Truly Free in Him

When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.  Luke 11:24-26

 

On my trip last week, I was think about how last year God had freed me from an addiction or idol that controlled me for 20 years.  It was self-destructive, but it made me feel good, calmed me, de-stressed me, and entertained me when I was bored.  He reminded me of the above verse and explained how it related to my situation.  Throughout my life, I had tried to free myself from the addiction over and over, asking Him to help me.  But I was unsuccessful again and again, and felt like such a failure.

 

It wasn’t until last year when He convinced me to give Him every part of me (see My Story) that He could come into my life, and reveal Himself in such a way that my addiction lost all its power.  He was so much more awesome.  He came in and took the place of the addiction in my heart.  He became my satisfaction.  Over several months of giving the desire to Him over and over, He delivered me.  He is the One now who makes me feel good, calms me, and takes away my stress. 

 

Sometimes a fleeting thought of the old desire to sin comes back, but by His power I can reject it.  The old idol cannot find a place again to live in me because the place it used to live is now occupied by God.  And He’s not letting it back in, or giving up His rightful claim on me!

 

This is why it is so easy to fail at trying to quit a habit or an addiction.  If the habit is not replaced with Him, then it will come back with a vengeance, more powerful and needy than before.  It is only when God has filled that hole in our hearts that we will not be overtaken again by the addiction and will be truly free in Him.