One of the most important aspects of recovery, if not the most important, has to be intimacy with God. In Colossians 2:20-22 it states that making up rules like don’t touch, don’t handle, and don’t taste have no power to bring about change in the life of someone struggling with sinful desires. This passage has challenged me quite a bit to figure out what the best way to defeat desires of the flesh. We can often say “I’m not going to watch TV, spend time with non-christians, go to church 5 times a week, etc.” and we find that these “resolutions” never have the effect we would like them to have. The amazing thing is that when you focus on your relationship with Christ, and being close to Him, these temptations lose much of their power. I have heard it described like a person who goes to an all you can eat buffet, absolutely stuffs themself to the point of being in pain, and then goes home, and a friend comes over with some take out of their favorite meal. They are not going to resist it because of their strong willpower, but because their stomache is already full (I know there is someone somewhere who will say they would eat it anyway, but I refuse to acknowledge your existence). In the same way, when we are full with Jesus, the desires of the flesh will not have the pull they once had on us, and they become much easier to resist. Our intimacy with God is our constant communication with Him, inviting Him to be a part of everything we do. Asking Him to speak to us on anything He wants. Listening and obeying when He speaks. It is important to tie this to scripture because sometimes the devil will come in with a harsh spirit to try to get you to feel condemned. God’s voice is loving and patient and redemptive, and always rings true to scripture. The joy and neccessity of intimacy with God is the most satisfying thing any one of us can experience. Without it there will be no lasting freedom in life.