Addiction: A Spiritual Affliction

My name is Giavonna, and I am an addict.

When I got a DUI, I had to attend court mandated AA meetings. Man let me tell you these meetings were sad af. I sat there with people that had some heavy addiction issues. I remember thinking to myself, “Damn I ain’t that f**ked up! I just drink sometimes, you know socially and such.” I didn’t even keep alcohol in my house. But the more I attended the meetings, and listened to people share about how this substance had taken ahold of their lives, the more I realized I was just as afflicted as them.

Once I completed the amount of classes that the court assigned me, I stopped going, but something in me told me I needed to keep going. So I did for a little while.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that God was awakening me. He was beginning to work his will in my life towards changing my life and impacting the life of others. My desire to connect with God grew. I stopped drinking and started going to church. My relationship with God started to grow, and I mean fast. So fast that my home church asked me to lead the youth ministry. I didn’t feel equipped or worthy to do it. I got scared and left church entirely.

It wasn’t long before I went back into my old ways of existing. I put my Bible on the shelf. I once again abandoned my relationship with God. God tried many approaches to get my attention in this time, but in fear of rejection from God, I ran to seek comfort in my earthly addictions.

Addiction is how we stay connected to our higher power at all times. It is a spiritual affliction.

I wanted that relationship and connection to God back so, I replaced the addictions with what I like to call Godly Habits. Here they are:

• Prayer

• Trust/Faith

• Meditation on God’s Word

• Obedience to God

• Dependence upon the Holy Spirit

• Forgiving

• Giving

Instead of running back to my old ways that drive a wedge between God and I, I reach in my bag of Godly Habits, and grab the habit that pulls me nearer to Him. I see profound changes from this disciplined practice of channeling my addict behavior into actions that render greater reward.

Addiction is not the end it is the beginning.