12 :: The Lies I Told, the Steps I Took and the Secrets I Discovered in My Addiction Recovery

Luke 4:16-18 (NIV)
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Matthew 1:6 (NKJV)
…and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.

 THE LIES I TOLD

1) My porn habit wasn’t really hurting anyone.

2) Confession would bring destruction.

3) I could beat this on my own.

Proverbs 27:20 (NKJV)
Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

THE STEPS I TOOK

4) Ruthless honesty.

James 5:16 (NIV)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

5) Accountable Relationships

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (KJV)
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

6) Distanced myself from Temptation

THE SECRETS I DISCOVERED

7) Pulling out the roots rather than picking off the fruit.

8) Remember the loss and embrace the pain.

9) Understanding the unfathomable grace of God.

THE PROMISES I RECEIVED

10) Good news to the poor

11) Freedom for the prisoners

12) The Lord’s favor.