I’ve been a Christian since December of 1994, yet I didn’t quit drinking and doing drugs until August 1996. I did quit using men though; I had made the decision to be celibate. The reason for the celibacy was not for any spiritual reason at first, it was because my ex-husband had been cheating on me for over 3 years and I wanted to see if I had any STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Disease).
“But we all,
with unveiled
face, beholding
as in a mirror
the glory of the
Lord, are being
transformed into
the same image
from glory to
glory just as by
the Spirit of
the Lord.” II
Corinthians 3:18
NKJV
I had been
praying God
would help me to
quit drugs, but
then I would be
afraid and add
to my prayer
“but please
don’t let me get
busted!” God is
good, He
delivered me and
I wasn’t busted.
“Be anxious for
nothing, but in
everything by
prayer and
supplication,
with
thanksgiving,
let your
requests be made
known to God”
Philippians 4:6
(Due to the
length of this
story it will be
continued in my
next article
entitled “Freeze
Tag”)
September 6,
2001
Five years ago
Jesus delivered
me from my
23-year habit of
drugs. I had
more than one
drug of choice
in my life, but
the main one
that seemed to
follow me
through was pot.
I started
smoking pot at
the age of 13
and after about
the age of 15, I
really don’t
remember too
many days that I
went without it.
If I was unable
to find it for a
short period of
time because the
town was “dry”,
I would do
something else
to numb myself,
usually get
drunk.
Basically, for
23 years, I did
some sort of
mind altering,
mood altering
substance
everyday.
“And do not get
drunk with wine,
for that is
debauchery; but
ever be filled
and stimulated
with the Holy
Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18
AMP
My life was messed up; I was in and out of relationships, marriages and affairs. I used men and drugs to fill the space inside of me that only God could fill. I was (as my Pastor would say) “worshipping Baal”. I tried all kinds of self-improvement, I read books, listened to tapes and attended workshops. I strived, I mean I REALLY STRIVED, I worked and worked and used all the energy I had until I gave up. Then I would shame myself for failing and get up the energy and try again. I was trying to change my character traits, my behaviors, the circumstances of my life and my unhappiness. But I was looking in all the wrong places. For more details see my testimony, (Prodigal Daughter) at www.restforyoursoul.org
“So kill
(deaden, deprive
of power) the
evil desire
lurking in your
members (those
animal impulses
and all that is
earthly in you
that is employed
in sin): sexual
vice, impurity,
sensual
appetites,
unholy desires,
and all greed
and
covetousness,
for that is
idolatry
(deifying of
self and other
created things
instead of
God).”
Colossians 3:5
AMP