Power to Overcome Addictions: Be Transformed by the Renewing of the Mind
A Bi-weekly Column by LaKeisha Rainey-Collins
I’ve missed you so much! I am elated to be back with my EEW family after giving birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy. I am doing very well post-partum, and little Jorden is such a sweet baby, fitting in perfectly with his two big brothers. Thanks so much to those of you who prayed for my family and I during such an exciting time in our lives. I am ecstatic about this new season in my life, and I feel so blessed to be able to share it with you.
Since giving birth to my son, I have picked up a really bad habit – a very strong attraction to junk food. To some, that may not be much of a big deal, but if you spent one day with me, you’d probably want to give me an intervention. It’s bad…really bad.
When I awake in the morning, instead of heading to the kitchen to whip up a nice, balanced breakfast, I’m reaching for doughnuts. Although in my mind I know this is unhealthy, the craving for my guilty pleasure is so loud and adamant, that it makes me blind to a healthier alternative. I am often impulsive in my choice to indulge myself, and satisfy my sweet tooth, and I don’t think about my decision until after the fact.
That’s when it hits me. “Keisha, you shouldn’t have done that.” But by then, it’s too late. The damage is done. The guilt has set in. Impulsion wins.
Now, I know all too well about the damage of impulsive behavior. In fact, I used to identify myself as an impulsive person – acting before thinking. My inability to control my thoughts before they became actions played a major role in my addiction to pornography, sex, and alcohol. Because I felt like I just couldn’t help myself, I would give over to my urge for things I knew were detrimental to my spiritual well-being.
While in the midst of satisfying my flesh, I didn’t give thought to how I’d feel afterwards. In the moment, it really didn’t even matter. Once that temporary fulfillment was gone, guilt would hit me like a ton of bricks. But you know what? I remained entangled in my addictions for years, because I could not get a grip on my impulsiveness.
I often pleaded for God to deliver me from my addictions, but failed to realize one vital point. I needed to learn to control my thoughts. If I could control my thoughts, I could control my actions. If I could control my actions, I could change my behaviors. As one of my favorite sayings goes, “change your mind, change your life.”
So then my prayer was not only for God to deliver me, but I prayed Philippians 2:5, which says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” I realized that if I could take on the mind of Christ, my entire thought process would change; thus helping me to redirect my unhealthy, impulsive behavior that had caused me to become entangled in sin.
Now that I’m free, (Hallelujah!) I don’t want to allow even the smallest impulsive behavior to creep in, unless it drives me to the things of Christ. So, as for me and my impulsive behavior towards junk food, y’all pray for a sista! I don't want to give any room to that old devil.
If you, like me, struggle with impulsiveness, whether you’re driven to making unnecessary shoe purchase or have another drink, join me in seeking God for the willpower to control your thoughts and replace your unhealthy behavior with positive activity. When you and I get the urge to act on impulse, let's just stop and pray. God is able to help us overcome our struggles. I know it because He has helped me so many times before.
While I don’t recommend acting before thinking in practical matters, there are times when impulsiveness can be a good thing.
Be impulsive about prayer.
Be impulsive about praise.
Be impulsive about worship.
Be impulsive about Bible study.
Be impulsive about living a Christ-centered life at all times.
Those are some things we should all do without hesitation.
I know most of us struggle with impulsiveness, unhealthy habits, and addictions in some area. But thank God for the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He is our helper despite our weakness.
Do you struggle with self control when it comes to junk food too? If not, are there any other areas where you struggle with impulsiveness? How do you address those tendencies? Share your thoughts with me!
LaKeisha Rainey-Collins is a wife, mother of two beautiful boys and inspirational blogger. She believes that God has purposed her to use her gift of writing to share her experiences as a Christian woman, wife, and mother, in order to touch the hearts of other women just like her.
Email LaKeisha:
kcollins@eewmagazine.com
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25 Comments
Reader Comments (25)
So glad to see you back! Congratulations on the new baby. I have a problem with junk food too and I know I need to quit. It's like sweets are my cryptonite! lol Pray for ME too!
I struggle with promiscuity and I felt like this was written for me. After being molested by my uncle at age 10 I never had a healthy relationship with men so I fooled around in lesbianism too. God has been working on cleaning me up but getting victory over a stronghold like that is not easy. I will take this article with me and apply it. I love the "Change your mind change your life" quote. It's my new favorite! Thank you for being open and sharing. God bless you and your family.
I am SO impulsive!! OMG It is especially bad with "falling" for guys. I am a hopeless romantic so I have been know to think that everyone is THE ONE. I am working on it and being more cautious and careful. I love what you said about the things we SHOULD be impulsive about. I'm applying that ASAP. Amen.
Girrrrl, you pulled my card today!! I am a SHOP-A-HOLIC. I felt so convicted after reading this. Pray for a sista!
I missed you and your articles!! Glad to see you back!!! Them donuts are LETHAL aren't they? LOL!!! I have hard time saying no to PEOPLE. I am impulsive in that way. I jump into situations to please others and I wind up messing myself up. The Lord has been dealing with me in this area and I'm a work in progress but I'm getting there.
I appreciate you always being open and honest!
Great article! Welcome back.
I praise almighty God for your testimony of deliverance LaKeisha. Your life stands as a testament to the grace of God. He is able to set free! I was bound for years and was self-harming. Drugs, alcohol and anything that could numb my pain was what I turned to day after day. But thank God for Jesus who gave me victory!
Welcome back!!! What a wonderful blessing to add to your family.
We both are going to need rehab! I have a mean sweet tooth also but my BIGGEST vice is cans of soda. I picked up that habit when I was in college and have never let it go. I'm turning over a new leaf.
Hey ladies!! It's SO great to hear from you. I'm excited about being able to interact with you...YAY!! Looks like I need to go into some serious warfare for those of us entrapped by the grip of the sweet tooth! Get thee behind! LOL!!
But in all seriousness, I'm glad that this article resonated with each of you in some way. From sweets to promiscuity, we are all able to be loosed from that which binds us. I can relate to all of the forms of impulsion you've shared so far, but by the transforming power of the Holy Ghost, I'm able to walk in freedom...as can you.
I'll talk a bit more in-depth about why we become impulsive about things and how they become addictions next time, so stay tuned.
Thanks so much for your comments!
Put my name on the list first for casting out that sweet tooth demon. LOL!! Glad your back, but I guess I already said that! :))
I love how open you are! This helps me a lot becuz I struggle wit guilt for not being perfect. I still struggle with fornication and i'm prayin and trustin for deliverance. I need to be MORE impulsive about the right things not the wrong wrongs.
You're back!!!!!!! It felt like forever! I'm so happy for you and your husband. Babies are such a true blessing especially when you do things the right way. I have a terrible habit of overspending not just on clothes but on everything. I am a "label whore" and want the finest of EVERYTHING. This leaves me in debt and living above my means a lot. Need to work on it! Thanks for sharing your story and struggle.
Awesome word, Keisha!!!! Love it, Love it is!!! And a great big welcome back!!!! ;-)
Melissa, I've got you girl!! Thanks for the welcome back...I miss y'all!
Mona, you don't have to be perfect, because we have a perfect God who is able to perfect everything that concerns you. As you become more impulsive about the things of Him, you will find that the struggle will become less and less of a stronghold. I know it can be hard, but I believe that you can do it. God has given you the power to overcome. I'm praying for you.
Hi, Devin! Thank you! And I'll be praying for you, that God will help you find a healthy balance with your spending. Thanks for sharing.
Kennisha!!! Thank you, sis!
What a wonderful article!! I certainly understand impulsive behavior. Growing up, I watched so many family members make compulsive and impulsive decisions over and over again. I vowed not to be in that boat. My obsession to not be impulsive created a very long season of indecisiveness. Imagine that! There were moments I was frozen with thoughts. Today is a day like that. I have been praying all day for the Lord to release these anxieties. And once I read your article He spoke to me. I realized I just needed to open my mouth and not suffer like this. I am praying with you and asking for prayer also.
Yolanda, I know what it's like to be indecisive and frozen in your thoughts. I've experienced anxiety over my thoughts MANY times. I'm thankful, though, that we can lay our thoughts at Jesus' feet, and in turn, He'll calm us.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing. You're in my prayers.
I think we could just start a whole Junk Food Anonymous!! I KNOW I would be the first in line. I also find it hard to pull myself away from TV. My "favorite shows" have multiplied over the years and it takes away from my time with the Lord. I need to be more diligent about getting in my word. Thanks for this great post!
Welcome back!!!!!! I have been waiting for your return. Praise God that your delivery was safe. I saw a picture of your beautiful son in EEW a while back. God is so good. This article is another great one from ya! God bless sister.
I have made mistakes over and over and over again with my temtations. I had surgery over 3 years ago and got hooked on my medications. It was donwhill from there. I feel like I have lost control of my life and I am tired of living a lie. The drugs are controlling me and i need deliverance.
Welcome back, LaKeisha. You gave some good alternatives to going for the junk food or any addiction we might have. As always, thanks for your transparency. It's so refreshing and disarming.
Doris, sign me up. I'm in!! I know all about being hooked to the TV. I had it seriously bad, but went "cold turkey" about a year ago. I had to get delivered, LOL!! Start eliminating one show at a time...you'll be amazed at how much time it frees up.
Tesha, thank you for missing me! :-) God bless you, too!
Tempted, you are an overcomer through Christ. I am praying for you. Expect victory!
Rhonda, thanks sis! I appreciate your love, support, and encouragement.
I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH TEMPERANCE IN MANY AREAS, NOT JUST FOOD. I NEED TO PRAY AND SEEK GOD MORE ABOUT THIS STRUGGLE. THANKS FOR THE AWESOME WISDOM OFFERED UP HERE.
*Sneaks donut* I'll be better next week. Y'all pray for me!