Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22:37-40

Not always, but typically some form of addiction is behind most loveless lives. We seem to find ourselves stuck not being able to move past the second commandment. When we use the word addiction we might associate it with any number of things. But the truth is, we can have an unhealthy addiction to just about anything. An addiction is anything that you can not lay down in your own strength. The root behind addiction is an unfulfilled basic human need to be loved. When we try to fill our voids by self medicating them, unhealthy habits are formed and those habits lead to a path of destruction if we let them.  Addictions are based on lies the enemy tells us about ourselves and God. Often times the enemy uses those lies to twist how we interpret scripture as well (Galatians 3:1-3). He causes us to believe we are not worthy of Gods love. And, because of these foundations built upon lies, we have a hard time receiving God’s love or extending it to others. This is Satan’s way of keeping us out of order. If we can not love God, we can not love ourselves. If we can not love ourselves, we can not love others. When we genuinely decide to lay down our addictions, or walk away from the impact they have had on our families, we need help from the Holy Spirit.

Today we are providing a prayer of deliverance for breaking the Spirit of Addiction off of individuals and families that have been effected by addictions who are seeking to overcome this Spirit.

The first step is to accept that Jesus loves us and wants us to be joyous…

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ~John 15:9-12

The second thing we need to look at is that God’s design is not for us to live in chaos. Most addictions are a way that we seek comfort in our own strength. But, through the Holy Spirit, comfort and our own inner peace is possible…

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ~John 14:23-27

Part of overcoming addictions is to look at behaviors associated with them and replace those behaviors with healthy habits. Some unhealthy behaviors include poverty, eating disorders, legal or illegal drugs, alcoholism, pornography, food addictions, unhealthy relationships, obsession with video games or entertainment, gambling, foul language, victimization, molestation, refusal to face reality or take accountability/responsibility, weight problems, adultery, fornication, co dependency, guilt, shame, and abusiveness. Some healthy behaviors include, Praise and Worship, fellowship with other believers who have overcome addictions, counseling, thinking pure thoughts, affirmations (replace the lies you tell yourselves with the truth contained in the word of God), clean eating, exercise, Bible Study, recreation, and quiet time with God.

It’s important to realize that, apart from God, it’s not always a matter of simply trying to overcome ourselves. We need God’s help. And, we need to remember that the Spirit of Addiction is a Spirit with many gateways. There can be many other behaviors and/or spirits that open the door for it to flourish. We have to be thorough to work with the Lord and close any door we are giving access to this spirit through. Let’s go to the Lord and break these spirits off in prayer.

Father,

We come to you today and recognize the presence of the Spirit of Addiction active in either our own lives or the lives of our family members. We take full responsibility and repent for our participation with this spirit in our life and the lives of our generations dating back to Adam and Eve. We ask forgiveness and ask that the curse of addiction be broken for all eternity.

We renounce all association with gateway spirits that include deception, jealousy, witchcraft, drunkenness, compulsiveness, rejection, bitterness, fear, victimization, accusation, denial, addictive patterns, unloving or unclean spirits, self destruction, self murder, self violence, self hatred, self pity, and self conflict. We take authority over all of these spirits and cast them out, breaking all power they have had over our family and command you to leave now.  Help us, Lord to walk away from the things of the flesh and replace them with healthy behaviors that bring glory to your temple. We replace all of these spirits with the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith in God above. We praise your name and thank you that our family is now free from the Spirit of Addiction.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Additional scripture for comfort…

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lordis the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. ~Psalm 27

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

If you would like to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please pray the following prayer:

"God, I believe in you and your son Jesus Christ.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave to save me. Today, I invite Jesus into my heart to stay.  I make you Lord over my life. Make me new. Wash me, Lord, and cleanse me. In Jesus Name, Amen"

If you have just prayed that prayer, we want to celebrate your new victory with you.  Please contact us at prayers@awministries.org so we can welcome you into the kingdom.  We don't want you to have to walk alone and we have some resources we would like the opportunity to share with you.