The seven core scriptures take us from, understanding our emotions, asking God for help, changing our thinking, delegating control to Christ, God reciprocates with a Helper that facilitates with fruit or values, such as self control and our replacing our old selves and becoming New Creations.
2 Corinthians 5: 17 “ if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (Replaced).
We have learned that all addictions serve an emotional purpose. Psychology has shown us that we all seek control of how we feel. Addiction is a behavior used to regain control of our emotions/feelings, with a displaced behavior. A direct behavior also allows us to regain control of our emotions because it empowers us. You don’t feel trapped and helpless when you feel empowered. Christ Driven Behavior (CDB), that honors God is the ultimate direct healthy behavior because it comes with a built-in mentor that can empower us! You no longer act with old substitute displaced behaviors but instead replaced with new direct CDB that honors God! You have replaced the old with the new!
In the Heart of Addiction book, Lance Dodes' teaches us that addiction is a displaced-substitute behavior used to regain control over an intolerable, overwhelming emotional state (helpless, trapped, powerless, out of control) with a displaced behavior. Dodes' demonstrates that we can regain control with a direct healthy behavior that will empower us and when we do, there is no addiction!
Jesus Christ teaches us to keep our emotions under control (Proverbs 29:11), ask Him for help (Mathew 28:11) transform our thinking (Romans 12:2), Delegate (surrender) control to God (2 Cor. 12: 9-10) and GOD will reciprocate by empowering us with the help of Holy Spirit (John 14:16), that will enable us to regain control with direct healthy behavior, motivation, purpose and fruit of the Holy Spirit or values (Galatians 5:22-23). (Note self-control is one of those fruits or values!). When we understand and follow these seven scriptures, we become New Creations! ( 2 Corinthians 5:17).
Dr. Lance Dodes doesn't know it, but Jesus Christ has been teaching this same behavioral principle for more than 2000 years. Christ teaches that in order to regain control over helpless circumstances, control your emotions, come to Him for help, change your thinking, delegate control to Christ and the Helper will come, giving joy and self-control resulting in a new creation. Christ will show us the difference between the quick fix or mood changer of displaced behavior and how to regain control of our emotions and our lives with direct healthy behavior. It’s not rocket science. It’s behavior science and scripture given to us by none other than our Creator who wants nothing more than for us to behave in His image! Genesis 1:26-27
When we become New Creation, we start on the process of, “Sanctification Rehab.” Sanctification is the process by which believers are progressively transformed into Christlikeness in commitment, conduct, conversation, and character. Alas, we are being molded into the image and likeness of God that we were designed to be! The process of Christian character building is one in which we move from self-centeredness to God-centeredness (Matt. 16:25; Phil. 2:5-11). Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us. Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that begins with faith in Christ. And the means God uses is His Word and our ability to learn from Him, to learn about ourselves, to grow closer to Him. Sanctification is a cooperative venture, based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, working to bring about a more righteous life and heart. A life where we are better able to think before we act. We must be careful, however, not to confuse the indwelling Spirit with any deification of the individual. The Holy Spirit can empower us, but we are not God. The Spirit is in the believer and works with the believer but does not become the believer. The Spirit works to produce sanctified human beings, not deified creatures. When the Spirit indwells us, He does not become human and we do not become gods. The Holy Spirit does not destroy our personal identities as human beings. In our sanctification we are to become godlike in character, but not in being.
In these troublesome times, living in a somewhat helpless Corona virus world, God wants us to grow close to Him and reflect on what is really important in life. Secular power, fame and wealth are meaningless. Faith, Family and Friends are what are important and should be valued. When our values trump our addiction, there is no addiction!
There are really only two questions to ask ourselves:
Q:What is our global purpose in life?
A: To do God’s Will.
Q: What is God’s Will?
A: To be Christ like in character but not in being. To act with direct healthy behavior that honors God and not the displaced quick fixes and mood changers of substances and other corrupt behaviors.
Recognize: your emotions
Reframe: your thinking and behaviors
Replace: the old behavior with direct Christ Driven Behavior (CDB). When you value your relationship with Jesus Christ more than your addiction, there is no addiction. This is the marriage of behavior science and scripture.
PS Trent and I have decided that when we can all meet again, we would like to start this class all over again. Thanks for your patience.
Finish the book or read it a second time. Repetition is the key to learning. The bottom line, people change when they hurt enough and have to and when they learn enough and want to. If you want to transform your thinking, “Grow close to God and He will grow close to you.” James 4:8. Neurons that wire together, fire together. Where attention goes, neurofiring flows and neuro-connections grow! When you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, neural engrams are formed, new pathways are formed in our prefrontal cortex. This is the neuroplasticity of transformative thinking and learning. This is how we become New Creations. This is the synergy of addiction science and scripture.
Spread the empirical evidence of direct Christ Driven Behavior (CDB), while discouraging the dissemination of myth, hysteria and hype. Change your thinking and change your life.
The Victory Prayer:
Lord, I invite you into my life today. Guide my footsteps and help me make wise decisions in order to manage my feelings, my emotions. Help me to regain control over emotional circumstances in life, that make me feel helpless, trapped, powerless and lacking control. I accept that I cannot control everything and I delegate that control to you, so that you will transform my thinking and empower me, through the Holy Spirit.Empower me to regain control over adversity with (Direct), assertive, Christ Driven values and behavior and not with (Displaced substitute behaviors), the quick fixes or mood changers of chemicals and other errant behaviors. Always allow me to be sensitive to Your Will, especially if You desire to change my thinking, plans and behavior.
The opposite of Addiction is Connection
Closing VICTORY Prayer:
Lord, I invite you into my life today. Guide my footsteps and help me make wise decisions in order to manage my feelings, my emotions. Help me to regain control over emotional circumstances in life, that make me feel helpless, trapped, powerless and lacking control. I accept that I cannot control everything and I delegate that control to you, so that you will transform my thinking and empower me, through the Holy Spirit. Empower me to regain control with (Direct), assertive, Christ Driven values and behavior and not with (Displaced substitute behaviors), the quick fixes or mood changers of chemicals and other errant behaviors. Always allow me to be sensitive to Your Will, especially if You desire to change my plans and behavior.
Lord, I invite you into my life today. Guide my footsteps and help me make wise decisions in order to manage my feelings, my emotions. Help me to regain control over emotional circumstances in life, that make me feel helpless, trapped, powerless and lacking control. I accept that I cannot control everything and I delegate that control to you, so that you will transform my thinking and empower me, through the Holy Spirit. Empower me to regain control with (Direct), assertive, Christ Driven values and behavior and not with (Displaced substitute behaviors), the quick fixes or mood changers of chemicals and other errant behaviors. Always allow me to be sensitive to Your Will, especially if You desire to change my plans and behavior.
