Does God want us to have fun? I 100% believe that. God created our bodies to smile and if you have noticed, we are much more attractive when we do. Our smiles light up our whole face. And God created laughter and gave our minds the capacity to see humor. He created the very hormones that are released when we’re enjoying ourselves. He gave us these natural abilities to have fun so that we wouldn’t have to seek out other ways to do so. So that we wouldn’t have to compromise our wisdom and discernment in order to find enjoyment.
But somewhere along the way, the devil sold us a very tempting lie. That life can be more fun if we add some drugs or alcohol. But the very fact that these chemicals have an impact on us is due directly to the fact that they are altering our state of mind. They are going directly to our brain and injecting their own warped perspectives on what makes something fun. But God already gave us natural hormones to allow us to feel happiness, excitement, fun. And the Bible warns us about altering our state of mind. – Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18 NLT)
To allow drugs or alcohol to alter our state of mind provides the perfect opportunity for the devil to tempt us to make choices contrary to the Spirit of God and saps us of the strength through the Spirit to say no and to flee those temptations. No one can argue how flawed our ability to make smart decisions is when we are under the influence of a mind altering chemical.
And these chemicals have tremendous power to grab a hold of us and not let go. Addiction is a very real problem that comes in a lot of different packages. Some people look like the obvious drunk or drug addict. They’re mean. They’re always trying to find their next high. Their physical appearance has even been altered. But many people around us are functioning addicts. They get up each day and go to work or take care of their families. They don’t necessarily partake in their drug of choice on a daily basis. They might even appear to be the “life of the party” when they do. But they’ve bought the lie that things are better when they’re high and whether they like to admit it or not, they have relinquished control of their life to a chemical. Now they find themselves stuck, and getting drunk or high isn’t even a choice anymore. It’s a necessity. This is not how Jesus wants our lives to be. No good can come from this.
Have you bought the lie that some things are better when you’re drunk or high? Open your eyes! The first thing to realize is what a lie that is. That life really does look and feel a lot better with out a chemically tinted reality. That what God wants for us is obviously far better than what the devil wants, and that the chemical things you use to make you feel better or to help you have fun are getting in the way of your abundant life. That God wants to help free you from the addiction that has grabbed ahold of you and to release the devils grip on your life. If you’ve acknowledged Jesus as your Savior, you have the power through him to take back control of your life.
Right now pray for Jesus to deliver you from the hold drugs or alcohol has on you, in whatever form it may be. Then allow him to bring support to you through a person or a group that can come alongside you to help you fight your battle. Just imagine how amazing you will feel when you’re not thinking about your next high or your next drink. Or waking up feeling miserable because of the night before. Just imagine how free you will feel when you have escaped the cycle of convincing yourself you’re fine one minute and regretting your choices the next. Just imagine the joy you will have when you can have fun just being yourself, knowing your choice to be sober is pleasing Jesus, too.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 KJV)
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Colossians 1:13-14 NLT)
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
Jesus said – “God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” (Luke 4:18-19 MSG)
