Article in the Kingston Daily Freeman

Imagine this headline in a secular paper in New York: Tillson author parents with help from God. Well it's true! Read it on-line and support these kinds of articles with a comment.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Breakthrough Prayer for Addictions

I believe prayer plays a vital role in helping people break free from addiciton. In early January, I spoke at an Aglow meeting about Breakthrough Prayer. I thought it would be beneficial to post my notes for those who attended and those who did not.  I'm breaking it up into two parts. Here's the first five key points:

What Makes for Breakthrough Prayer?


1. Be clean before God. Examine your life. Be covered in the blood of Jesus. He is our righteousness. Repent if necessary, but don’t let others say you are in this circumstance because of sin in your life it that’s not the case. Don’t take on guilt. You are made clean, but let Him search your heart. “Search me oh God and know my heart…” Let God and the Holy Spirit be the one to convict you. Rely on the Holy Spirit for abundant, supernatural strength.



2. Know who you are in Christ and remind yourself often. Stand firm in this. I am accepted...
I am God's child. John 1:12
As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. John 15:15
I have been justified.Romans 5:1
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.1 Corinthians 6:17

I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I am a member of Christ's body. 1 Corinthians 12:27

I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.Ephesians 1:3-8

 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 1:13-14

I am complete in Christ.  Colossians 2:9-10

I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16


3. Understand God’s Character. Know He is your provider, your peace. Let His peace rule in your heart. Rule-Greek: umpire, in control, CALLING THE SHOTS. Let the peace of God rule over your emotions so that you are not overwhelmed by the situation or circumstance.


4. Be totally honest with God. Cry out in your pain. Tell him how we feel, but don’t stop there. Move forward. Important to stand on scriptures that speak to your situation: Some of mine:   "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). This was a far cry from the actual situation, but I was learning, step by step, to trust God and believe He would eventually transform this terrible mess into something good."


• “God works all things together for good for those who are called according to his purposes” (Romans 8:28). Though I wavered in this belief, I always came back to it. No matter what Ben went though, God could work it out for good. The problem was: would Ben allow God to work in his life? I hoped so.

• “And my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches and glory” (Philippians 4:19). God’s supplies are abundant, and I called upon Him day and night to get me through this emotional time and to keep me from getting really depressed.

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5).This was one of my all time favorite verses, and it helped me to stay sane when I just didn’t understand why Ben was making such a major mistake in his life.

Now find your own verses that speak victory into your situation.
 
5. Keep your eyes on the Lord and trust Him. See with eyes of faith. Don’t get discouraged. Keep persevering in prayer, like the woman and the unjust judge: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [2] He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. [3] And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!" (Luke 18 1-8).

“Persistent prayer demonstrates our faith in God who at times may delay His answers, but will always act decisively and justly with respect to His people.”