Prepare to Quit Alcoholنموونە

Proverbs 23:29-35 (NLT):“Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. "Don't gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”

Mindful Minute: On Day 4 of this devotional, we are looking for a continued pattern of wisdom and truth embedded in scripture. So many of us make excuses to justify turning to alcohol, even when this dependence is clearly in conflict with scriptural wisdom. God asks us to be of sober mind for a reason (Review Day 2). Noah’s drunkenness is recorded as early as Genesis (Chapter 9), and Noah's consequence of being found naked by his children captures a good example of the unfortunate truths we experience when excessive alcohol is consumed. Reread today's verse again while asking yourself if you relate to any of these consequences: anger and worry, needless arguments with others, debilitating hangovers, bloodshot eyes, and so on. Do any of those outcomes sound familiar to you?

Today’s verse also touches on what we might call “romanticizing” the substance. We glorify and gaze at it as if it holds the promise of fulfilling all our needs in life. Yet, instead, this liquid adversary bites us like a poisonous snake and stings us like a viper. There is no coincidence here that this warning is akin to the warning for Adam and Eve in the Garden when they were deceived by the serpent. Just like in the story of Adam and Eve's deception, we envision something better than what God has already promised us. We think there is something more we might be missing because of this deception, and the result is that we experience the ramifications that sting us severely.

The truth is that God’s Word was written to prevent us from suffering the ramifications of being disconnected from Him. He loves us so much that He sent his one and only son to be crucified on a cross so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. To prepare yourself to quit, continue to focus on the truth of God’s Word, the truth of your circumstances, and the truth of God’s promises in Jeremiah 29:11: “” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." There is a brighter future without this substance that is stealing your joy and peace in life. To fight this battle, use the first piece of armor that is described in Ephesians 6:14, which is the belt of truth. Make sure it is securely in place by the time you are ready to quit.

Prayer: Father, I recognize the truth embedded in your Word today. I have romanticized this substance and have allowed it to be a false distraction to the life I want to live. I want to document the truth. I want to practice truth, and I want to be armed with truth as I prepare to quit. Thank you for the sacrifice of your son on the cross so that my transgressions of the past can be forgiven, and I can look forward to your promises. In Jesus name, amen.