I have used the following VisaNote in our Bible Recovery Group as a way to show how important it is to “renew the mind” according to the Scriptures. Addiction here is thought of as the “self-will” of a person, as a broad definition. Obviously, veterans in recovery and all people for that matter, have specific addictions, i.e. pornography, alchohol, drugs, food, texting, etc. The goal is to renew the mind by replacing harmful addictions with the word of God (Romans 12:1-2).
This lesson begins by reading the following parable:
I Am the True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and abear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
The addiction tree is a visual representation of how we go about making lasting holy fruit.
1. There is visible fruit and the invisible root. We find that our choices and our thoughts occur within the invisible realm of our soul and thinking.
2. The soul is made up of the intellect, will, and emotions. We make choices based on our thoughts. If our thoughts are corrupt or ungodly then they will bear fruit in the visible realm of our lives where they can be seen by all.
3. Visible fruit is manifested primarily by a thought which manifests itself into an attitude, expressing itself in an action and if repeated, into a habit.
4. Addiction occurs when bad habits are sown by wrong thinking giving birth to addiction (self-will).
5. Will power is not enough to break the nature and cycle of addiction
6. The “pickle analogy” is a good visual of how foods when “pickled” take on a different flavor than its own. Similarly, Christians who pickle or sow themselves into wrong thinking (stinkin-thinkin) will smell something other than what they were created to be.
7. The only way to smell correctly and destroy addictions which have been created by choices is to renew the mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2).
