Obsession

 OBSESSION

The DOMINATION of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc. Obsession is also any fixation, preoccupation, or fetish.

Examples are:

A gambling obsession.

A weight-loss obsession

A sexual fixation for a person

An unreasonable preoccupation to protect your loved one as if they were a possession. 

These are just a few.

Today I want to address an obsession people can develop for another person and what the underlying source of that unreasonable attachment is. And though we may never consider an obsession to be anything of concern, in reality, obsessions certainly can be and are a source of neurotic fixations of Satan. Take for instance a persons' obsessive love interest over another person. This kind of obsession may result in the one obsessed sending repeated and excessive texts, emails, or even phone calls to the person they are interested in. The obsessed person may need constant reassurance from outsiders that they are goods enough to win their 'object of desire'. The obsessed person may consistently monitor the actions of the other person or ask for feedback from others regarding the activities or decisions of the person they are obsessing over. The obsessed person may want to let go and even try to let go but in time find themselves "possessed" by the same impulse and craving. These things can lead to delusional love disorders and unfortunately can cause significant distress, loss of sleep, uncontrollable day-dreaming, emotional distress, or impair everyday functioning depending on the degree of the fixation. And though love and obsession are related in some aspects, the two can never be thought to be the same! Am I a licensed psychiatrist to be making such statements? No. And although I was employed by one of Kansas City's top psychiatrists for many years, I both saw and learned of many conditions that plagued society. I'm not writing this blog as any professional. I will, however, discuss from a spiritual perspective how obsessions are far more than just "feelings." They are tools the devil uses to misguide, misdirect, fool, imprison, and otherwise get us to a place of irrational thinking for the purpose of robbing us of peace, which, as Satan's end goal, can eventually destroy us altogether 

As of this writing, I personally know of three people (two women and one man) who have an ungovernable preoccupation with a chosen person of the opposite sex. Their "attachments" have gone beyond attraction to destructive idolization. Let's look at how we can overcome obsessions through reading scripture, knowing scripture, and practicing its principles. First, know that temptation to do something forbidden by God is not sin. It is wrong WHEN WE YIELD TO IT. Jesus Himself was tempted but He never sinned (Hebrews 4:5) Temptation is the lure Satan uses to try and get us to sin. Sin is committed when a choice is made to accept the temptation. For example: yielding oneself to sex with another person whom you've obsessed over. It always presents itself through THOUGHT then it is carried out. Thoughts challenge your FREE WILL, which is the power of choice and the deciding factor in whether or not you bring to fruition the thought. Free will exists in the mind. A thought comes before an act.  Therefore, an act is the outward revealing of a decision or choice already decided upon and made with our free will (Mark 7:21-23). Remember that scripture tells us that from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within and defile the man. Throughout the Bible, both heart and soul (mind) may be referenced as the same - center of our spiritual being. The Bible warns us to guard our minds and to think about things that will strengthen us spiritually.  No matter how "Christian" you think you are temptation may come when you least expect it. Don't overestimate yourself and underestimate temptation.  Many Christians fall into temptation and give in to their thoughts because they think it could never happen to them. Deal with temptation immediately. It's so important to stay away from the source of temptation. Don't stand around thinking about it or how good it will feel to entertain it. RUN!

How can we overcome obsessions that begin as thoughts since it all begins in the mind before being acted out? The Bible gives us the answer IF people would only read it then apply it.  Reading it without applying it will leave you a defeated foe! We must take EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE that raises or presents itself against the knowledge of God. TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE! What do I mean? Cage them, chain them. This is only accomplished by knowing and reciting the Word of God. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal or of the flesh, they begin with thoughts, and therefore we must use our spiritual weapons which are given to believers by Christ. They have divine powers to destroy any strongholds over us. I'm speaking specifically about The Word of God (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5.) Once a thought enters your mind that you know goes against God's written Word, a thought that tempts you to sin or begins to feed your obsession with lust, you must take that thought(s) and crush it, chain it, bind it with the Word of God BY DECLARING ALOUD A SCRIPTURE RELATIVE TO THE TEMPTATION! Take your sword (the Word of God) and slay that thought. As an example for those obsessed with lust or desire to have another person's body outside of marriage, say aloud: Satan  I will not act upon the thought you put in my head because it is written, 'For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are not of my Father but are of the world.' God has instructed me, 'do not love the world nor the things in the world!' He has promised me that if I 'walk in the Spirit I will not fulfill the lusts of my flesh.''" THIS IS HOW YOU TAKE YOUR THOUGHT CAPTIVE! Notice, three scriptures were quoted in that prayer! If you learn scriptures that apply them to the specific thoughts you are tempted with, those thoughts will leave you! Greater is HE that is in you than he that is in the world!

Philippians 4:8 instructs us, "Finally brothers (and sisters), whatever is true (the WORD), whatever is honorable (the WORD), whatever is just (the WORD), whatever is pure (the WORD), whatever is lovely (the WORD), whatever is commendable (the WORD) if there is any excellence, anything worthy of praise (the WORD) THINK on these things." Notice scripture is telling us to think ... "think on these things." Holy things, righteous things, pure things, just things. It all begins in the mind - to do right or to do wrong. If you take any bad thought captive it will never become any action! Read that again. According to Colossians 3:5, we are to put to death sexual immorality. How do we put it to death? With the Sword (the WORD of God). Cleanse the mind and the body will follow. Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). He will "fight for you and strengthen you, He will help you and uphold you with His righteous hand" (Isaiah 41:10). Look at Psalm 119:9-11 closely, "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You" (that's yet another prayer you can say when temptation rises.)  Again, scripture is stressing to KEEP THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR MIND! It is your defense. No temptation is not stronger than the Word of God.

Finally, you cannot stop temptation from coming into your mind, but you can disagree with it and stop it from becoming any action. As long as you are fighting a temptation you are not sinning no matter how long the temptation lasts. Just because you're a Christian does not mean you'll never face temptation. In fact, because Satan knows your weaknesses, he'll use those to try to bring defeat into your life and make you want to give up trying to live according to God's will.  Don't fear temptation. You have more power than Satan because you are a child of God. James 4:7 instructs us to, "Resist the devil (with the Word of God) and he will flee from you." As I so often repeat, read the Bible!  Become versed in what it says. It will give you the fighting words to overcome sin and we know, To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne" Revelation 3:21. YOU CANNOT OVERCOME SIN THROUGH YOUR OWN STRENGTH. It takes Jesus. And Jesus was "The Word Made Flesh" (John 1:14). Get His Word in your mind. READ!

Until He Comes,

-Pat-