In 1997 I got a phone call from a girl I used to go to school with. I hadn't seen or spoken to her since school and she had no idea that I was an alcoholic. She told me that she had managed to find my number through other people that knew me because Jesus had spoken to her about me! I was freaked out and frankly gave her short shrift thinking she was mad. She said that God told her to tell me that He loved me, that He knew what I was going through and that He had a plan for me. Rubbish I thought. Anyways I took notice of this for about 5 mins then carried on doing what I did best (or so I thought) got into lots more trouble, street fights, arrests the usual.
I had just come out of psychiatric for the third time in 6 months where they had hit me on the knees again with a lot of little rubber hammers... saying "we can't find anything wrong with you" when another phone call came, this time to my sister. By this point I had nowhere to live and was sleeping anywhere I could - I just wanted to die but I didn't want to die if you can understand that. You see what I, the doctors and psychiatrists did not understand was that there was a spiritual problem at the root of my destructive behaviour.
My sister told me that her friend (who didn't know me that well - she just knew about me) had called her up and told her that God had been speaking into her heart about me. This was the second time - God was on my case BIG TIME. She asked would I come along to speak to her pastor because she knew only Jesus could save me. Am I exaggerating? No. My GP (Who had already told me to get another doctor) actually broke with code and ethics and called my family to tell them I did not have long to live. My family were actually making plans for my death! This is not a joke.
Anyway I went along to speak to the pastor. I kept asking what was wrong with me. I had been asking that for years. He didn't respond in the usual 'Freudian' fashion spouting the same old psychobabble "Possible oral fixation during the latent stage"... "What do you think is wrong with you?" etc etc etc!!! He told me I had an orphan spirit and that hole in my belly could only be filled by God not drink, drugs or women. He just spoke the truth and it pierced my heart like an arrow... "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). Why hadn't anyone told me this before I thought? I could not believe that it was so simple that I had missed it for 13 long years - you see the truth is not something but someone - Jesus. I came to the Lord that day. I was saved by the grace of God the Father and my sins were washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ His son. "I will not leave you as orphans" (John 14:18)
Since then my mind has been renewed supernaturally and God has healed me from the inside out. I AM NOT WHO I USED TO BE. I am a new creation in Christ. I do not take or use any drugs of any sort no prescription drugs or anti depressants, I don't even smoke! God did a number on me - all the glory is His I just asked - He did the rest. I am now married with a beautiful new wife... My wife Karen and I got married on a pier in Antigua in 2007 and we now each operate our own businesses... when you consider that people were stepping over me in the street just four years earlier I think you can understand the truth of this scripture "If the Son sets you free - you are free indeed" (John 8:36). Amen. Glory to God.
If you are reading this and you or someone you know has a similar problem... cry out to Jesus. God does not have favorites (Romans 2:11) what He has done for me He can do for you or for those that you love. If you are lost as I was - find the way... His name is Jesus.
"I am the way, the truth and the life"
(John 14:6)
"But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"
(Matthew 6:33)
"if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come"
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
(Jeremiah 29:11)
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"
(Romans 12:2)
Praise God.
Thank you Jesus.
Amen.