Topic > Life Struggles > Addiction >
From Mess to Message
Darryl was a baseball legend who nearly destroyed his life with drugs. But Jesus set him free, and he’s been clean for years. Today he helps others struggling with addiction and points them to faith. Looking back, he affirms that God turned his mess into a message.
Nothing is too hard for God. When Jesus came ashore near a cemetery after a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, a man possessed by darkness immediately approached Him. Jesus spoke to the demons inside him, drove them away, and set him free.
When Jesus left, the man begged to go…
The Life of Peace
In Perth, Australia, there’s a place called Shalom House where men struggling with addictions go to find help. At Shalom House, they’ll meet caring staff members who introduce them to God’s shalom (Hebrew for peace). Lives crushed under the weight of addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other destructive behaviors are being transformed by the love of God.
My Netflix Had No Chill
A young woman comes home after a long day. She sets her things down, throws her hair up, and changes into comfy clothes in record time. Breathing a deep sigh of relief, she grabs her laptop and flips it open.
My Struggle With Alcohol: The Spirit That Never Satisfies
I used to drink a lot. Once, I had one too many that I stumbled about the streets and passed out outside a shopping mall in the wee hours. Some kind strangers woke me up and asked if I needed to be sent to the hospital.
How did Paul break free from the cycle of sin
Addiction puts people behind bars, both literally and figuratively. And we can become enslaved to a variety of things like drugs, gossip, TV, shopping, or a critical spirit! Today on “Discover the Word,” we discuss with our guest Karen Swanson the apostle Paul’s dilemma—one he expressed so honestly—“for what I want to do, I don’t do . . . but what I hate, I do!” How did Paul break free from that cycle of sin? And how can we? Tune in today to “Discover the Word”!
After the Holy Spirit revealed Himself to me while I was lost in spiritual darkness, in a place consumed of spiritualism and drugs, Our Daily Bread was one of the first ways I saw God reach out to me after my deliverance. In the following weeks and months when I was deep in spiritual warfare the enemy gave a last ditch effort to pull me back Our Daily Bread was an amazing source of hope and strength for me in my walk into intimacy with the Lord. I just want to thank everyone at ODB for listening to the Spirit move in your lives and being obedient to the call to this ministry to extend Gods love in this way. Glory to God!
Much Love
Corey
ReadAfter 17 years of being addicted to drugs and alcohol, chasing women, dropping out of college, and a failing music career I found comfort in scripture and Narcotics Anonymous. In rehab, a guy started reading Proverbs in groups. Another one of my counselors directed me to Romans 8. Building upon my Christian foundation from childhood, I now have a job, work as an archivist for Alcoholics Anonymous, speak to other addicts, go to church, and have devoted my life to spreading the good news of Jesus's love and forgiveness.
While visiting a local "sober" hang out, I picked up a copy of Our Daily Bread. Its stories help build my spiritual growth every time I read it. I enjoy sending in small donations to help further their cause. I thank God for people who actively spread the word of God to people like me who were once hopeless, desperate, and in need of God's grace and mercy. Today my life has meaning, purpose, and direction. My new life is based on God's love! Thank you for your daily message!! It helped save my life!
ReadMy husband and I were having a very difficult time in our marriage, My husband is a drug addict and I was trying every thing I could to get him some help. I have driven all over the state of Illnois to various detox programs and hospitals that had detox programs to get my husband the help that he needed, some of the programs were for 30 days. My husband decided to leave every one of them on his own free will( he didn't complete any of the programs). Then he went to jail for selling drugs, I bonded him out. He came out doing the same thing and he was picked up for another case and he is currently back in jail. I have prayed and ask God to deliver my husband and to restore our marriage he has answered my prayers. My faith has increased and I am a stronger woman, even tho my husband and I are seperated physically we are connected spiritually, we read our daily bread everyday and have prayer time each night, we also study through letters and send each other scriptures and we discuss them when I go visit him. Thank You for sending me our daily bread booklets and other books and resources. You all have been such a blessing to us and we truly thank God for your ministry of reaching people all over the world.
ReadAbout 15 years ago, my son died suddenly. I always gave him the devotional each quarter to help him understand God’s love. He was a really good, hard-working, and healthy…
ReadStruggling With Addiction
Eric was struggling with an addiction, and he knew it. His friends and family members encouraged him to stop. He agreed that it would be best for his health and relationships, but he felt helpless. When others told him how they had quit their bad habits, he replied, “I’m happy for you, but I can’t seem to stop! I wish I had never been tempted in the first place. I want God to take the desire away right now.”
The implications of placing anything above our love for the Lord
If you were to make a list of the things you love most, what items would be at the top of the list? We’re talking about what we treasure.
A Poor Substitute
What happens when a person abandons his faith in God? Cases differ, to be sure, but most faith-renouncers confess to sensing a void inside. They have an emptiness that must be filled. Inevitably, they turn to a God-substitute.
Almost anything can serve as a God-substitute—sports, art, sex, music, work, gambling, drugs, alcohol, TV—even another person.
