I HATE ADDICTION

Posted on November 30, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Screen Shot 2015-11-27 at 11.21.45 AM“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” ~John 10:10

For weeks I have been making this statement – I HATE ADDICTION. I know that you probably think that I am saying this just because I am the President/CEO of the oldest residential addiction recovery program in the country, The Colony of Mercy, and now a residential program for women, Barbara’s Place.

But the reality is that I really, really, really HATE ADDICTION. I hate what it does to the man, women, teen or child who is in bondage to it. I hate how it impacts families by tearing them apart. I hate the more and more of us dabble in things that we call “grace,” only to discover that we have allowed our freedoms to become the gateway into bondage.

Last year in the State of New Jersey, 786 people died from heroin overdoses. That is an increase of 155% since 2010. That’s just deaths related to heroin. 2 people a day die of overdoses to heroin in this state.

Last week one of our grads took his life because of the utter despair related to his addiction issues. My COO, Jim Kennedy, shared with me that so far this year 18 grads have died and only two or three were because of physical issues related to disease like cancer. The rest died because they allowed addiction to take them out.

As I was working through the grief and despair of this man’s untimely death, it dawned on me that we often blame the enemy of our souls for this stuff. We all remember comedian, Flip Wilson’s famous line: “The devil made me do it!”

Please hear me – the enemy of your soul has a plan for your life and mine: “steal – kill – destroy.” He is in it for keeps! He wants to take you and me out. Nothing would thrill him more than to have us be another statistic.

BUT JESUS comes to give us life – abundant life – eternal life. Eternal life that can be lived right now as we allow Christ to live HIS live in and through us (Galatians 2:20).

But I want you to hear me – while the enemy of your soul wants to take you out – YOU and I are the ones who give him permission to do that! He puts

the temptations in our path – WE ARE THE ONES that take the next step to yield to the temptation. GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES A WAY OF ESCAPE because HE IS FAITHFUL. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

We cannot live our lives in isolation which is why we need to:

1. Make our daily quiet time a non-negotiable in our lives.

2. Get connected to a local church and be part of a church family.

3. Find a prayer/accountability partner that will get in our faces to ask the tough questions and hold our feet to the fire.

4. Learn the words “flee,” “no,” “I can’t go there,”.

I am thankful that JESUS comes to give us life – abundant, joyful, victorious and eternal life.

If you don’t have a clue what I am talking about and want to know more about this life, I have a phamplet I’d love to get into your hands by email or I will mail you a hard copy. Email me at bwelte@americaskeswick.org or call 800-453-7942 ext. 1022.

Have a great week, brothers.

Written by Dr. Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick. He has been married to his child sweet heart for 40+ years, and has three married kids, one that is engaged, and 10 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chron. 23-24, Luke 9:18-36

Think About This:“If your hope disappoints you, it is the wrong kind of hope. You see, hope in God never disappoints, precisely because it is hope *in God.* This means that hope placed in any other thing will always end up disappointing.” ~Paul David Tripp

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you. ~Deuteronomy 3:22

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