I don’t know what your addictions are: drugs, alcohol, sex; but I do know what the answer is in order to conquer them.

Allow me to qualify myself for a minute so that you can relate. I started drinking at 12 years old, smoking pot at 15, and doing multiple other drugs and sex from 16 on. As a child I felt close to God and wanted to please Him. Once I started using though, I only cared about pleasing myself. I was off and running for over 20 years, barely drawing a sober breath in all that time. Through my addictions I got divorced, and had my 3 children taken 250 miles away, I had a contract out on my life, was stabbed, until finally I attempted suicide.

As my girlfriend pried the revolver from my hands I cried out to God “HELP”. It was the simplest most heartfelt prayer I had ever prayed. I didn’t know it at the time but God heard me. Within a month, I found myself in Alcoholics Anonymous. I bounced in and out of sobriety for over 3 years.

On the morning of July 28,1990, I woke up in a jail cell and had no idea of how I got there. I asked the officer what I had done and he told me that a woman had almost backed her car over me. I had been lying behind the rear tire, passed out in the gutter. Suddenly, I realized that I was an alcoholic! I knelt down on my knees in that jail cell and asked God to change my life. Finally I had surrendered!

I went back to AA and practically lived in the rooms my first 3 years of sobriety. Slowly, my life was getting better.

In 1992 I felt the burning desire to get baptized. I had been dedicated “sprinkled with water” as an infant. But now I felt the need to come before God of my own belief in Him and be baptized. I was baptized in a creek by a recovering alcoholic who also had found Jesus as his Lord and savior. (Mark 16:16) (Acts: 2:38)

By 1994 I had been divorced 3 times, twice in sobriety. I was lonely and wanted female companionship. The scripture (Matthew 6:33) kept coming to me. ”But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.

I made a decision to do just that! I continued to work with other recovering people and I started to read my Bible through. I loved the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), because I could see myself as that son. I also loved (Luke 7:41-43) where Jesus tells His disciples that the one who has been forgiven more will love Him more. Man, that’s me!

Jesus has forgiven me all of my hellish life because I asked Him to help me change it and sought His kingdom first. That is the answer!

Is my life perfect today? No. Do I occasionally sin? Yes. But the difference is that today I repent if I sin, and my sin is covered by Christ’s blood that He shed for you and me. (1 John 5:1-12) (Colossians 1:15-23)

Do you want Jesus to change your life? Ask Him into your life and work hard at living for Him.

Feel free to contact me at praisehim@velocity.net I would love to pray with you!