Most people look at avid gamblers and think that they just like the entertainment. However, it is just like anything else. Too much of it can literally destroy your life. I think most people are unaware of the fact that gambling can be an addiction that is very similar to a drug. The vast majority of people suffering from gambling addiction find the transition from recreational fun to addict to be very fuzzy. They do not understand exactly when it became a true problem for them. However, in this article I want to make it clear about what a gambling addiction looks like so that you can self-evaluate to see whether you have a significant problem or not.

Symptom #1: You need to be secretive

When you get to the point that you have to lie about how much you are gambling, you know that it is probably too much. Obviously, not telling people you don’t know well might be one thing, but hiding it from others who are close to you is entirely different. An addict will often lie to even people that are close to them.

Symptom #2: You are having trouble setting your boundaries

A recreational gambler can go into a casino with a $20 bill and ensure that they do not spend more than that. Someone with an addiction though will go in with the mind of only spending that $20 bill but in the end they find themselves at an ATM or using a credit card.

Symptom #3: Gambling even if you don’t have the money

Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. This means that not everyone has extra money left over after they pay the bills and buy groceries. If you are using credit cards or funding your gambling with loans then you likely have a gambling issue. This is an extreme red flag that you could be addicted.

Symptom #4: Friends and family are concerned about you

Obviously the above three symptoms are subjective. Someone who is truly addicted would look at those symptoms and perhaps make excuses for themselves about why they are not truly addicted. They might believe that just because they borrowed money doesn’t mean they are addicted. Or perhaps just because they spend a little more money than they had planned every time, that’s like going to a car dealership and never buying a car. Eventually you will. This situation is quite different though! Knowing that family and friends are concerned is a good indication that they have seen that you gamble to much to be considered just a recreational gambler.

The biggest concern isn’t want our family and friends think though. It is our walk with Jesus Christ that is the biggest concern. Most addicts find themselves in a situation where Money or Gambling itself has become a bigger focus than God himself. Therefore, even though the bible doesn’t directly mention gambling as a sin, having an addiction or passion that sits in our heart in the place of where God should sit is a sin.

Just to get this started, I think it is important to realize that smoking is prevalent in our society. Almost anywhere you go you will see someone either standing outside of the building smoking, or perhaps smoking inside of restaurants. This is because as an American our society has nearly a quarter of its males smoking cigarettes. Women are slightly down with 18%. Still, these are staggering numbers with how cigarettes have become addictive and the problems we face in our society in terms of health.

But, what does God say about smoking? Is it actually a sin? I personally avoid using the common scripture that most non-smoking Christians use when they say use 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I believe what Paul was getting at here was that you have a body; in general, you should be taking care of it. But where do you draw the line? Why is smoking any worse than what I do on a good Thanksgiving dinner? I mean, every time I go to a buffet I probably down enough food that could feed a small country it would seem. Obviously, this isn’t good for you. People like to point the finger. For this reason, I won’t come out and say that if you smoke you are sinning.

I will say that I do have spiritual reasons for why I do not smoke though. It is not just because I wasn’t raised in a house where there were no smokers and it is generally bad for you. There is more to the picture than that. It has everything to do with my witnessing to others. As Christians, we are infamously known for telling people to do one thing, but living our life a totally different way. This is a scary thought! How can I spread the gospel in a convincing fashion if my actions don’t back up what I say? I’m not saying I don’t sin. I’m simply saying that we should take every measure possible to impact others with the gospel. Paul didn’t just write three quarters of the New Testament and live his life anyway he wanted to. Rather, he backed up what he preached and put his life on the line for the gospel. Ephesians talks about weighing those things that are on the line and asking yourself, is this helping or hurting me? It is not talking physically it is talking spiritually. I would say that smoking certainly hurts your witness to others. People will want to see you living your life different than others who are no Christians. Otherwise, how can you tell them that God has changed your life? This is a scary thought that I wouldn’t be able to identify how God has changed me to anyone who asked. After all, being delivered from the addiction of smoking is a great testimony for anyone!

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Cocaine is one of those drugs that often get overlooked. It isn’t because people are not aware of its problems; there are just so many hard drugs on the market that this one does not always get the attention that it probably deserves. Cocaine is highly addictive and very destructive. The most glaring problem to me though is the fact that 14.7% of all Americans who are older than 12 years of age have tried cocaine at least one time in their life. This means that nearly 15% of the people you probably work with have tried it. When you go to your child’s school functions like a basketball or football game, of those in the stands, 15% have tried cocaine at least once. Some of those may be existing addicts as well.

The number drastically increases when you look at adults between the age of 24 and 36. In fact, it is 25% of adults that fit that age range that has tried Cocaine. So the number goes exceptionally higher when you start talking about people who probably have younger children. To know that these are the types of people that our children are potentially associating with is something that makes me scared for what my children might encounter as they are going to school or go to spend the night with even those families that I know well.

So what does the bible say about cocaine addiction? Obviously, the word cocaine did not exist back when the bible was written. However, we can look at the addiction problems that were occurring during this time, and probably the most relative one would be the fact that many people were addicted to wine during the time Jesus walked the earth. Galatians 5:19-21 says this, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Essentially, drug addiction such as alcoholism could be compared to sexual immorality, envy, and even sorcery. Paul thought that all of these grouped together had one thing in common. Drug addiction is clearly sinful.

Paul also wrote in Ephesians this, ““All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.” What is Paul getting at here? In my opinion, Paul is saying that there are probably many things out there that sit on the border of good and bad. It is a clear vision for me, but even if it isn’t for you, is what you are doing helpful in furthering your relationship with God? If not, should you be doing it? This is the biggest problem with drug addiction is that those who are seriously addicted will think about nothing else other than where to get their next high. The unfortunate part is that the drugs take the place in our mind of where God should be.

Here is a wonderful article by  Sharon S. Roy   Having a daily diet of God in our lives well help ease life’s struggles, and give us an additional means of support.  Here at Christian Help for Addiction Onine we hope to provide our readers with up to date articles on addictions and gett addiction help online.  Christian Addiction Help is unque, in that it relies on God as our higher power.  Enjoy the article. 

Does the mention of God make you a bit nervous? And does that remain true even as you seek more spiritual connection in your life? This paradox defined my own journey for many years. Religion turned me off — the more people talked about it, the more I shut down. Many who practiced some form of organized religion didn’t walk the talk and I figured I didn’t need whatever they were offering anyway; I was smart enough to handle life on my own. Because they weren’t perfect spokespeople for God, I minimized his role in my life.

A miracle happened when a beautiful woman named Barbara told me God doesn’t like religion either; he likes relationships. That made me curious. As I stopped letting humans speak for God and took responsibility for getting my own information, my ignorance and judgment fell away. I began to pursue God and immediately saw that he had first pursued me. Many of my struggles and adverse circumstances over the years were the times God was knocking. Knock, knock, knock. Hey, Sharon! Need some help? In my mind’s eye, I see myself lifting my arm in a dismissive, arrogant wave and replying, No thanks, I got it!

I know that many people still feel that way. As a life coach, I began to search for a fresh way to talk about God so I could share the power of knowing him with my clients. I also wanted a simple plan of action. How does someone get to know God anyway? The steps I took to reach out to God grew organically from a very messy time in my life. My way worked for me, but it didn’t seem very easy to replicate

Recently, I was introduced to Adam Jablin, a successful Florida businessman and recovering addict, who allowed God to help him in his recovery from addiction. Adam now bravely speaks and writes about his experiences. Not being a big fan of small talk, I immediately started asking him deeply personal questions about the role of faith in his recovery. Amazingly, he answered me, a complete stranger, with refreshing, ego-free frankness.

“For me, it’s a constant letting go, a surrendering,” Adam said. “My faith started with a belief that if I go to meetings, find a sponsor, work the 12-steps, and be of service, then I will stay sober. It built from there. When I prayed for something, miracles happened and I noticed that every time I let go, God did all the work! Before I knew it, my faith was about much more than just staying sober. God helps me to accomplish all my dreams, and then some. I am a co-creator.”

Since Adam had confessed that he hadn’t always been a fan of religion, I asked about the words someone used to first open his mind to the idea of a powerful, personal relationship with God. Adam sent me the following excerpt from his book, Confessions of a Lotsaholic, describing a meeting with the spiritual advisor at the rehab center he went to.

I felt drawn to Father Ron immediately. As I entered his office, he shook my hand and grasped my arm. After a time of getting acquainted, he said, “Adam. Do you see that mark I left on your arm?” I stared at my arm looking for ink or markings of some sort.  

“No, Father. I don’t.”
“Please look again…look deeper.”
I stared at my arm seeing absolutely nothing. “Sorry. I see nothing.”

“Adam, I am going to begin to open your eyes now, so you may actually see God.”

NO WAY! Whoa. See God?
“I did leave a mark on your arm there. I left my fingerprints, and even though you do not see them, they are there. If we had a UV light we could easily spot them on your arm, and all over this room,” he said. “It’s the same way with the Higher Power you and I refer to as God. Even though you cannot see him, he is there, son. You have to…are you ready?” he paused, “Trust. You have to trust that he is always with you, around you, inside of you … and in everything this Universe offers.”

That moment changed my life forever. In my entire life, except for my daughter’s birth, I had never felt so connected and aware of a power greater than myself. I had also never been so conscious of that same power inside of me. My body and mind stayed in the room with Father Ron while my spirit opened its arms and welcomed in the light.

“Let’s begin with prayer. First off, God knows you, Adam. He is you. He is inside you, so you may speak to him any way you want. I see your strong muscles. I bet you eat a healthy diet. Three square meals a day?”

“More like seven.”
“Perfect,” Father Ron said. “Now, the way you got those muscles is exactly how we are going to get you more spiritually aware of God. I want you to have three meals a day of prayer to get this connection big and strong like your body.

 

Father Ron went on to create a spiritual diet for Adam that was complete and accessible. Here at last were some steps to God I could share. 

Spiritual Breakfast
Thank God. Be as specific as you can. Like a good thank you note, let God know what you are grateful for and why; let him know how his gifts make you feel. If you can’t think of anything to be grateful for, be glad for the air he gives you to breathe. Think of where you’d be without it. Feel the gratitude seep into your bones as you talk to God and find more things to be grateful for. Now offer to share yourself. Say something like, “God, you’ve given me so much. How can I help others?” Seek opportunities to be God’s hands on earth today.
 
Spiritual Lunch
Look for God. He is all around you and in you. If you aren’t seeing him, it’s because you aren’t looking. Be observant. Look in nature. Look in inspirational literature. Dive into the beautiful mysteries and truths of the Bible. Look for God in other people. See God’s work in acts of kindness and create some of your own.
 
Spiritual Dinner
Thank God. Find three reasons to be grateful. He may not have given you all that you wanted today, but he gave you all you need. He always does. Be grateful for all of the good that you are. Ask for forgiveness where you might have fallen short. Forgive yourself. Forgive those who have hurt or offended you. Let it all go. Ask for blessings and protection for your loved ones.

These steps are simple and only take a few moments a day. Simple, but not easy. Like any new habit, it will require focus and discipline to make God a part of your life. It’s supposed to be that way; God wants us to stay focused on him even as the world tries to distract us in a multitude of ways. You always have free will to make a choice: Will today be a day of living toward God or away from him? Try both and see which you prefer.
 
As you begin to reap the benefits God has in store for you, you will want to talk to him longer, more often, and in your own way. There is no way to do this wrong for God knows your heart and he knows what you need. He has always been there for you. The moments of prayer are more for your own discovery than his. Follow your intuition to make your relationship with God personal and true for you.

How does a person overcome an addiction? This one can be very difficult, while on the other hand, it can be the simplest thing to do. Though an addiction may have control over a person’s life, there are several ways that we can overcome them. Some simply overcome an addiction by going to addiction groups, while others can seem to just drop the addiction. There were several addictions in my life that the Lord helped me get rid of instantly when I became a Christian. There were however, a few that he did not help me overcome immediately such as; smoking cigarettes and marijuana. Marijuana was an addiction I had to fight to overcome.

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the first and most important step in one’s life, when trying to overcome an addiction. Can a person overcome an addiction without the Lord’s help? There are many that do overcome addiction without knowing the Lord, however, most of these do consist of using programs based on biblical founding’s. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded by two men who used biblical principles for overcoming alcohol addiction. Though there has been some debate as to the relationship these two men had with the Lord, the overwhelming evidence shows, that Bill W. and Dr. Bob were in fact, Christian men at the time they formed AA.

Since AA has become less God oriented, many churches have felt it necessary to form their own addiction programs. These programs can be very successful in helping even a lost person overcome their addictions. Church oriented programs seem to stay more in the word of God, they also try to create a more trustworthy atmosphere. While Alcoholics Anonymous uses the term, “higher power, who ever you hold that to be,” church oriented programs use God, period. While bonding is good for both AA and the church, the church also uses the power of the written word of God. The 12 step program of AA can be very effective. However, as a Christian there is a phrase in the both the second a third steps of AA’s 12 step program, that needs to be corrected. The second step states; “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity,” and the third step states; “Made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God as we understand him to be.” These two steps need to be corrected when using a Christian addiction program. Instead of “a power greater” in the second step, it needs to be replaced with God, and “as we understand him to be” in the third step, needs to be completely removed.

Alcohol is not the only addiction this 12 step program can work on. There are many other addictions that can benefit from this program. Smoking, drugs, sex and over eating are just a few. An addiction can simply be defined as: anything that has control of your life. TV can be an addiction; work, sports, internet, video gaming or virtually anything, can be an addiction if we allow it to be. The key to overcoming these addictions is first and foremost, God. Find a good Bible believing, Bible teaching church, that has an addiction program and get involved in it. Many of these church related addiction programs use a version of the 12 step program Alcoholics Anonymous uses. The main difference with the church programs is, they use the one true God. They do not or, should not, use the terms, “a higher power”, or “God as we understand him to be.”

God can also be an addiction, in one sense of the word. God can, and should have complete control of our lives. If we will allow God to have control of our life, then there is nothing that we cannot accomplish through his strength and power. God will not take control of our life however, unless we ask and allow him to. God gives us the final decision as to what we do and how we live our lives. How will you choose to live yours? Will you ask God to have control, and allow him to lead your life in everything you do, or will you let something or someone else have that control? Whether you believe it or not, if you don’t allow God into your life through Christ Jesus, then satan has control. If you’re not living for God, then you are living for the world, and that is the same as satan having you right where he wants you. You have to make a choice.