Ep. 109 Five Graphics to Help the Addict Change

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Shows Main Idea – Some of the toughest people to try to help are those who refuse to help themselves. There is a way to think about them and possibly come alongside them while trusting the Lord to bring the needed change. Here are five practical graphics to help you help that person who is stuck in bad behaviors.

Show Notes

Read, How to Help Someone Who Does Not Want to Help Himself where Rick walks through these graphics.

The first thing you need to understand is that his drug of choice is not his primary problem. While the drug may be what you see and it may be what is frustrating you, the drug is merely the by-product of brokenness that is in his heart. Notice how James frames this idea:

Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. – James 1:14-15

1. How well do you realize that the source of external addictions is inside of you?
2. Are you able to discern some of the complicating heart patterns that feed our addictions?

An important thing to discern is how much of the problem is (1) character related versus (2) capacity or competency related. When helping someone who is addcited, it is crucial to understand the kind of person they are. Sometimes I state it by asking, Are you counseling Forrest Gump or Steve Jobs?

1. People are different. How well can you discern the uniqueness of the person you’re discipling?
2. Are you comfortable separating character issues from competency issues?

Listen to the podcast, The Balanced Christian Life where Rick walks through this infographic.

• The Spiritual Person – What is their relationship like with God?
• The Educated Person –  What do they know about God?
• The Skilled Person – How are they applying their relationship with God to their lives?

Companions could be people, but in many instances, it’s other things like the graphic below demonstrates.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24

This timeline of the addict’s past would continue to his future and the things that have happened in his past will be recreated in his future if he chose not to change. We are what we have been, and the general patterns of our lives will stay the same…unless……we decide to change. The only thing that could alter the addict’s future from his past would be if he decided to repent. If he did that, his future could be different from his past.

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).