Dear drug addict, this is my open prayer for you

This prayer has been on my heart for someone. In honor of National Overdose Awareness Day, I have decided to share this prayer so that you may pray with me for our loved ones struggling with drugs. Whether they be actively using or clean and still fighting, let us bind together in Jesus’ name to break these chains.  
 
Dear drug addict,
You may not know this, but I pray for you all the time. I pray that God allows more time. I pray that you don’t die. I pray that you find recovery. I pray that you don’t relapse. I wish I could pray your pain away and give you happiness. My prayer for you is deliverance from addiction and any desire to use drugs. My prayer for you is protection from the damage drugs can do and healing for any damage already done. I pray that God build a hedge of protection around you that temptations not come your way. If and when temptation does come, I pray that God will give you strength to do the right thing. I pray that God will protect you from cravings. I pray that Jesus will comfort you through your triggers. I want you to find healthy ways to deal with the triggers. Jesus can break these chains. You can be set free. I pray that God lead you in understanding his Word (the bible) and how to live a lifestyle of walking with Jesus. I pray that you have a peace that passes all understanding through your relationship with Jesus. My prayer for you is that God would heal depression and anxiety. I see the pain in your eyes. I know the darkness. May God bind up your wounds and put together your broken pieces. I speak the name of Jesus over your life. May his healing power flow through all the pain deep down inside, the brokenness, the hurting, the aching hearts, and over the things that cannot be undone. I know you feel emptiness. I pray the hopelessness be lifted. I pray that you see yourself the way God does. I pray that you believe in yourself and grow as an individual and in your relationship with the Lord. I pray that you find joy in the Spirit. I pray that God would pour out his blessings on you when you run to him. I beg God for his perfect financial provision – just enough for everything you need, but not so much that you are tempted. If that temptation comes to buy what you shouldn’t, I hope you take that money and put it in the offering at church, drop it in the basket at NA/AA, or give it to charity. I pray God give you a heart to help others and an abundance of ways to serve. Know that you are needed. Know that you are wanted. Know that you have a purpose in this world. I pray that God give you the wisdom to build from where you’ve been. May you see that running from your past is running from yourself. Don’t hate where you were because it made you who you are. Your story will help someone else. God can use your past for his glory. I pray that you accept yourself and love yourself. I pray that you love yourself enough to forgive yourself. Also, that in your heart you would forgive those who have done you wrong no matter how much they hurt you. I pray that God give you the strength to have the courage to rebuild the bridges you have burned. Know that there are people who want those bridges repaired. There are also people who do not. It is hard and very lonely when your social circle completely changes because you choose to live differently. I know the loneliness that eats you alive. I pray that God wraps you in his arms and holds you tight. I pray that you feel God’s love and his presence. I pray you know how much your family and true friends love you. This is my prayer for you.
 
Dear drug addict, I see you. I know your addiction and I know how it has changed you, but I still see who you are. I want you to know when I look at you I see you - not just your disease. I see the real you. I see the rare spark in your eyes. I see your talents. I see your accomplishments. I see your interests and hobbies. There is so much more to you than drug use. You are a father. You are a mother. You are a sister. You are my friend. You can play guitar. You write books. You are intelligent. You love to read. You may be a high school dropout or have a master’s degree. You make people laugh. You can crochet and sew. You have skills that not everyone has. I see your potential. You are uniquely you and no one can take your place. I also see your scars. I see your pain. I see your past. Many will look at the things you’ve done and be judgmental. I look at what you have come from and been through. What I see is all the things you’ve overcome. You survived. You have made it through. You are an overcomer. You are still breathing. You still have opportunities. You still have a chance to get clean, but today may be your only chance. I don’t care if you get clean through rehab or professional help or if you do it on your own. I don’t care if it takes 20 times of going to rehab to give you the strength and the tools you need to live without abusing a substance. I still believe in you. If you are clean, I want you to know I am so proud of you! You can do this!
 
Dear drug addict, please know I have no desire to condemn you. There is no stigma here. I don’t look down on you. My heart aches for the situation you are in. I want what is best for you. I want happiness for you. I want healing for you. I want recovery for you. I know what people say. I’ve heard all the hateful lines and the stigma that surrounds this disease. I choose hope. I refuse to give up on you. Until your dying breath I will hold onto the hope that you will decide to leave this path of drugs and find sobriety. Know that if you continue on this path you will die. Know that if you go back to that hell it will consume you. Know that there are people who get out. Know that you CAN get clean and you CAN stay clean for the rest of your life. I’m not saying it will be easy. It will be hard. It is a daily battle. Addiction isn’t just a chemical dependency. It’s a mentality. Your triggers will make you think you “need” your drug to relax or make it through. You will fight many times, but take pride in each day for every day clean is a battle won. You may fight a thousand days, but a thousand times you can win. Don’t give in. Don’t give up. Please don’t think it is hopeless. There are people who love you who will support you. It may be family. It may be in the rooms that you find understanding and support. Dear addict, know that I am praying for you still and always. Dear addict, you are loved. All you really have is the day you are living in. Take it one day at a time. I believe in you.
 
If you are reading this and you are struggling with drugs either actively using or being tempted to use, know that life doesn’t have to be like this. Things do get better. There will always be ups and downs. You need to work through this. Get to the root cause. Find healthy ways to cope with cravings and triggers. Keep fighting. You are worth it. Don’t become another statistic of someone who died from drugs. You are so loved. Don’t let depression and hopelessness lie to you. It doesn’t have to be like this. You can get clean. You can stay clean. You can make it. You can have happiness. Broken things can be made new. There is beauty in the brokenness. Run to Jesus. Never stop seeking after Jesus and his ways. Go to a meeting. Find support. You are not alone. You are loved. This blog is what is in my heart for you. I’m praying for you in Jesus’ name.