I really think i need help...

[CathyE]

Hi Guys and Girls
Cathy, 37 female from Pretoria, South Africa. I think i'm an alcoholic. I don't drink at all inthe day. But come night time.... as i step into my house, this THING comes over me and i feel like a WHISKY.(and i can have about 6 a night if i have to - large doubles, on the rocks (hard liquor). I am a reborn child of Christ and still smoke as well. I pray every day for God to deliver but i think He wants me to do a bit of work myself first. My husband, got delivered BOOM! quick one day from cigarettes. I often wonder why i am not also delivered the same way? But i learnt and repented to God since for even questioning Him. I love God.
I think, that i don't drink because i miss anything, i think i'm simply PHYSICALLY addicted and i LIKE booze. And therefore i SIN when i do it.
I have another question? If i was not this way, and i had say, one glass of wine a week at a special dinner or something? Is that wrong? I struggle....

 

[Krystina661]

I was an alcoholic for about 4 years. I never drank much during the day. Sometimes I would have a little something before I would go out just to feel a little buzzed.. but mostly I would drink in the evenings. At one point I was drinking 3 bottles of wine every other night.. or I would drink a lot of brandy.. or a 12 pack of beer..



It ruined my life. I've done so many things I regret but I learned a lot. It's not easy but you can overcome drinking. I would still have a drink every now and then but don't crave anymore. The reason is because I quit smoking. I have no desire to drink if I can't smoke and drink at the same time. Maybe your first step would be to try and quit smoking. Very hard to do but if you are truly worried about your problem then you can find the strength inside to overcome your addictions. I'm not saying it would be an easy road but.. everytime you feel weak just pray to God and he will give you the strength.


Also.. I don't think having a glass of wine for dinner is wrong or right. I have no idea. Some Christians think any drinking is wrong while others think drinking in moderation is ok. In my opinion.. because you already have a drinking problem I wouldn't have any alcohol in general. Find out the root of your problems and why you turn to alcohol in the first place.

 

[JaneFW]

Hi Guys and Girls
Cathy, 37 female from Pretoria, South Africa. I think i'm an alcoholic. I don't drink at all inthe day. But come night time.... as i step into my house, this THING comes over me and i feel like a WHISKY.(and i can have about 6 a night if i have to - large doubles, on the rocks (hard liquor). I am a reborn child of Christ and still smoke as well. I pray every day for God to deliver but i think He wants me to do a bit of work myself first. My husband, got delivered BOOM! quick one day from cigarettes. I often wonder why i am not also delivered the same way? But i learnt and repented to God since for even questioning Him. I love God.
I think, that i don't drink because i miss anything, i think i'm simply PHYSICALLY addicted and i LIKE booze. And therefore i SIN when i do it.
I have another question? If i was not this way, and i had say, one glass of wine a week at a special dinner or something? Is that wrong? I struggle....

I do believe that drinking alcohol only becomes a sin when we put our love for alcohol before our love for God. We are to love only one master - Him - and not the bottle or the joint (or money or sex etc).

That is not to be harsh - I am a recovering alcoholic myself, and I know just exactly how it is. I have had too many times when I woke up thinking "this is it, no more alcohol" but when I walked back in the house at 5pm, the first thing I would do is go to the fridge for a beer, or a glass of wine. When I drank, I didn't drink in moderation, I drank until I ran out of booze. When I was younger, I drank to blackout, or until I was sick. I've even drank myself sick, thrown up, then started drinking again. Thank God those days are over.

You are right that you need to do your part in defeating this addiction. I don't know whether you have Celebrate Recovery over there, but you can look on the Celebrate Recovery website - www.celebraterecovery.com and find out whether there is a church with CR in your area. CR is a totally Christian program, which aims to cure your "hurts, habits and hang-ups". I have attended 2 CR programs, and they were awesome! You could also try AA, but be aware that not everyone has God as their "higher power" and it is not a Christian group. But .. if you have AA and not CR, then it will be worth it to go along. Alternatively, there is an online program www.settingcaptivesfree.com which is entirely free. It is a 60 day program which is very like a bible study, because you read scripture and comment on readings, and the whole process makes you *think* about why you drink. You also get a mentor who will help you in the process.

Don't kid yourself that "if I weren't this way". You ARE this way. I could be wrong, perhaps you could be the only in 5 billion who can become a social drinker, but programs like CR, AA and SCF aim for complete sobriety, which would also entail complete obedience to God. It's not for the faint hearted!

God wants you to be free of your chains, sister, you just need to take an extra step. You will find lots of loving Christians to help you on your journey.

God bless, L

 

[huk]

Cathy,
My name is Chris and Im a recovered alcoholic.
I find this thread very interesting. Please tell me something if you can. Exactly what does it mean to you to be an alcoholic?

 

[ephraimanesti]

Hi Guys and Girls
Cathy, 37 female from Pretoria, South Africa. I think i'm an alcoholic. I don't drink at all inthe day. But come night time.... as i step into my house, this THING comes over me and i feel like a WHISKY.(and i can have about 6 a night if i have to - large doubles, on the rocks (hard liquor). I am a reborn child of Christ and still smoke as well. I pray every day for God to deliver but i think He wants me to do a bit of work myself first. My husband, got delivered BOOM! quick one day from cigarettes. I often wonder why i am not also delivered the same way? But i learnt and repented to God since for even questioning Him. I love God.
I think, that i don't drink because i miss anything, i think i'm simply PHYSICALLY addicted and i LIKE booze. And therefore i SIN when i do it.
I have another question? If i was not this way, and i had say, one glass of wine a week at a special dinner or something? Is that wrong? I struggle....

MY DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST,

i am just guessing based on my own personal past experiences, so if i am wrong, PLEASE DON'T BE OFFENDED.
What i get from reading your Post is the feeling that perhaps you are not REALLY wanting to give up the smoking and drinking even though you know you should. Soooooo . . . on the one hand are you perhaps Praying for deliverance and with the other hand hanging on very tightly? Conflicted Prayers like this, of course, cannot be answered by God. So if you are waiting for His intervention, DON'T! He has gifted us with Freewill and will not act against our TRUE wishes which, in your case, appear to be a continuation of your drinking and smoking. Prayer to be delivered from something you REALLY wish to continue could perhaps be considered hypocrisy, and this is a very dangerous thing!
i would lovingly suggest that you get honest with yourself and, more importantly, honest with God, and make up your mind one way or the other--100%--and go with your decision--100%. As God warns, "I KNOW YOUR WORKS: YOU ARE NEITHER COLD NOR HOT. WOULD THAT YOU WERE COLD OR HOT! SO, BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPEW YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH."(Revelations 3:15, 16). This is not a good thing!
MY PRAYER FOR YOU IS THAT YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE AND STICK TO IT!!!!!!

MUCH LOVE TO YOU IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[CathyE]

Cathy,
My name is Chris and Im a recovered alcoholic.
I find this thread very interesting. Please tell me something if you can. Exactly what does it mean to you to be an alcoholic?

Chris, everyone, thank you very much for responding. Chris to answer your question, to me it means something is controlling me, other than God. It means i know in my heart it is WRONG to get drunk (and it says so in the bible), yet there is that ONE SOMETHING that stops me. I pray to God because the more i pray the more i became sure of one thing. This VOID that drink fills, can only be filled by GOD! Maybe the sisters on this page is right. Maybe i don't get delivered because a part of me LIKES to drink. I started getting to think WHY i did this? Why this void? It was never there before, why now? After my divorce a few years back and subsequent new marriage to a wonderful CHRISTIAN man, the years inbetween made me feel alone. The drinking made me feel better. I was anti social and now with a few wines, i was the talk of the party. Maybe THAT's why i hang on to these bad habits?

Maybe i should take a stance. I go to bible school now. I drink now only ONE glass of whisky a night. But i HAVE TO HAVE that one glass? I still think that now makes me an alcoholic. It controls me...

I don't make sense i know... but maybe that's the problem, i can't make sense much and i have made a decision. I will not pray to God just for deliverance. Instead i'm going to focus on talking to him A LOT (all the time) and set Him first. I feel as if that is what he wants me to do. First seek Him and all the rest will be given to me....

 

[FreedIntheLord]

Chris, everyone, thank you very much for responding. Chris to answer your question, to me it means something is controlling me, other than God. It means i know in my heart it is WRONG to get drunk (and it says so in the bible), yet there is that ONE SOMETHING that stops me. I pray to God because the more i pray the more i became sure of one thing. This VOID that drink fills, can only be filled by GOD! Maybe the sisters on this page is right. Maybe i don't get delivered because a part of me LIKES to drink. I started getting to think WHY i did this? Why this void? It was never there before, why now? After my divorce a few years back and subsequent new marriage to a wonderful CHRISTIAN man, the years inbetween made me feel alone. The drinking made me feel better. I was anti social and now with a few wines, i was the talk of the party. Maybe THAT's why i hang on to these bad habits?

Maybe i should take a stance. I go to bible school now. I drink now only ONE glass of whisky a night. But i HAVE TO HAVE that one glass? I still think that now makes me an alcoholic. It controls me...

I don't make sense i know... but maybe that's the problem, i can't make sense much and i have made a decision. I will not pray to God just for deliverance. Instead i'm going to focus on talking to him A LOT (all the time) and set Him first. I feel as if that is what he wants me to do. First seek Him and all the rest will be given to me....

You are on the right track! Admitting we have a problem that we can not overcome with out the aid of God is the first step! Keep talking to Him. He will lead you the way that He wants you to go. Be obedient. If he leads you to a program of recovery, please don't hesitate to go. God does deliver us in different ways. Being honest and open with us here is a first step. I prayed and talked to God about my drinking and He did lead me to AA and then to Alcoholics for Christ. There was a void in my life and He wanted to fill it with Himself. I have come to find out that there were triggers that caused me to drink, and yes, being the life of the party got me the wrong attention. It felt good, but after a time it became negative attention. By then the habit was too much for me to handle. I prayed and prayed to die, to have a different life and to die again. I got a new life. I married an alcoholic. He was sober the day I met him, he started drinking again on our first date. We married and he got worse and worse (I drank all along this time). He went for treatment and I went on times I was allowed to visit. I went to Alanon and learned a lot about recovery. But, when he left me (he eventually got drunk again), I was left to confront my own drinking. I asked the Lord if the reason I had been having many problems in my life was because I was an alcoholic. I felt this big weight lift off my shoulders...I could feel it physically! I was on my knees and I began to cry. It has been a long road and I can tell you, I have not had to walk it alone. There have been many wonderful people that have helped me, prayed with me, and loved me inspite of myself. It is great to give back to others to by going to the meetings and sharing what happened to me. I hope you will not struggle alone. There is no need to do that. It is only pride and fear that keeps us away from the help that we need. Please find a group of people that have the same problem and are overcoming it together. You won't be sorry! God Bless and know you are not alone. Not drinking is not the problem. It is living with ourselves. And the good news is, that God can and will change us if we ask!

 

[huk]

Cathy,
Your correct about some things, and incorrect about some things. I am an alcoholic. I am an alcoholic because I drank to much, to often, for to long. There is NO other reason. Alcoholism is spiritual bankruptcy. To be totally blunt, alcoholism is gangrene of the soul. Drinking is/was not my problem. It was but a symptom of my problem. My THINKING is/was my problem. I go to church every Sunday. Now if I was a diabetic, Id stiil have to take my medication daily so I didn't flop around on the floor at church.

This VOID that drink fills, can only be filled by GOD

Your absolutley correct. But God doesn't cure the diabetic. He allows his disease to be arrested w/ meds on a daily basis. God allows me the same thing. There called meetings.

I drink now only ONE glass of whisky a night.

If you are an alcoholic, (and it's not up to me to judge) than 1 is to many, and a millions not enough. If your trying to control your drinking then it's already out of control.Because when something is IN control, then their's nothing to try to control because it's under control to begin with. And it's only a matter of time till 1 turns in 2 a night and then 3,4,5,6,7, and so on.

First seek Him and all the rest will be given to me....

Your right again, I sought him and he appeared........Through the 12 steps of alcoholic annonymous.
good luck,
chris

 

[HawaiianTropicalDude]

I began drinking at 13. I now am alcohol free. I'm a son of an alcoholic that is somewhere,we don't know where.
I choose not to drink at all right now because number one I'm under 21 and have been warned and already dealt with the legal system about it. Number two,it interfers with my judgement. I don't think for you- a drink of wine once a week or special times is anything major. I hope you see the difference bewteen getting drunk and having one drink. If you know you can't just have one,will you continue?