#022: The 40-60% Who Always Fail

📱 TL;DR

40-60% of people trying to overcome addiction will relapse. But Daniel prayed three times a day and never failed. The difference isn't willpower—it's Spirit-power through consistent spiritual discipline.

Welcome, Family

Here's the brutal truth about human willpower:

40-60% of people with addictions will relapse. Roughly two-thirds of individuals treated for alcohol use disorder will relapse within the first 6 months. Approximately 90% of individuals with alcohol addiction will experience at least one relapse during their lifetime.

These aren't just statistics—they're human souls trying their hardest and failing anyway.

But here's what the rehab centers won't tell you: The problem isn't lack of motivation. The problem isn't lack of support. The problem isn't even lack of treatment.

The problem is the power source.

When you try to overcome sin through willpower, you join the 40-60% who fail. When you try to overcome sin through the Spirit, you tap into the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Daniel understood this 2,500 years ago. While living in the most corrupt culture on earth, surrounded by temptation, pressure, and persecution, Daniel never failed. Not once.

His secret wasn't superhuman discipline—it was Spirit-dependent discipline.

Three times a day, every day, Daniel stopped everything and prayed. Not when he felt like it. Not when it was convenient. Not when he was struggling.

Three times a day. Every day. For decades.

And it worked. Daniel lived victorious over sin for an entire lifetime.

The relapse statistics prove that human effort fails. Daniel's example proves that Spirit-power through consistent discipline never fails.

If you're tired of being part of the 40-60%, it's time to learn Daniel's secret.

Reserve your spot for Friday's Bible study where we're diving deep into victory over sin through the Spirit's power. This isn't about trying harder—it's about drawing from a power source that never runs dry.

🍞 This Week's Bread

• ⏳ The Sign: Why 90% relapse rates prove willpower isn't enough

• 📖 The Word: How the Spirit gives power to put sin to death

• 🌍 The Witness: Daniel's three-times-daily discipline that never failed

• 🔥 The Work: Three questions about your power source for victory

• ⚡ Midweek Power: Wednesday prayer for Spirit-dependent victory

• 🙏 Prayer Corner: Breaking free from the cycle of trying and failing

📚 This Week's (Virtual) Bible Study

Let's Talk: Singleness & Sexual Purity
Friday, September 26th (8-10 PM ET)

[🔗 Join Live Study] | [📱 Request Replay Link]

Can't make it live? We'll send you the recording!

⏳ The Sign

The numbers don't lie—and they're devastating.

Relapse rates for alcohol addiction hover around 40-60%, which is similar to the relapse rates for other chronic diseases like asthma and hypertension. Think about that: We've normalized failure in addiction recovery by comparing it to medical conditions.

But here's what's even more sobering: After 5 years of continuous recovery, the relapse rate drops to approximately 15%. This proves that long-term victory IS possible—but only for those who find a sustainable power source.

The statistics reveal our problem: Short-term willpower works temporarily, but sustainable victory requires something more powerful than human effort.

About 75% of people who develop an addiction do recover—but the journey is marked by repeated failures, relapses, and starting over.

What if there was a different way?

What if instead of joining the relapse statistics, you could tap into a power source that has never failed in the history of humanity?

What if instead of white-knuckling your way through temptation, you could access the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead?

The addiction recovery industry focuses on managing relapse. The Bible focuses on preventing it.

The difference isn't in the program—it's in the power source.

Human willpower has a 40-60% failure rate. The Holy Spirit has a 0% failure rate.

The question isn't whether you're strong enough to overcome sin. The question is whether you're willing to admit you're not—and tap into Someone who is.

📖 The Word

Paul gives us the secret to victory in four words: "by the Spirit."

Not "by trying harder."
Not "by having more discipline."
Not "by wanting it more."
Not "by having better accountability."

"By the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body."

Notice Paul doesn't say the Spirit will magically zap away your sin without your participation. He says "you put to death" - but the power source is "by the Spirit."

This is active dependence, not passive waiting.

You actively engage in the battle against sin, but you fight with the Spirit's power, not your own willpower.

Here's the key: Paul calls us "debtors" - but not to the flesh. We don't owe sin anything. We're not obligated to give in to temptation. We're not destined to fail.

We are debtors to the Spirit - the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now lives in us and gives us power to put sin to death.

The flesh has demands, but no power to make us obey.
The Spirit has power, and gives us the ability to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.

But here's what most people miss: This isn't a one-time prayer or decision. This is a daily, moment-by-moment dependence on the Spirit's power.

Just like Daniel's three-times-daily prayer wasn't about one prayer—it was about a lifestyle of consistent dependence.

Victory over sin isn't about getting strong enough to resist temptation. Victory over sin is about staying connected to the power source that makes resistance possible.

When you try to overcome sin through willpower, you're guaranteed to fail eventually.

When you overcome sin through Spirit-power, you're guaranteed to succeed consistently.

The difference is the power source.

🌍 The Witness

Daniel was a teenager when he was kidnapped from Jerusalem and forced to live in Babylon - the most corrupt, immoral, powerful culture on earth. For over 70 years, he lived surrounded by temptation, compromise, and pressure to conform.

And he never failed. Not once.

Here's his secret:

"Three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before" (Daniel 6:10).

Notice three crucial details:

1. Three times a day - This wasn't occasional prayer when he felt spiritual or when he was struggling. This was systematic, consistent, daily dependence on God's power.

2. "Just as he had done before" - This wasn't a new habit he developed when facing the lion's den crisis. This was a lifestyle pattern that had been sustaining him for decades.

3. He did it regardless of consequences - When they made prayer illegal, Daniel didn't compromise, hide, or skip his prayer time. He valued his connection to God more than his comfort or safety.

"It took intention for Daniel to stop what he was doing three times a day, go home, and pray with deliberate focus". Can you imagine doing that every day?

But here's what's remarkable: Daniel served in the highest levels of government under multiple pagan kings. He was surrounded by political pressure, sexual temptation, financial corruption, and religious persecution. The culture was designed to destroy his faith.

Yet he lived victoriously for over 70 years.

Compare that to modern recovery programs: Controlled environments, support groups, professional counseling, medical intervention—and still 40-60% relapse rates.

Daniel had none of those advantages. But he had something better: Spirit-dependent discipline.

Three times a day, Daniel tapped into the same power that created the universe. Three times a day, he realigned his heart with God's heart. Three times a day, he drew strength from an inexhaustible source.

The result? A lifetime of victory over sin in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

This isn't about Daniel being superhuman—this is about Daniel being super-dependent on God.

And that same Spirit-power is available to you.

🔥 The Work

Before you try to create your own spiritual discipline or dismiss this as too simple, let's get honest with three diagnostic questions:

1. What's my current power source for overcoming sin?

Be brutally honest. When temptation hits, what do you rely on? Your willpower? Your fear of consequences? Your desire to be a good person? Your accountability partner?

All of those things can help, but they all have one fatal flaw: they're finite. Willpower runs out. Fear fades. Good intentions crumble. People disappoint.

The Spirit is infinite. The same power that raised Christ from the dead never gets tired, never runs out, never fails.

If your primary strategy for overcoming sin doesn't involve daily, systematic dependence on the Spirit's power, you're setting yourself up for the 40-60% failure rate.

2. How consistent is my connection to the Spirit?

Daniel prayed three times a day, every day, for decades. Not just when he felt like it. Not just when he was struggling. Not just when it was convenient.

Three times. Every day. For decades.

What does your spiritual discipline look like? Is it sporadic prayer when you're in trouble? Weekend church attendance? Reading your Bible when you remember?

Sporadic connection produces sporadic victory. Consistent connection produces consistent victory.

You can't store up spiritual power like a battery. You need fresh connection to the power source every single day.

3. Am I willing to prioritize Spirit-dependence over everything else?

When they made prayer illegal, Daniel risked his life rather than skip his three-times-daily connection to God. He valued his spiritual discipline more than his comfort, safety, career, or reputation.

What are you willing to sacrifice for consistent connection to the Spirit? Your sleep schedule? Your entertainment time? Your social media scrolling? Your busy calendar?

If you're not willing to prioritize your connection to the power source, you're not serious about victory over sin.

This isn't legalism—this is survival. You're in a spiritual war, and you need spiritual power to win.

The question isn't whether you have time for consistent spiritual discipline. The question is whether you can afford not to.

⚡ Midweek Power

This Wednesday night (September 24th, 8-9 PM ET), we're praying specifically for Spirit-dependent victory over sin—the kind of breakthrough that comes from tapping into divine power instead of human willpower.

We're interceding for those trapped in the cycle of trying and failing, those who've given up hope of victory, and those who need to learn the difference between human effort and Spirit-power.

📅 Remember to Set a Reminder for Prayer Night!

Come ready to pray for:

• Victory over specific sin patterns through Spirit-power

• Consistency in spiritual discipline like Daniel's example

• Breaking free from the relapse cycle

• Understanding the difference between willpower and Spirit-power

🙏 PRAYER CORNER

We're interceding for:

• Those trapped in addiction cycles who've tried everything except Spirit-dependence

• Believers who've given up on victory because willpower failed them

• People who need to learn Daniel's secret of consistent spiritual discipline

• Anyone who's part of the 40-60% relapse statistics and needs hope

• Hearts that need to understand the power available through the Spirit

"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13, NIV)

📅 What's Next

Special Announcement: 🗣️ Last Friday of the Month Q&A: 

"Let's Talk: Singleness & Sexual Purity"

Friday, September 26th (8-10 PM ET): 
[🔗 Join Live Study] | [📱 Request Replay Link]

🎯 100 Days of Love in Action Challenge Starting Monday, September 23rd! One intentional act of kindness every day through December 31s.

📣 Take Action:

• Forward this to someone trapped in the cycle of trying and failing

• Follow @mogakaeventsministry on Instagram for daily Spirit-power reminders

• Join our Groupme for encouragement about consistent spiritual discipline

✝️ Final Word

Here's what we need to settle: You don't have enough willpower to overcome sin consistently. And that's the best news you'll hear today.

Because admitting you're not strong enough is the first step to accessing Someone who is.

The statistics prove it: 40-60% of people fail when they rely on human effort. But 100% of people succeed when they tap into Spirit-power through consistent dependence.

Daniel didn't overcome temptation for 70 years because he was stronger than everyone else. Daniel overcame temptation for 70 years because he was more dependent than everyone else.

Three times a day, every day, Daniel connected to the power source. Three times a day, every day, Daniel drew from an infinite well of strength.

The same Spirit that sustained Daniel in Babylon wants to sustain you in your circumstances.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to put your sin to death.

The same God who gave Daniel victory for 70 years wants to give you victory for a lifetime.

Stop trying to overcome sin through willpower. Start overcoming sin through Spirit-power.

The difference isn't about trying harder—it's about drawing deeper.

That's not a suggestion—it's a promise.

In His Love,
Mogaka Events Ministry

Come As You Are is a Spirit-led devotional for young adults hungry for God's presence. Written by Ravi Patel and Chriss Mogaka.