Sobriety - It’s About Thinking, Not Drinking! Do You Have a Sober Mind?
We’re digging into what it means to have sobriety, which in its purest definition means a sound and well-balanced mind. You see, sobriety actually comes from the Greek word “sophron,” which refers to an unhurried and calm mind; a mind that has self-control. That’s why sobriety is all about thinking and not drinking!
We’re also taking a closer look at the name of this podcast – Day One of Sobriety. If you’ve received salvation, you received the capacity for a sound mind on day 1 of salvation. So why, then, do you struggle with a messy mind? I’ve got the answer to that and more in today’s episode.
So if you’re ready to discover the power of your thoughts, and learn why taming them is the first step in gaining control and balance in your life, grab a notebook and pen, and let’s dive in.
Face to Face With a Messy Mind
My life imploded 16 years ago when I was forced to come face-to-face with an alcohol addiction. As part of a DWI charge, I was court ordered to complete an 18 month out-patient addiction program.
At the end of the program, I was nowhere closer to breaking free from the addiction than when I started, but I didn’t know that at the time.
I had done a great deal of personal reflection with an addiction counselor, and I understood why I had developed negative patterns of thinking, especially when it came to my sense of value and belonging. I was pulling a boat load of pain, regret, and anger behind me and it was too much to bear. I used alcohol to escape and distract from rather than deal with my pain.
The program helped me discover and understand my painful past, but did nothing to help me recover from it. I understood how painful relationships and experiences had molded my toxic thinking, but wasn’t shown how to break free from it. I was sober – free from using alcohol, but I was nowhere near a sound or well-balanced mind.
As I left the program, I remember thinking, “No wonder people relapse!” Maybe it was a self-fulfilling prophecy, because that’s exactly what I did over and over again for several years.
A Closer Look at Sobriety and Addiction
In its purest definition, sobriety means a sound and well-balanced mind. Over time, sobriety became more widely known as the absence of alcohol, and if you broke free from an alcohol addiction, you were considered sober, or having achieved your sobriety.
But just because you’re no longer engaged in addictive behavior doesn’t mean you’ve achieved sobriety.
Sobriety is a sound and disciplined mind. It’s fueled by a healthy and vibrant thought life. Therefore, if someone is engaged in addictive behavior, we can conclude that their mind is fueled by toxic thoughts that lead to uncertainty and confusion.
In 2021, Harvard Health Publishing stated in an article titled, “What is addiction?” that addiction experts are beginning to move away from the notion that there are multiple addictions, each tied to a specific substance or activity. Rather, a new model suggests that there is but one addiction with multiple expressions. For an addiction to develop, the drug or activity must shift a person’s experience toward a desirable direction – to feeling good or feeling better. This means the specific substance or behavior is less important than the desired outcome of feeling good.
When a substance or activity stimulates the pleasure and reward center of the brain, the brain releases dopamine. Dopamine is often referred to as a “feel-good” hormone that brings feelings of pleasure, happiness, and well-being. The dopamine reinforces the behavior and encourages repetition of the behavior. The repetition of this behavior over long periods of time, places the mind in an unbalanced state; or in a state of addiction.
Let me say that again. The repetition of this behavior over long periods of time, places the mind in an unbalanced state; or in a state of addiction. This is the opposite of sound and disciplined.
The addicted brain is NOT seeking the particular substance or activity, as much as it is seeking the dopamine. It is seeking the feelings of pleasure, happiness, and well-being.
As Christians, or followers of Christ, this is where things get very sticky. Seeking feelings of pleasure, happiness, and well-being apart from God is a very slippery slope!
Soul vs. Spirit Led Living
The Bible instructs believers to deal with their problems by seeking God’s guidance through prayer, trusting in His purpose, persevering through trials, relying on scripture, and actively addressing issues in a Christ-like way. This is the definition of a spirit-led life.
I had been a Christian for two decades when I began using alcohol as a way to escape from painful thoughts and experiences that I didn’t have the capacity to manage. I used alcohol to distract from my problems rather than deal with them. While drinking I could feel a release from the pain, but it was always a temporary fix.
Prior to alcohol I used to distract myself with shopping, eating sweets, and even online games. I didn’t seek God, spirit-to-spirit. I hadn’t been taught about the Holy Spirit, and I didn’t know the Holy Spirit could help me renew my mind and help me break free from my painful past.
So instead of partnering with the Holy Spirit and learning how to be spirit-led, I succumbed to my soul and its desires. My mind, will, and emotions remained unchanged, and without renewing my mind, my soul found pleasure, happiness, and well-being in temporary substances and activities instead of an eternal God.
There are far too many Christians in this same boat. Maybe you’re a choco-holic, a work-aholic, or binge watch six hours of Parks and Recreation as a form of distraction. Anything you seek for comfort that is above God is not only a potential addiction, it is an idol. Yep, I said idol. Anything you are relying on, trusting in, or prioritizing above God is considered an idol. And idols can come in many different forms to draw our attention away from God.
If you’re tempted to tap stop or pause, hang with me for a few more minutes. I’m shifting gears.
You Are What You Think!
The mind is incredibly complex and contains thoughts that have been wired into the brain since birth. The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day; so you are always wiring in new information.
If you’ve been following this podcast, you know that thoughts drive every emotion, behavior, bodily sensation, and perspective. If you’ve wired in healthy thoughts, you show up in healthy ways; and if you’ve wired in toxic thoughts, you’re showing up in toxic ways. Most of us are a combination of healthy and toxic thoughts.
As a Christian, the day you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior was also Day 1 of Sobriety for you. That means Day 1 of a sound and disciplined mind. This is exactly what 2 Timothy 1:7 says in TPT, "For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”
This scripture tells us that Fear is a spirit and not of God. We are to replace fear with love, power, and a sound mind; and that the Holy Spirit is our guide. If you don’t have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, how are you going to develop a sound mind?
You won’t. You’ll be stuck.
Wrap Up
Let’s start to pull this all together. The title of this episode is Sobriety - It’s About Thinking NOT Drinking! Do You Have a Sober Mind?
I think I’ve been pretty clear that a healthy thought life and a relationship with the Holy Spirit will promote a spirit-led life that accompanies a sound and disciplined mind.
The goal of the Day One of Sobriety podcast is to provide you with mind renewal strategies that break destructive habits. One of the biggest destructive habits of any Christian is self-reliance. This habit will keep a Christian living a soul-led life and pull them away from developing a Holy Spirit partnership that will bring sobriety and mind renewal into every area of their life.
I shared that people who struggle with addiction use substances and activities to find pleasure, happiness, and well-being; if only in a temporary form. They lack a healthy and vibrant thought life that could bring these things on a permanent basis. They have not renewed their mind and still deal with toxic thinking that holds them back. Addiction causes their minds to be unbalanced.
Do you have a sober mind? If your mind is calm, clear, and disciplined; even during times of stress and trouble, then you have a sober mind.
If not, everything you need to get started has already been given to you at salvation. The Holy Spirit dwells within you and you have 24/7 access. Don’t stay stuck with an unrenewed mind. Develop a prayer life and spend time in the Bible learning God’s ways.
Join a church that teaches about the Holy Spirit and guides believers in developing this relationship. There are also many great resources available in book, audio, and video formats.
If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I’ve provided information below to help you make that change today.
Let me pray for you:
Father God, I thank you for every listen you brought to hear your words through me today. I thank you for loving them and for speaking your truth directly to their hearts. Draw them close to you and show them the areas where they need to renew their thoughts in order to develop a sound and disciplined mind. We thank you, Father God, that your word promises us in Matthew 7:7, that if we keep on asking, we will receive what we ask for. If we keep on seeking, we will find; and if we keep on knocking, the door will be opened to us. Thank you for opening the hearts and minds of every listener to receive your answers today. I pray in the mighty name of your precious son, Jesus Christ! Amen!
I invite you to head over now to our Mind Renewal Solution Made Simple Facebook group where you’ll find resources and tips this week geared at helping you apply the information in today’s episode. This week I’ve linked, “Getting to Know the Holy Spirit,” a list of resources to help you grow in your Holy Spirit relationship. Don’t stay stuck! Remember, you can wire out whatever you’ve wired in.
Salvation Prayer & Information:
To accept Jesus as your savior, you pray a prayer out loud and believe with faith that you receive the gift of salvation. A salvation prayer includes the five steps below:
Acknowledge your sinfulness: Recognize that you have sinned and fallen short of God's standards. This can be expressed through the words "I know that I am a sinner".
Believe in Jesus' sacrifice: Express your belief that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins and that He rose from the dead.
Ask for forgiveness: Humbly ask God to forgive you of your sins.
Invite Jesus into your heart: Ask Jesus to come into your life, to be your Lord and Savior.
Make Jesus the Lord of your life: Commit to following Him and living according to His teachings.
Use your own words or read this prayer out loud:
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior".
DISCLAIMER: The Day One of Sobriety podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician or doctor for all medical advice and counsel.
