Tackling Your Goliath-sized Addiction

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:23-50

Today's Treasure: "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32)

Overcoming a crippling addiction can seem just as hopeless as defeating a giant warrior with a slingshot and a stone. Praise God, the problem is with our perception, because it can be done in His strength!

When facing your Goliath-sized addiction, begin to see yourself like the young shepherd boy, David, when he dared to take a stand against his Philistine nemesis. David wasn't blind. He was realistically aware of the mammoth size of his foe. What was the key to his courage? David knew that Goliath was not only his enemy. More importantly, he was God's enemy! Long before the apostle Paul was inspired to write Romans 8:31, David dared to believe, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" When David saw the Philistine champion from Gath step out and shout "his usual defiance," he asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

No matter how long your addiction has shouted its usual defiance at your attempts to fight it, realize that your enemy is also God's enemy. It is a means by which Satan himself is seeking to defy the army of the living God. Call upon God to rise up in anger toward the enemy that binds you and fight him in your behalf with a holy vengeance. God could fight this one alone. He really doesn't need your help; however, God reserves the right to involve us in our own victories, so get ready to fight. Overcoming addiction may be the battle of your life. But it will also be the most rewarding, liberating victory of your life. It will be your own Goliath story for the rest of your days.

Realize that God's unquestionable will is your freedom from this yoke, but also trust that He has written a personalized prescription for your release. Remember when King Saul offered young David his armor to wear as he opposed Goliath? "Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.  So he took them off. Then he took the staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine" (1 Sam. 17:38-40).

God may have used a method to free someone else that doesn't work as effectively for you. Perhaps the success of others has done little more than increase your discouragement and self-hatred. Don't let the enemy play mind games with you. God's strength is tailor-made for weakness. We are never stronger than the moment we admit we are weak. Seek God diligently and ask Him to show you the way to victory. Pray Scripture, the living and active Word of God, over yourself in conjunction with any plan He gives you.

God, I am so grateful that my own heavenly Father is the Sovereign Lord who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You! (Jeremiah 32:17).

Adapted from Praying God's Word, by Beth Moore, pages 128-129. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. Used by permission.