Dear Struggling Believer

“You’ll never overcome that addiction!”

“Who do you really think you are?”

“And you say you’re saved?”

“Man in Christ, my foot!”

Do you recognize that voice? Very familiar right? That’s the voice of the devil, your enemy and mine, the accuser of the brethren! Always trying to tell you what you can or cannot do. 

He always tries to guilt-trip you to the point whereby you give up on yourself and your growth. But I’m here to tell you something.

Dear believer, struggling with an addiction, be patient with yourself. I need you to understand that you are made righteous not by your works and effort but by the finished works of Christ. “Finished works” do you get that? As far as your salvation is concerned, Christ finished work on top of your matter!

God extended his grace to you because he knew you couldn’t achieve it yourself in the first place. He knows you’re struggling. He knows you cannot help yourself. He knows you’re trying and failing. That’s why His grace exists in the first place. That’s why our salvation and relationship with Him is not based on meeting a mark or performance review, but by his grace- a free gift. And this beautiful thing about this grace is that it has no end or expiry date. It is available until the moment you die.

Am I saying continue in that old habit? No. all I am saying is that you should reckon yourself as Christ does. See yourself the exact same way God does. How? A person whose sins are paid for by the blood of Jesus and can now stand before God guilt-free, not because he/she is perfect, but because Jesus’ redemption is perfect.

The devil only accuses you to keep God’s abundant gift of grace from you. You need to see his scheme for what it is. Make a son feel guilty and unworthy to approach a loving father who doesn’t see you guilty and is even willing to help you back on your feet every time you fall short of His grace.

So what do you do when you fall back into that addiction and the devil comes to accuse you? 

1. Enjoy the free gift of God’s grace in the face of the accuser.
2. Get back up. That’s not a time to break off from your spiritual growth routine of prayer, study and confessions. Rather, it is a time to do it even more intensely. Stand up and keep walking. It might seem somehow at first, but remember God knows what you’re struggling with and he is there to help you and guide you out of it and not condemn you. 

The lyrics of the song Champion by Bethel Music easily comes to mind. Look at it for yourself:

I’ve tried so hard to see it
Took me so long to believe it
That you’d choose someone like me
To carry your victory
Perfection could never earn it
You give what we don’t deserve and
You take the broken things
And raise them to glory

You are my champion
Giants fall when you stand
Undefeated
Every battle you’ve won
I am who you say I am
You crown me with confidence
I am seated, in the heavenly place
Undefeated, with the
One who has conquered it all?

Now I can finally see it
You’re teaching me how to receive
So let all the striving cease
This is my victory 

When I lift my voice and shout
Every wall comes crashing down
I have the authority
Jesus has given me
When I open up my mouth
Miracles start breaking out
I have the authority
Jesus has given me

You are my champion
Giants fall when you stand
Undefeated
Every battle you’ve won
I am who you say I am
You crown me with confidence
I am seated, in the heavenly place
Undefeated, by the power of your name
I am seating, in the heavenly place
Undefeated, with the one you has conquered it all

Let’s silence that dumb accuser once and for all! Your father is endlessly committed to you, and your growth.

If you find this helpful, you definitely should also read; Battling Addiction? Read This! and How to Make a Fresh Start After Committing Sexual Sin

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