Should Addicts Keep Track of Their Clean Time?

Pastor Heath Lambert explores whether those recovering from addiction should count their days, months, or years of sobriety. With wisdom from Hebrews 13:9, he examines how tracking "clean time" can either support or potentially undermine true grace-centered recovery.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Introduction to Marked by Grace podcast

0:30 Today's question: Should addicts keep track of their clean time?

0:38 Context: Question from someone recovering from pornography addiction

1:08 Cultural practice of tracking sobriety time

1:27 Why we naturally notice the absence of addiction

2:14 Important perspective on tracking clean time

2:47 Biblical insight from Hebrews 13:9

4:04 The risks of tracking clean time

4:10 Risk #1: Pride and boasting about sobriety

4:57 Risk #2: Making clean time equivalent to victory

5:41 The essential difference between clean time and grace

6:35 The power of grace vs. the metric of clean time

6:49 Conclusion: Balance and wise perspective

KEY POINTS:

- Tracking sobriety isn't inherently wrong but carries potential spiritual risks

- Scripture teaches that our hearts should be "strengthened by grace, not by foods" (Hebrews 13:9)

- Pride can attach to long periods of sobriety, making it harder to be honest when struggling

- Overemphasizing clean time can lead to devastating discouragement after a relapse

- True recovery is measured by dependence on Christ's grace, not just time without the addiction

- Even after a relapse, 1 John 1:9 promises complete forgiveness through confession

Submit your questions for future episodes to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Hebrews 13:9 - "It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods"

1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"