Bible Verses for Addiction Recovery

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

There is always a way out. Sometimes it's a phone call.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Recovery in Christ is not repair — it's re-creation.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Not by willpower. Through Christ.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Renewed thinking is not optional in recovery — it's the mechanism.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Submission first, resistance second. That order matters.

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

God moves toward the brokenhearted, not away from them.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

The command is not 'fix yourself.' It's 'do not fear.'

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

God's thoughts toward you are peace, even now.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

Shame is not the voice of God in a recovering saint. Condemnation is not from Him.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession opens the door to cleansing.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

God pulls people out of pits. That has always been His work.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Christ makes free. Standing free is a daily practice.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Addiction is a heavy yoke. Christ offers an easier one.

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

The Spirit fills what the substance only promised.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.”

Jesus was tempted too. He does not look down on the fight.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me… Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”

David's prayer after his own fall — a psalm for the recovering saint.