From Being Drunk to Being Transformed: Heart Problems

by | May 1, 2025 | TAC Blog

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by Mark Shaw & TAC Team, Adaptation from Chapter 12 in Mark E. Shaw’s Workbook The Heart of Addiction: A Biblical Perspective

What commonalities do we see in our hearts as Christ-followers who battle sinful thoughts, words and actions every day of our lives? 

Are there any frequent aspects below that describe your battle in life?

  • I use extremes in my words—like “you always_____,” “he never…,” or “that is the best_____ I have ever” or “this is the worst _____”
  • I seem to be supersensitive to criticism.
  • I find the “quickest fix” to a problem when I see it.
  • I often despair in the middle of a problem.
  • I avoid the hardest work and look for the SHORTEST short cut.
  • I often think, “I don’t need anyone I will just do this myself and get it done.”
  • I see the negative first and fail to find the positive of the problem or situation.
  • I end up in self-pity at the end of the day.
  • I wake up in self-pity at the beginning of the day.
  • People see me as lazy.
  • People often say that I seem to avoid the activities that don’t involve fun or pleasure.
  • I often refuse help offered from other people.
  • I feel emotions deeply no matter whether they are positive (good) or negative.
  • I avoid conflict and bury it deep trying to forget it quickly.
  • I am bitter.
  • I feel guilty about something and dwell on it for days until I find something else to lift my mood.

Are you nodding your head “yes”? We often battle many of these!

In chapter 12 of the workbook the question is asked:

“Are you keeping any wounds fresh by playing [the pain] over and over in your mind? Talk about this with your TCF [Trusted Christian Friend] and ask God to help you learn to grant forgiveness to those [who] have hurt, rejected, and offended you.” (Shaw, Heart of Addiction Workbook, p.52). (Focus Publishing, Bemidji, 2008).

Feelings-oriented decisions are the evidence of being ruled by your flesh and its desires rather than walking by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 gives us the antidote: live by the Spirit.

This means being guided by God’s principles, which we learn from His Word.

Our good works aren’t done to earn salvation or a place in heaven—they’re a response of loving gratitude to God for already giving us eternal life through Christ and fully forgiving all our sins—past, present, and future.

The whole passage offers a lot more context, but here’s a short part to reflect on as you fight sinful desires—starting with your thoughts:

Galatians 5:14-17 says,

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

 

“The repentant Christian no longer has to hide, lie, or attempt to appear to be perfect because his/her identity is no longer in self, but in Christ alone.” (Shaw, p.53.)

This should bring you great hope and relief!

Mark E. Shaw, D.Min., CABC, ACBC, IABC, CADAC II, is a biblical counselor, ordained minister, speaker, and author of 29 books and booklets of hope and help. Dr. Shaw has been involved in counseling since the early 90’s. He previously served in residential care and medication assisted treatment centers (methadone), but making disciple-makers through Biblical Counseling became his passion in 2001. Mark currently serves his local church in Florida as the Nocatee Campus Pastor of Counseling at First Baptist Church Jacksonville.

Dr. Shaw’s resources are found at Focus Publishing and Christian Book Distributors. He can also be found at amazon.com/author/markeshaw

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