...being of sober mind....a prayer for alcoholism

 

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… (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV).

I am caring for my 14 year old nephew, a very impressionable lad who looks at life and wonders, "why, I can do that, too!" Never mind that "that" can get him into a lot of trouble. With a capital T. Huge sigh. I have my work cut out for me! Slowly, though, I have been teaching him more through example than "do as I say, not as I do," mainly because kids mimic everything we adults do, much as we hate to admit that. 

To be of sober mind, as the Bible quote mentions, means that we need to be alert, be on the watch. This nephew of mine has had his share of troubles in his short life. Many were because he acted FIRST and thought about it SECOND. After the fact...isn't that what we all have done from time to time? Regrets always happen later.

How many of us are like that...we act first on impulse...then regret it come morning?

I have received many comments and replies to my posts that talk about alcoholism and this is another reason that this Bible verse came to mind. To be of sober mind. Hmmm....There are many who can take--or leave--alcohol. I sure don't mind a blended margarita from time to time, but I can leave it entirely and not think twice about it. There are others who try--fail--and try again to quit drinking. Lady Alcohol is so insidious, though. "Come to me," she implores seductively. "It won't hurt. It's only ONE drink!"  

"My wife/husband won't notice...it's just one sip..." one replies. 

"There you go, now another...come on...you know you want it..."  she beckons in reply...and so on.

There are many who arise in the morning from hangovers, vowing that the night before will not be repeated. Then comes a hard day at work...or the bills are overdue...or the kids are acting up again...or the guys at work are having a celebration about the Boss's promotion. One looks for any reason to have that excuse to live it up! And then...comes the fallout.

Drinking is insidious. It tears apart families. It creates so much stress where none should exist. The devil is in the details. He wants to bring not only the drinker down, but everyone else as well. Families are torn apart. Jobs are lost. DWI's are racked up...and so on.

If one was of sober mind...and many of us on the outside looking in are...one wonders, "why? Why do I have to deal with this AGAIN?" And the devil sits back and laughs. He prides himself on despair, on depression, on failure, doom and a myriad other things that are caused by drinking to excess.

How to deal with it?

Pray!

Oh my God....you fall to your knees and pray. You implore God to deal with that devil and all the scourges of his even being in existence! You rebuke that devil to go to hell! To do what Jesus taught us..."Get behind me, Satan!" Because one who has been drinking is powerless to do this. You must be the strong one. You are of sober mind. Don't fall for the traps the devil has laid out. He WANTS for you to walk away! He wants for you to give up on the one who is drinking. He wants for you all to go down together. Then he will walk away...and laugh. He probably even has a notepad. He has just crossed another name--or three--off his list of people he destroyed.

And there you are in the ashes.

Be of sober mind. Be the strong one. Call out to God when needed--and often!!

 Here is a prayer I have posted before. Please pray it often, every night, but especially tonight. It is Friday, it is also a holiday weekend. Be of strong mind and heart. and may God bless you all!

Dear Lord,

We come to you and we pray for all those who are struggling tonight. We ask in the name of Jesus, that you be with each person who is struggling with addiction...whether it be alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, food...sometimes it's more than one at a time.

Lord, you are our deliverer. We can do anything through Christ who strengthens us...but, we must take the first step. We must realize we have a problem and a need... and we must ask for help. We ask Lord, that you will give each person the courage to face up to their problems and to have a strong desire to change.

We ask that you will remove all outside influences that hinder them from coming clean and who perpetuate their addictions. We ask in Jesus' name, that you will bind the enemy and that you will put your angels about each person to protect them tonight from themselves and from the things that keep dragging them down. Lord, we know many self medicate so they won't have to deal with the pain in their life. We pray that you will give them the courage and strength to face down their demons and hurts... and to clean out the wounds once and for all, so they can be free to be the person that you've called them to be...to be free from the sickness and pain that keeps them in bondage.

We ask for healing in families torn apart by addiction. We ask for protection for those family members that are in harm's way because of their loved one's addictions. Lord, everyone suffers in a family where there is addiction. Please pour out your grace, mercy and healing power on each person who has been affected by someone with an addiction.

May the chains be broken tonight, Lord. Set the captives free and please begin that healing that only you can bring. Please bring hope...give a vision of what life can be like for a person freed from pain and addiction. Lord, for every need spoken or unspoken... and you know them all, we ask for your provision.

Please bring people into their lives that will stand beside them and help them to be accountable and will help them to stay clean and free. May you restore their sense of self-worth, may they find redemption and restoration in you Lord. We praise you and thank you Lord for the work you are going to do. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV).