Freedom From Addiction By God’s Touch
Friday February 19, 2016
Life in addiction breaks us down to the point where we feel helpless and hopeless. We don’t know where to turn. We know we need help and recognize that unless someone does help us, we just don’t have the power to get up and go on.
Songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote lyrics in the 1960’s that speak to this situation. “Shackled by a heavy burden, 'Neath a load of guilt and shame, Then the hand of Jesus touched me, Now I am no longer the same. He touched me, oh He touched me, And oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. Since I met the blessed Saviour, Since He cleansed and made me whole, I will never cease to praise Him. I'll shout it while eternity rolls.”
When God touches us, no matter how heavy the burden of sin and guilt we are carrying, God lifts it from us. How does He do that? Jesus died in our place so that we could be freed from the penalty of every sin we have, or ever will, commit. When we surrender our lives to God, God replaces our rebellious self-will with His Spirit-filled will, which enables us to do what honors Him.
I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. (Ezekiel 36:25-27 MSG)
As author Elisabeth Elliot has stated, it’s important to remember that, “We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies for ourselves.” God will touch and heal what is given to Him. Our part is to leave behind our self-centered ways and activities and walk hand-in-hand with God into a purposeful future.
Then calling the crowd to join his disciples, Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 NLT)
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