Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Breaking Free From Addiction - You're An Overcomer

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns


Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc.

“Multiplying God’s Word Around The Globe”

 August 3, 2016

You’re An Overcomer

Do you see yourself as an overcomer? According to the word of God, that’s what we are called to be. But we have a part to play in it. We must see ourselves as overcomers in order to become overcomers. We must have the faith that will cause us to arrive at our destination of victory.

This morning I woke after a not so good night of sleep. I really needed to get up and just sit with the Lord. Instead I tried to sleep, but it never really came. It was a waste of my time. This morning I fell to the floor in tears needing a touch from the Lord. As I turned on my worship music, I allowed Holy Spirit to choose the songs. After I picked the first one – He took it from there. Guess what the second song was. It’s called “You’re An Overcomer” by Mandisa. It is a great song and I encourage you to pull it up on You Tube and check it out. The words are pretty good – most of them at least. Some I do not agree with, but the overall meaning is wonderful and encouraging.

I sat and listened to the words, knowing that my Father in heaven was encouraging me when I needed it the most. Then the next song was, “Jesus at the Center” by Israel and New Breed. I was amazed once again by the Sovereignty of God and His loving encouragement to me. I needed to be reminded this morning that I am an overcomer. I needed to remember to keep Jesus at the center of my focus, not how I feel.

The next song that played was the Potter’s Hand. God is so awesome. He then reminded me that He is the one working on me, like a potter forms a piece of clay. Day by day we need to be reminded that He is molding us into something so beautiful that we will clearly reflect His glory, His face. Hallelujah! I found this to be extremely comforting.

The last song was this, “I Will Bless The Lord” by Eddie James. This song picked me up off the floor and got me really singing, in spite of how I was feeling. I wanted to bless God. I wanted to focus on Him and trust Him to make me into the woman He imagined me to be when He formed me in my mother’s womb. I agreed that I am an overcomer. I do not agree like the song says that I am “down for a moment.” I will only agree that I have hope, a hope that will never disappoint, and I am and will overcome.

As a minister of the gospel, I have to spend time with the Lord and enjoy our relationship. I must be filled up and lifted up by Him before I can come and offer anything to anyone else. If I don’t, I will fail. I cannot give what I have not received.

Yesterday I had a good day with eating, praise the Lord! In the evening, after leaving a children’s birthday party and not partaking of any of the pizza, chips, soda or cake, I went home and fixed myself a healthy meal. On the way to the house, the devil came and made a suggestion. He whispered in my mind, “Why not have a carrot and just two cashews?” I thought, that sounds good. I needed something to curb the hunger, and fast since it was already past dinner time.

When I got in the kitchen and opened the pantry door, my attention was drawn to a can of artichoke hearts. I grabbed them and opened them, thanking the Lord that I had them. They are a good low carb and quick snack for times like these. I knew I had met my protein and nut quota for the day, and I passed on the cashews.

The punchline for this story is this. The Lord showed me that the devil, as deceiving as he always is, tried to get me to eat just two cashews and he tried to make it sound like it would be alright. Just two. He knows I really like them. He also knew that I was very hungry and it would be easy to just keep eating them if I would just start with two.

The Lord showed me how He would never encourage me to eat something that would throw me off track like that, even a little. He was pleased that I had followed the leading of Holy Spirit by choosing the artichokes instead. As a former addict, I share my heart and my experience with you along with how the Lord has strengthened me with a sincere desire to give you what I have been given.

May this, and especially the following scriptures be a great encouragement to you today in Jesus name! (Speak these out loud over yourself because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God – Rom. 10:17)

John 16:33

 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Revelation 2:7

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’



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