Substances

Day 3, Spiritual Warfare

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

              Freddy towed the line and kept his grades up. He went to church with his family twice a week and worked a part-time job during his senior year. He had already proposed to the girl he dated and they planned to marry soon after graduation. His part-time job would become full-time and they already had a down payment on a piece of land where they hoped to place a mobile home.

              But Freddy made a new friend at work who convinced him to try vaping to calm his nerves. He hid the vapes from his family and girlfriend, only vaping when at work with his buddy. He did feel calmer afterward, even his girlfriend noticed the difference and commented on it. Vaping seemed like the thing to do. It wasn’t like cigarettes, filled with tobacco and nicotine. Maybe he’d avoid lung cancer if he continued with this stress reliever.

              Then one day, he decided to stop at a store and purchase his own vape instead of getting them from his friend. He talked with the guy behind the counter, and he told him he’d just gotten a new line of vapes in that had a new additive to guarantee calmness and lower stress. Freddy jumped at the opportunity, bought the vape, and rode around using it.

              Immediately he felt strange. He called his girlfriend and started talking about all kinds of craziness that made no sense. And it didn’t go away. For weeks. He ended up losing his job, almost failed his last few classes, became violent with his family, was arrested, and eventually ended up in a psychiatric hospital. Whatever that vape had been laced with sent Freddy into full psychosis. It took six months of intense therapy, controlled interactions and visits with his family, lots of prayer, and times of total isolation for it to get out of his system. What started as a way to ease stress almost destroyed his whole life.

              I’ve heard stories from people who got wrapped up in the drugs and alcohol scene and they have scary things happen. Hallucinations, visits from entities, unrealities that seem true, visions and dreams filled with demons and evil, and even voices that tell them to harm themselves. I one hundred percent believe that drugs and alcohol are the open doors for Satan for him to come in and begin working evil in our lives.

              Most people are running away from things they feel are too difficult to deal with. Or they are in need of medicating their pain. If I was the enemy, I’d absolutely use these substances to gain more control and access to people’s minds and motives. I’ve never heard of anything positive happening when a person becomes addicted to drugs, alcohol, vapes, or cigarettes. I have, however, seen relationships broken apart, friendships ended, family ties severed, and lives lost or taken as a result.

              We are in a battle and Satan will use any and everything to gain access to a person. When we are tired and want to numb the pain, remember that we have a healer who longs for us to turn to him in all situations. He is the balm for our broken souls. Alcohol, drugs, vapes, or cigarettes won’t help like Jesus will. They may help for a short moment, but what have we forfeited by opening the door to evil in our lives?

Do the Heart Work

1.      How have you seen substances in a person’s life open the door to evil?

2.      Why do people run to substances instead of Jesus?

3.      Do you have an addiction problem? Are you turning to substances instead of Jesus? Why?

Digging Deeper

1 Peter 5:6-9 (NIV) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

              When we get overwhelmed, stressed out, or burdened, we need to run to Jesus. Remember, we are in a spiritual battle every day and when we allow ourselves to be controlled or ruled by something else, there’s no way we are choosing God’s side.

If You Get Spare Time

              Examine your heart and mind.  Has the enemy gained access to your life through substances? If so, ask yourself why the need for those items is so necessary to your existence. If there is no legitimate reason to continue, pray for the willpower and desire to stop. Even consider therapy or a recovery group if you need help beyond the basic level.