By: Toni Crawford

I’m going to be transparent and share my addiction story or should I say my Testimony. I’m no longer ashamed and I know that it was God the creator that set me free and I pray that my transparency helps someone or many who read this, even if their addiction isn’t the same as mine once was. So at a young age, not sure the exact age, I was introduced to pornography which then later ushered me into masturbation and into fornication. I was addicted for years. I was a slave to sin.

 “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin”. -John 8:34

I believe the addiction lasted until my late twenties. Longer than I would have liked it to last.

So how did I overcome my addictions/sins? How did I get free? Well, I’ll be honest I didn’t want to get free right away. I was enjoying my addictions/sins which is why I believe I didn’t get free as soon as I could have. To be honest, I wanted to experience what the PAID ACTORS was experiencing that was doing porn. The crazy thing is that ACTORS get paid to act. I mean were there really enjoying it or in actor mode? Clearly, I was being deceived, manipulated and seduced by perversion.

“The great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” -Revelation 12:9

Not to mention that, the enemy had me thinking that if I wanted to get married one day, I have to watch porn to know how to please my husband. LIES. Watching porn isn’t a requirement from God before marriage so that thought was from Satan, the tempter and deceiver…God is holy.

Furthermore, I overcame my addictions/sins, when I started seeking Jesus by praying, fasting and being around other believers rather in church or an outing. It took a lot of praying, fasting and crying. Was it a challenge? Absolutely. There would be times I cried my eyes out while praying and after went right back to my sins. I recall telling God I wanted to stop, I don’t want to mess up my body and I want to be married and etc. and asked Him to help me, give me strength, strategy and so forth. I also repented time after time. Victory came by me being intentional about waring out my flesh by feeding my spirit with the things of God and that’s how my addictions broke. I was free and I can’t remember the date but I remember who freed me. Nobody but The Lord did it.

“To God be the glory forever and ever.” -Galatians 1:5

In closing, I could go and on but I encourage whoever reads this, if you are dealing with addictions/sins of any kind, don’t deny that you are, acknowledge it and confess your sins to God and ask Him to help you and do what His word says to do. Note, your deliverance/victory may not happen over night, it may not even happen in a week but it can and will happen. No matter how many times you fall down, get back up. Be intentional about wanting to please Jesus.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23

Lastly, it takes faith, faith in God and His word.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6

God bless!