God Who Helps

“Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” 1 Timothy 3:1, NIV.

I was born into a Christian family, but I was not living a Christian life. As a teen I paid no attention to my parents or to the ways of Jesus. Instead I was interested in following my friends. And I did follow them into smoking, drinking and finally into drugs.

On several occasions I wanted to stop what I was doing, but I was not successful. The grip of my addictions was too strong and my willpower was too weak. I finally realized that on my own I’d never break out of my destructive habits. When I hit this low I began to remember all the things that my parents had taught me about following Jesus.

I thought, perhaps God can help me. I prayed and asked God to break these powerful habits of smoking, alcoholism and drugs. Shortly after I prayed that prayer I fell seriously ill with influenza. In the hospital I realized that God had answered my prayer.

When my friends came to visit me even the smell of alcohol or cigarette smoke made me violently ill. Many people thought the illness had reduced my body’s tolerance to drinking and smoking, but I knew that it was God who had answered my prayer. I also knew that God did not just want to heal my addictions, but He wanted me to follow Him as His child. I was 30 years old at the time.

After making the commitment to follow the LORD my life radically changed. I used to be short tempered. I had a bad relationship with my wife and children, but over time God restored my broken relationships.

My old friends did not like the changes in my life. They would taunt me saying things like, “You think you are high and mighty,” or “You think you are better than us.” I knew I was no better than them, but I was definitely better off with Jesus. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to what I was before Jesus healed me so I pretty much stopped seeing my old friends. I feared that if I spent too much time with them that I might be led back into my old ways.

I’m grateful to God for saving me, and by His grace I have been free of drugs, smoking and alcohol for sixteen years, and both my children are walking with the LORD! I know and serve the God who helps!

Pray that:

God will help and heal many Northern Thai of addictions and lead them into saving faith.

God will bless this brother’s ministry for His glory, and will grant his desire to become a pastor.

Northern Thai believers will make good choices in friends and activities so as to maintain a good witness and clear conscience before God and man.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.