The Prayer Closet Ministries, Inc.

Praying For The Addicted

Addiction is idolatry. The addict is an idolater who has made an idol, not with his hands, but with his heart (Ezekiel 14:3). Addiction is in reality a lordship problem. The addict has surrendered himself or herself to something or someone other than God. The reason for this surrender is to meet some need or to fulfill some desire. The person turns to something or someone rather than God to meet the need or the desire.

Yet, you must realize that there are no helpless cases where Jesus Christ is concerned. The power of Jesus Christ can set the addict free. Through Him, the addict can receive hope and deliverance. This is not just a religious cliché. These are not fancy words that are empty of power and meaning. Jesus Christ is real and His power to change lives stands as an unchanging truth. You can see this power flow into a person's life through prayer. You can receive this power through prayer. Your loved one can be set free! You can be set free through the power of Jesus Christ!

The following is a prayer guide that you can use for those who are addicted. You can use these Scripture prayers to intercede for others. You could also use them for yourself if you are addicted.

Father, I plead that You would draw ________________ into a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. Let the transforming power of Jesus Christ flow into his/her life (John 3:3, 15-17).

Lord, I pray that You would grant repentance to ______________. Cause ___________ to turn from this addiction to Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

I pray that ____________ would see and understand that Jesus Christ is sufficient for him/her. Let ___________ understand that Jesus Christ can meet his/her greatest needs and that He is the only hope that he/she has (Colossians 1:15-23).

I ask that ____________ would see the dangers involved with his/her addiction. Open _____________'s eyes to the damage and destruction that his/her addiction will bring into his/her life. Take away _____________'s blindness concerning the danger and destruction of his/her addiction (Proverbs 14:12).

Father, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that You would break the demonic strongholds in ________________'s life. Through the blood of Jesus and the authority of His name, I plead that You would remove the demonic powers away from _____________ and send these evil spirits to the pits of hell. I ask in the name of Jesus that You would remove any influence that Satan or his demons have in ______________'s life (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Father, I ask You to annihilate any pleasure, satisfaction, or comfort that _____________'s addictive behavior provides him/her. Let ___________ find no benefit or help in the addictive behavior. Cause this addiction to be bitter in his/her sight (Hosea 2:6-7; Ezekiel 37:23).

Holy Spirit, I pray that You would destroy the grip that this addiction has on ____________'s life. You have the power to break the desire for and the slavery to this addiction. Release this power into ______________'s life. Let the power that created the world and raised Jesus from the dead flow into ______________'s life, breaking this addiction and turning _____________ to the Lord Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:2; Acts 2:32; John 16:7-8).

Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that You would enable _______________ to cope with the physical and emotional pain in his/her life. Do not allow Satan to use these things to keep ________________ dependent on his/her addictive behavior. Cause _____________ to turn to You for the strength to cope with these things. Rescue _____________ from turning to the addictive behavior for relief from the pain. Let Your grace and power flow into ____________'s life. Teach _____________ to depend on You rather than the addiction (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Psalm 86:17; Isaiah 12:1, 49:10, 51:3, 12, 52:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

I plead that You would empower __________________ face and deal with the pressures of life. Instead of turning to the addictive behavior for the strength to cope, teach ______________ to turn to You. Reveal Yourself to him/her as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Let Your mercy and comfort flow into ______________'s life (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 8-9).

Lord, I ask You to strengthen ________________'s family. Grant them hope, peace, and grace. Give them the wisdom that they need to minister to _______________. Pour out on them a spirit of persevering prayer for _______________. Do not allow them to faint under the pain, misery, or hopelessness that _____________'s addiction produces (Proverbs 17:17; Ecclesiastes 4:10).

Father, I ask You to cut _________________ off from anyone that would enable or encourage _______________ to continue in his/her addiction. Remove from his/her life any relationship that will influence ______________ to continue in his/her addictive behavior. I plead that You would send believers into _____________'s life who will love and minister to ______________. Give to them a burden to help _______________ (Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 1:10-18).

I pray that ______________ will know and understand that there is hope and deliverance for him/her. Deliver _______________ from hopelessness and despair concerning this. Protect ______________ from Satan's lies that he/she is a hopeless case. Cause _____________ to realize that there is deliverance through Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Mark 10:51-52).

Father, I plead that as the deer pants after the streams of water, so ______________ would long for and desire You. I ask You to grant him/her a deep and abiding hunger for Yourself. I plead that ______________ will desire You more than life itself. Enable ______________ to get rid of his/her addictive behavior because he/she desires and hungers for You above anything or anybody (Psalm 42:1, 73:25-26).

Father, Your Word says that You heal the brokenhearted and that You bind up their wounds. I ask You to heal what is hurting _______________ so much that he/she turns to this addictive behavior for help and relief. I plead that Your healing power will flow into ______________'s life bringing healing to his/her damaged emotions. Set _____________ free of any past wounds that drive him/her to this addictive behavior (Psalm 147:3).

Father, I pray that ______________ will turn to the Word of God for help and for hope. Let _____________ be exposed to sound teaching and preaching of God's Word. Grant _____________ a hunger for God's Word; cause him/her to search for Your truth and to seek for that truth in God's Word (Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 8:32).

Father, I ask that _____________ will realize that he/she has a problem. Holy Spirit, work into ______________'s heart a deep and abiding conviction concerning his/her addictive behavior. Cause him/her to recognize that Jesus Christ is his/her only hope. Deliver him/her from any excuses or rationalizations that he/she uses to continue in the addictive behavior (John 16:7-8).

O God, You are the Healer. Your name is Jehovah our Healer. You are a God who can heal. I pray that You will touch and heal ________________'s body. Set him/her free from this addiction. Work in his/her body so that he/she no longer needs the addiction (Exodus 15:26).