The spirit of addiction lived with me for years. At the height of my addiction, I tried to quit under my own power many times. At times, I would go for months being clean, only to fall back into the pit of addiction. As Matthew 12:43-45 suggests, I was like the man in the parable: when the unclean spirit had gone out, it wandered through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none, it returned to find the house empty, swept, and put in order. My spiritual house was empty because the Holy Spirit was not being engaged, and I was experiencing spiritual atrophy. The urge was stronger because I was relying on my own flesh.
Things are different now! My house isn’t empty; I have a new resident who is actively supporting me as my spiritual security service, my spiritual teacher, and my comforter. When the spirit of addiction comes by, I now hear more alarms. Better yet, the Holy Spirit helps me apply the Bible and proactively take preventative actions, like getting rid of temptations and locking the windows and doors.
Joining ReGen has been pivotal in this transformation. ReGen has equipped me with tools based on the Bible to deal with my addiction and grow my relationship with God. The program emphasizes the importance of engaging the Holy Spirit in every aspect of my recovery. Breaches still happen, but when they do, I have the spiritual tools to quickly fix the damage and restore my home to optimal condition. The Holy Spirit’s presence ensures that my house is no longer empty, but filled with divine strength and guidance.
In this journey, I have learned the importance of not just sweeping my house clean but filling it with the Holy Spirit. This transformation has brought a new level of spiritual security and growth, making it possible to stand firm against the spirit of addiction. Through ReGen and the power of the Holy Spirit, I am continuously being renewed and strengthened, living each day for the glory of God.