My 17 year drug addiction ended at Alpha

I had been involved in growing and smoking drugs for 17 years. I finally got sick of the lies and deceit. I was on the wolf's back and I had him by the ears; I couldn't hold on and I couldn't let go.

I had been attending a course on overcoming addictions immediately before attending an Alpha course. After a while at Alpha I came to realise I could trust the people around me. I had been involved in drugs for so long and yet these people weren't pointing an accusing finger at me.

Things were going well. Then it came to the Weekend. I didn't really want to go but I knew that I had to make some changes in my life, so I went along - it turned out to be a great time! Unknown to me the Holy Spirit had prompted a woman to pray for my release from drugs.

She did, and from that Weekend it has no longer been my desire - I haven't done drugs since. Temptation has been there though and there have been hard times when I have wanted to do them again, but I have chosen not to go back down that road. Just recently our church had the weekend away for its fifth Alpha Course. I thought I'd be cheeky and ask God to take away my desire of smoking as well. He did! Though after five and a half weeks I slipped back. I'm resolved to succeed this time, using my own determination and leaning even more on God's strength.

I see starting on cigarettes again not as a dismal failure, but as a slip-up on my journey with God. He has kept me drug-free for 21 months and I thank him for the incredible change it has brought to my life.

Not only is God's power revealed in his words, but it is also demonstrated in his works.