This is not something I would share often, but felt that it was appropriate to do so now...
At the time I got saved (2nd Jan 1983), I had a drink problem, couldn't sleep at night unless I had had quite a few beers/spirits, when I got saved the Lord dealt with my alcohol, smoking and foul language there and then, that night I slept like a baby...without alcohol.
Anyway, I was good for a few months and started going out with a Christian (girl), who then very shortly started to backslide, I ofcourse thought I was strong enough in my faith to help her back on the right road, however, I was very wrong! Within a short time I was back to old habits, and one evening, it was actually Good Friday, 1983, I was out with her and we were both drinking heavily and after we came out of the bar, I got into the car and drove back to the place where we were staying, the long and the short of it was that I got stopped by the police, arrested for 'drinking and driving' and taken to court, with the result I lost my license for 1 year.
With all this happening, it dawned on me, that I needed to break off my relationship with her for she was really dragging me down spiritually and morally and I really waned to go on with the Lord, so I wrote her a letter telling her our relationship was over, at the time of writing I found it quite difficult to do, but the Lord gave me the grace to do it...as I was very fond of this girl. I had already made up my mind to fully follow the Lord, and with that the Lord removed the desire for alcohol and cigarretes from me, I smoked my last cigarette in August 1983 and my last drink of alcohol was Christmas Day 1983. I have not looked back since, and neither have I had a desire to either drink alcohol or smoke, indeed I am a real opponent of smoking.
I reckon being filled with the Holy Spirit is much better than being filled with wine! Eph 5v18.
My dear sister, the dear Lord Jesus does not condemn you, but is wholly on your side and longs to restore and bless you and by His Grace and Mercy He is surely able to do it. You are loved by God the Father, as He loves Jesus, and by Jesus as the Father loves Him. John 15v9, 17v23, Rom 8v34, Rom 3v20,21.
Yahweh Shalom...