Our society is riddled with all kinds of addictions like alcohol, drugs, sex or money. The sad reality is that human society is dependent on these behaviors that seek to fill a void within. Satan’s three-fold agenda is to seek, to kill and to destroy. This is not just outside the church, but sadly, inside our churches and homes. What is our defense against the spiritually decaying dependencies that the world offers?
Dependance on Christ
The following testimony is a wonderful example of what it means to be fully dependent upon Christ and submit wholly to his lordship. This is an amazing prayer leader who served with me on the team when writing the Prayer Covenant for Women and leads prayer and women’s bible studies at Saddleback. She shared,
“Everything looked really good on the outside. We lived in a nice house in a nice neighborhood with our three wonderful kids and a sweet dog. My husband traveled a lot for his work, and I was able to work in the home. All seemed perfect, but was it?
We had some very difficult circumstances in our home. One of our children struggled with mental and emotional issues as well as learning disabilities that made most days very hard. My husband and I were having marital issues. With his frequent travel, I was left to figure out how to get the help our child needed, while caring for our two other children. I began drinking “to just relax” on weekends. I was depending on that daily drink or two, instead of Him.
Dependance on Christ
One day, I clearly remember God lovingly teaching me of His desire for me to stop drinking. I was mad. Hadn’t I given Him everything? Why couldn’t He just stay out of this area of my life? Days went by, and I was miserable. My Bible reading felt dry, and my prayer time was strained. God seemed so distant. I got sick of myself, and finally turned to God and said He could have it all. When I committed to stop drinking for good, He immediately took away any desire I had to drink. I was filled with His peace and felt His Presence. It was Glorious!
God knew what lay ahead for me, and in His kindness, He insisted on a clear, sober mind at all times. The darkest days were yet to come, and I would need to rely on His presence, wisdom and peace, not the numbing escape of alcohol.
