physical sickness/reaction from the lack of that which appeases the flesh) then there's no better time to "draw nearer," to Jesus, turning away from the sin, and embracing the Savior. We must speak AND stand the Word over our lives boldly, and with authority, reminding the devil that he already lost the battle thousands of years ago at Calvary, that we have the victory through the blood of Jesus, for without Him we truly are nothing. It requires a change of heart, a change of mind, AND a change of environment, we cannot expect God to change/deliver us from something, when we refuse to walk away from it, choosing to continually indulge in it. It also requires a change of how we react to pressure, stress, and struggles. God already knows what we deal with and what we'll face next. He's also already equipped us with His Word, that we may speak it over the issues thatr we deal with, and apply it to our lives... DAILY.
Personally, I was put out of a 12-step program by the so-called "professionals," placed there to "help." Truth be told, while they stressed the point of having a "higher power," they refuted my trust and belief in the Word of God. When they asked me how I would get through, or get past my addiction to cocaine, my reply was "God, and my faith in Him, is how I'm going to overcome this." Those "professionals" in turn told me, "Well it's going to take more than God, and your faith to get you through this, but if that's how you feel, then you don't need to be here." My reply was, "There's nothing more than God, and without faith, it's impossible to please Him." The next morning they told me to pack my things, and that I had to leave... You see, there's only One professional we need. He's a healer, a deliverer, a protector, a provider, a redeemer, an ever-present help in the time of trouble, and He's filled with love, forgiveness, mercy, and has given the gift of grace unto us, that through faith in Him, in His name,WE CAN ALL DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM, and His name is Jesus. There's no 12-step program needed, ONLY ONE-STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, TO FOLLOW HIM. It is written...
"If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:36 (NKJV)
"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - II Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
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